Rainworth Miners 0 - 3 AFC Emley

AFC Emley waltzed their way to the semi-finals of the Toolstation NCEL League Cup after beating higher league opposition Rainworth Miners Welfare 3-0 at Kirklington Road this evening.

Manager Darren Hepworth may have felt frustrated after his side failed to score in a first half littered with chances, but the Pewits spread their wings in the second half.

Birthday boy Kieran Ryan continued his fine scoring form to break the deadlock before Matthew Jackson and Ashley Flynn added two more splendid goals.

Following on from Saturday’s 2-0 league win over Rossington Main, Emley’s confidence oozed as Jordan Townend and Alex Slack tested Rainworth goalkeeper Ben Townsend in the opening 10 minutes.

Shortly afterwards, Jackson and Jordan Coduri made Townsend work a little harder to keep the Mansfield side in the game.

The Miners could have opened the scoring on the half an hour mark, but Declan Brewin was left to rue a missed opportunity which grazed the top of the crossbar.

That was as close as the hosts came in the opening 45 minutes and Emley could have made them pay – Townend and Jackson persistently peppering Townsend’s goal.

It was Ryan who scored the game’s first goal, profiting from Jason Carney’s cute ball inside. The centre forward took a heavy touch wide, but a rocketing effort into the near corner stunned the travelling supporters.

Emley goalkeeper Graham McLachlan made his finest save of the season in Saturday’s win at Rossington but went one better tonight, somehow keeping Matt Harris’ close range effort out with a strong left hand.

Harris was made to pay for his miss four minutes later when Emley matched the save of the season with the goal of the season.

Following exquisite build up play, involving the impressive Aaron Joseph, Coduri and Carney, Jackson finished the move by slotting calmly into the bottom corner.

Emley were righteously rewarded with a third goal in stoppage time as Ashley Flynn rounded off a counter attack in the 93rd minute – his 47th goal in all competitions for the season.

As the league’s top scorer returns from injury, he’ll be looking to bag his first league goal since 14th January, when Emley welcome Campion to the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground on Saturday (3.00pm).