Report: Guisborough Town (H)

Following the recent storms, the pitch was made playable and Emley came from a goal down to defeat Guisborough Town and book their place in the draw for the 2nd round of the FA Vase.

Emley started the brightest with Nathan Curtis testing Town keeper Dean as early as the 2nd minute and a few minutes later, Tom Haigh tried his luck from distance but blazed over.

The game hit a bit of a lull as both defences cancelled each other out: Guisborough trying to hit Emley on the break and Emley trying to get around and down the sides of the visitor’s defence.

But the visitors then created the best chance of the half, just past the 20 minute mark, when a lovely curling shot fell inches wide of the post, which was then followed by Emley's best chance, a wayward back header which saw the ball to Iyrwah Gooden but his shot was well saved.

Emley kept the pressure on and were rewarded with a couple of free kicks, one of which was headed over by Jack Cowgill. James Knowles then clipped a shot over from close range as Emley looked to make their pressure pay.

But with 4 minutes remaining of the half, Guisborough struck first, after the ball was lost in midfield, Emley failed to deal with the threat and O'neil finished well past Lambton for a half time lead.

H/T- EMLEY 0-1 GUISBOROUGH.

Emley, and Ruben Jerome especially, started the second half extremely well and within a minute of the restart, Jerome fired a shot wide and then a superb 25 yard rasper crashed off the bar with the keeper beaten all ends up.

It was all Emley at the start of the second half and they kept the pressure on, Jerome again involved. Strong running and interplay eventually saw him crash a shot millimetres past the post into the side netting from a well worked corner but the Emley fans wouldn't have to wait much longer to cheer.

Jerome, again, was at the heart of it as he rampaged through the Guisborough defence to tee up Iyrwah Gooden who swept the ball home from 8 yards.

It was then the turn of goalie Dec Lambton to earn the cheers of the Emley faithful as he denied the visitors twice within a minute. First, a quick break downfield saw Lambton save and then after a one on one, he grabbed the ball from the feet of the striker just as he looked about to score.

The visitors were enjoying a good spell and they came close again just on the hour when a shot from the left went inches wide.

Jake Kelly replaced Pashley and Joe Kenny came on for Haigh and Emley enjoyed another good spell and would be rewarded with a second and ultimately, winning goal.
Gooden was causing problems, as usual, down the Emley left and his work eventually led to a Jerome header falling wide before Iyrwah himself was very unlucky with a chip from 18 yards, which bounced off the bar and into the shed.

Emley fans were getting a bit frustrated by failure to shoot when in good positions, and it looked like it could cost them, but then The Pewits struck again on 74 minutes. Gooden wreaked havoc and drove into the area which was pretty crowded but he managed to play in Alex Metcalfe who twisted and turned before firing home to the delight of the Emley fans and Metcalfe himself.

Emley now looked to finish The Priorymen off but the visitors were stubborn, they weren't giving the tie up though and a long range free kick went wide.

Gooden almost had a second just 2 minutes later but a lovely header also bounced off the bar and away to safety as the ref signalled 5 added minutes.

Guisborough threw everything at Emley but the Pewits’ defence, marshalled by a towering performance from Jack Cowgill stood firm. Clegg replaced Donae Lawrence as Emley almost had a third when a great combination between Metcalfe and Curtis saw Metcalfe's shot saved this time.

Emley saw out the remaining minutes and are now 6 games unbeaten but also in the hat for the 2nd round of the Vase again.

F/T -EMLEY 2-1 GUISBOROUGH.

ATTENDANCE- 275
EMLEY- Lambton, Pashley, Hardaker, Metcalfe, Knowles [c], Cowgill, Curtis, Haigh, Jerome, Lawrence, Gooden; Subs used- Kelly, Kenny, Clegg; Unused- Walker, Khan, Twigger, Randall.
GOALS- Gooden (54') Metcalfe (74')
Moxon and Co Man of the Match- Jack Cowgill