Report: Charnock Richard (H)

Emley overcame a tough challenge from Charnock Richard before finally getting the better of their Lancastrian opponents with a fine second half display to progress to the 5th round of the FA Vase for the first time since 1990 with a 3-0 win at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.

Both sides will feel they had the better of the first half but it was Emley keeper Declan Lambton who pulled off the most important save of the game during the first half.

The visitors were playing a fast, open, attacking game which almost caught Emley out on occasions, but the Pewits' rearguard stood firm on numerous occasions, Emley had the first sight of goal of the game but Gooden's ball in was flashed across the goalmouth with no one to receive it.

Charnock then showed their attacking teeth and a crucial header away by Hardaker solved a back post problem before Lambton earned himself many pats on the back, after they broke clear it was a 1-on-1 between Lambton and the Charnock Richard attacker but as the Emley fans held their breath waiting for the opening goal, Lambton spread himself brilliantly to parry the shot with his leg.

Emley came into the game more but struggled a bit playing into the wind down towards the Warburton end, Barks was wide with a header at the back post after Clegg forced a corner and then from a loose ball outside the Emley area, the visitors saw a shot go high and wide.

Pashley was finding a bit of joy down the right flank and his cross was met by the head of Ruben Jerome but the top scorer couldn't find the target, then a couple of half chances, from Metcalfe and a Hardaker cross which eluded everyone.

With the half time whistle approaching, neither side was creating anything of note with both defences firmly on top.

H/T- EMLEY 0-0 CHARNOCK RICHARD

To the say the second half got off to a quick start would be an understatement, most Emley fans were still making their way to their places for the resumption of play when the first goal went in, straight from the kick off, the ball was played into the inside left channel where top scorer Ruben Jerome took control and buried a low shot underneath the hapless keeper Proctor at the near post, there was just 14 seconds on the 2nd half clock when the net rippled!

A great start for the Pewits, who seem to make a habit of turning the screw when playing towards their noisiest fans in the Richard Hirst in the second half, they hit West Didsbury & Chorlton for 4 in the last round.

But the Emley fans wouldn't have long to wait to cheer again, following another wicked Metcalfe free kick which wasn't fully cleared, Paul Walker's shot was deflected for a corner and from the corner on the left, Jack Cowgill doubled Emley's lead with a header into the corner to cue celebrations in the shed.

To their credit, Charnock Richard didn't just accept their fate and they did try to play themselves back into the game playing some neat football and they created a number of chances in the next 20 minutes.

Lambton was again called into action to make a vital save from a volley, 2 minutes later a good free kick into the Emley danger area was headed wide and then and a run and shot into the area ended with a shot high, wide and not very handsome.

Emley did have a bit of luck though in the 75th minute, a free kick was awarded in a promising position 20 yards out and the shot beat Lambton and crashed off the bar and bounced on the right side of the goal line for Emley, from this, Metcalfe, spotting the keeper off his line tried an audacious lob from his own half but it didn't have the power or distance and the keeper collected easily.

Into the final 10 and Emley had made changes, Lawrence who had run himself into the ground was replaced by Curtis, and Walker replaced by Eyles as The Pewits looked to see it out, and see it out they did, and in fine style too.

With time ticking down towards 90 minutes, Curtis played a ball into the area, the keeper fluffed his lines allowing Jerome to take possession, he played it back into the path of Nathan Curtis who rifled a stunning shot from the edge of the area into the back of the net, via the crossbar to seal Emley's win and their passage into the FA Vase 5th round for the first time since 1990.

That wasn't the end of the cheering for the Emley faithful though, Ruben Jerome was given a deserved round of applause has he made his way off to be replaced by Joe Jagger. Jagger was appearing in Emley first team action for the first time in a year following his serious leg injury. Jagger was cheered as he made his way back into the Emley fold following loan spells at Wombwell Town and Shelley.

There was just time for one more chance for Emley, but Jimmy Eyles' shot was comfortably saved by the keeper, and as the full time whistle blew, Emley fans were cheering yet again with the news that Campion, Emley's NCEL title rivals had lost at home to Emley's Huddersfield rivals Golcar, meaning The Pewits are right back in the title hunt as well as further on down the road to Wembley, not a bad day if you're claret and blue!

It's cup action again on Tuesday as we defend the Sheffield and Hallamshire senior cup with a quarter final tie against Worksop Town from the Northern Premier League.

F/T- EMLEY 3-0 CHARNOCK RICHARD

Attendance- 439
EMLEY- Lambton, Pashley, Hardaker, Metcalfe [c], Cowgill, Barks, Lawrence, Clegg, Jerome, Gooden, Walker
Subs used- Curtis, Eyles, Jagger; unused- Randal, Riordan, Mirza.
GOALS- Jerome (46') Cowgill (56') Curtis (88')

Moxon and Co. Man of the Match- Declan Lambton.