Report: Louth Town (A)

The weather was ‘a real leveller’ as Emley laboured at points of the game to overcome the lower league hosts with goals from Joe Jagger and captain James Knowles.

The Pewits started brightly enough with an early attempt from midfielder Joe Clegg, who had a speculative shot that was saved. From the resulting corner, Hardaker’s delivery met an Emley header but that went over the bar.

Louth took the lead on 7 minutes with a direct but well-executed move through the middle. A long ball was controlled, and slid into the path of Jordan Smith who put the White Wolves ahead with a neat finish. Emley’s defence were convinced of an off-side but the assistant was unmoved.

The hosts went looking for a second a few minutes later but the wind turned a decent looking cross into a weak shot that Emley ‘keeper James Randall collected easily.

Going the other way, the challenging weather conditions hampered Emley - especially their attempts to make meaningful progress into the final third.

But as the game progressed, Emley grew into it. A neat passing move down the right involved about half the team but the resulting cross/shot was deflected into the arms of a grateful home goalkeeper.

That showed Emley their best route to goal and there was a similar move down the right that presented Paul Walker with an opportunity to shoot from just outside the box. When the ball crashed off the bar and back into the danger zone, Joe Jagger was on hand to slot home the equaliser.

Jagger nearly secured his second with a header almost from the restart, but it was tipped over with a good reaction save from the Louth goalkeeper.

On 40 minutes, Clegg won a free kick on the edge of the box. There was a bit of a conference over the ball as Emley’s attacking talent negotiated their options but it was Jagger who tried his luck. His attempt was handled by the wall but neither referee or his assistant decided it was worth of a penalty.

Alex Metcalfe had a couple of efforts from distance in the closing moments the closest one an opportunity crafted from smart interplay from Clegg on the edge of the box but the resulting shot went just wide.

H/T - Louth Town 1– 1 Emley

The second half started with Randal making a crucial save as Louth looked to regain the lead. The swirling wind almost doing for the young stopper but he was equal to the challenge.

At the other end, Emley had a penalty given for a foul on Nathan Curtis but the referee was vociferously encouraged to consult his assistant who agreed with protesting defenders and the referee changed his decision. It was probably a correct call but Emley were unlucky having had that far better shout for a spot kick denied earlier.

The weather conditions got worse for a 10 minute spell with biblical rain that, for a moment, left some of the crowd wondering if the game would be completed.

In the midst of the storm, Louth had a chance but the header went high and wide to leave the attacker at the back post with head in hands as it was probably their best chance since the goal.

And he and his team-mates would rue the missed opportunity just a few minutes later as Emley got what would turn out to be the winner. Ross Hardaker took a free-kick on the left just inside the Louth half. His ball in posed questions for the defence that they thought they had answered with a clearance but the ball was soon back in the danger zone where Knowles had stayed lurking. When the ball landed at his feet he was able to poke it goal wards and it squeezed, squirmed and even squelched into the back of the net.

Emley had the lead and decided to shore up the backline with introduction of Jack Cowgill in place of Walker.

As the weather calmed down, Emley looked to put the tie to bed but found progress hard with players slip-sliding in a newly moistened pitch.

There were chances though. Curtis was put through and was able to round the ‘keeper but his shot was cleared off the line by a rapidly retreating full back. Jagger had a long-distance attempt that had the Louth stopper scrambling but it went just wide. Those two chances were sandwiched between a chance for the home side to take it to penalties but the rapid break led to a shot off target - but only by inches, much to the relief of the visitors.

In the end, Louth will be pleased with the account they gave of themselves against higher-level opposition. For the Emley faithful, they will be pleased to see Joe Jagger back on the scoresheet after his long injury lay off. Emley are next in action when they visit Thackley on Saturday 27th January (3pm KO).

F/T - Louth Town 1 – 2 Emley

Line-Up – Randal, Pashley, Hardaker, Metcalfe, Knowles (c), Barks, Clegg, Kenny, Jagger, Walker, Curtis

Subs – Used – Cowgill
Unused – Twigger, Mallinson, B Walker

Moxon & Co. Man of the Match
Joe Kenny

Attendance - 75