Report: Lower Breck (A)

Emley took full advantage of an Avro administrative error in the FA Cup as they thrashed Lower Breck 5-1 at Anfield sports & community centre.

Emley were reinstated last week and made sure they weren't going to let the opportunity pass them by with a magical performance on Merseyside.

Emley were dominant throughout and the hosts simply had no answer to Emley's power, pace and movement.

It was actually Dec Lambton in Emley's goals who made the first save low down but Emley were then soon on the front foot.

With a front 4 of Gooden, Walshaw, Lawrence and Walker they were constantly on the front foot, a good move from a corner early on saw Walshaw shoot wide after Knowles' stepover.

Emley were winning and causing problems from corners and free kicks and Breck had to be on their toes constantly to keep the game scoreless.

They did manage to get out of their half to attack a couple of times but the Emley defence held firm.

Another another 10 minute spell of pressure, the visitors finally had their reward just before the half hour.

A lovely ball into Iyrwah Gooden whose quick feet left the defender sat down and he stroked home into the bottom corner.

Within a minute, Breck had a chance of their own but the shot was wide, as was a curling shot from Paul Walker at the other end for Emley.

However, The Pewits then doubled their lead when Gooden again caused havoc and was brought down inside the area, penalty, up stepped James Walshaw to smash home to the delight of Emley's healthy traveling support.

Breck did enjoy a spell of pressure and Lambton was called into action to prevent a goal with a superb point blank save.

Gooden yet again showed off his pace and skill, beating the defence and lofting a lovely cross onto the head of Joe Kenny who headed narrowly over.

Then as half time approached, the hosts got their goal, slightly controversial from an Emley point of view as Lambton appeared to have the ball in his hands but a sliding tackle from the home attacker dislodged it and he rolled it into an empty net, Emley protested and Lambton was booked but the goal stood.

H/T- Lower Breck 1-2 Emley

Lower Breck kept Emley waiting at the start of the second half but The Pewits wasted little time in getting on top again, Clegg and Kenny who were superb in midfield combined, Walker put in a good cross and Clegg could only head it narrowly wide.

It was constant pressure from Emley and they were rewarded again when a brilliant corner from Smith landed on the head of James Walshaw who buried a strong header and left 2 defenders on their backsides in the process.

The frustration was showing in the home ranks with niggly tackles and the odd push and shove and they found themselves with a chance at the other end, a deep cross wasn't dealt with but the follow up shot was over.

Breck's frustration boiled over when a red card was shown for a high boot to the head and their task got even harder.

Within minutes, Clegg was inches wide from steering a Hardaker free kick inside the post for a fourth.

Changes were made for Emley, Curtis for Lawrence, Norcross for Clegg and Pashley for Smith and then Emley took total control of the game and finished off in style.

A great break from deep saw Emley easily penetrate the defence, Iyrwah Gooden stripped the remaining defender and buried past the keeper.

That goal with 8 minutes left saw a large swathe of the home support head for the exit but then they missed Emley's sublime 5th goal on the 90th minute.

Another fast break saw the defence in disarray again, a precise ball in from the left was met by Iyrwah Gooden who swept the ball past the keeper again and celebrated his brilliant hat -trick with the Emley fans in a near deserted ground.

Will Norcross had a chance to bag himself a goal in between but his shot was scrambled just round the post by the keeper.

A great performance now sees Emley travel back to Merseyside a week on Saturday when we travel to Widnes in the first qualifying round.

Emley's luck in being reinstated was certainly repaid with a marvellous win.

It's now over the the FA Vase and a visit from Sandbach United on Sunday.

F/T- Lower Breck 1-5 Emley.

Attendance - 336

Emley - Lambton, Smith, Hardaker, Kenny, Knowles (c), Barks, Walker, Clegg, Walshaw, Lawrence, Gooden; subs used - Curtis, Norcross, Pashley; unused- Kelly, Simpson, Jerome, Hennell.

GOALS- Gooden ('27, '82, '90) Walshaw ('33 pen,'54).

Moxon and Co. Man of the Match - Iyrwah Gooden

Photo by Paul Moran