Report: Sandbach (H)

Match Report by Zoe Shackleton

The Pewits were dominant in the first half of their first qualifying round match against a team in the division below them, finding the net three times in the first 45 minutes to progress.

Despite not scoring in the second half, it was a comfortable victory in the end for Emley at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground. The home side started the game brightly and were rewarded for their effort with two goals inside the opening 20 minutes. They’d had the majority of the possession as Sandbach never really got a foothold in the game.

The Pewits threatened early on, with Ruben Jerome misjudging a good cross by Ross Hardaker. But it was the former that got his just rewards for a solid start when he fired home an inch-perfect Steve Smith corner with 11 minutes gone to make it 1-0.

Keeping the ball well and looking to attack with every opportunity, Emley got a second shortly after.

And it was Jacob Kelly with a good cross this time from the right-hand side. He found Hardaker in acres of space in the box, who had enough time to slot the ball home with his left foot into the opposite corner.

The two sides swapped chances as William Booth fired a free kick over the bar for Sandbach, while Hardaker’s shot was well stopped by United defender Niall Cope.

Jerome could have had another as well, but for good defending by Sandbach, and a pinpoint Joe Kenny cross from the left was almost turned into his own net by Thomas Morris.

Having looked lacklustre since the second goal went in, the Pewits had a couple of good chances during stoppage time in the first half and Kenny eventually put one away – firing a good shot into the bottom left-hand corner just before the whistle blew to go into half-time 3-0 up.

HT : Emley 3 - 0 Sandbach

The home side very nearly made it four with less than a minute gone of the second half, Kelly’s powerful shot from far out rattled the right-hand post and went out for a goal kick.

It was much of the same for Emley in the second 40 as more chances came their way, another post hit this time by Donae Lawrence as he went close in the 57th minute.

The Pewits continued to press for a fourth as Alex Metcalfe came on for his first appearance of the season after injury in place of the impressive Kelly. But it was Sandbach with arguably the best chance of the second half when striker Joshua Klein-Davies controlled the ball and almost chipped Emley’s keeper, only for it to ricochet off the crossbar.

Substitute James Knowles thought he had the ball in the back of the net on 85 minutes but it was disallowed, referee Matthew Blaney judging that he’d taken the free kick too early.

Emley proved too strong in the end for the North West Counties side as they progress to the second qualifying round of the FA Vase.

Emley will travel to Brigg in September, more information to follow.

Full-time: Emley 3 – 0 Sandbach United

Team: Lambton, Kelly, Hardaker, Pashley, Cowgill (C), Barks, Smith, Kenny, Jerome, Curtis, Lawrence.
Subs used: Metcalfe, Knowles (unused Randall, Jagger)

Man of the Match: Joe Kenny.

Goals: Jerome (11), Hardaker (18), Kenny (45+3). Attendance: 233.