Report: Garforth Town (H)

Match Report by Zoe Shackleton

Emley AFC won on penalties to make it through to the next round of the NCEL League Cup in dramatic fashion against Garforth Town.

It looked like the Pewits were down and out until captain Alex Metcalfe equalised deep into stoppage time at the end of the game to take it straight to a penalty shootout.

And that’s when goalkeeper James Randal was the hero when he saved Sam Barker’s spot kick to send the home crowd into raptures and Emley into the third round of the cup.

Garforth thought they had won the game by bagging two second-half goals to cancel out Emley’s opening score, but the home side had other ideas.

Rivals in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, both teams had started the game well with chances in the opening minutes.

Tom Haigh’s shot went wide whilst Charlie Marshall forced a diving save from Randal, in Emley’s goal for the night.

Then the Pewits took the lead in the eighth minute when Paul Walker thumped the ball home after Harrison Rowley’s first shot was initially blocked.

Emley threatened again through a Charlie Barks free kick and Walker’s shot was parried by the Garforth keeper.

The away side created chances of their own and could have scored through Jason Davis, were it not for another good save by Randal.

And Randal again showed his prowess when he tipped over a lob from Marshall, which looked like it was bound for the back of the net.

The game got heated with two flying tackles from both teams, resulting in yellow cards for Haigh and the away side’s Rinor Ejupi.

Garforth looked threatening as the game approached half-time, a free kick from just outside the area glancing wide of the posts, but Emley went in 1-0 up.

And the away side started the second half much the same, a good cross from the right created a half-chance for Nash Connolly but he couldn’t quite reach the ball to tap it in.

It didn’t take long for Garforth to level the scores though, through Barker who picked Emley’s pockets and slotted the ball past Randal with 60 minutes on the clock.

After a flurry of substitutions for both teams, the away side went into the lead for the first time in the game as Matt Antcliff found the top right corner in the 74th minute.

Emley had a few chances before levelling in the fourth minute of added time through Metcalfe to take the game to penalties.

And it was the home side that would progress after successful spot kicks from Nathan Curtis, Iwyrah Gooden, Joe Clegg and Adam Porritt, with Randal saving the day when he stopped Barker’s penalty.

Getting through to the next round means another chance for Emley to bring silverware back to the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground this season.

FT: 2-2 (Emley win 4-3 on penalties)

Attendance: 305

Emley: Randal, Porritt, Hardaker, Metcalfe (C), Cowgill, Barks, Mirza, Haigh, Curtis, Walker, Rowley. Subs used: Gooden, Twigger, Clegg. Subs not used: Jerome.

Emley Goals: Walker (8’), Metcalfe (90+4’)

Man of the Match: Ross Hardaker