Emley 3-0 Bottesford Town (league cup)

Emley are through to the NCEL league semi final for the second successive season following a comfortable 3-0 win over Bottesford Town at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.

The newly crowned league champions were ahead after 5 minutes and were 3 up at half time rendering the game pretty much over.

James Knowles was the star in midweek with his overhead kick goal at Pickering that was Emley's final league goal as a NCEL club, and it was the skipper who set the ball rolling in this game.

After Lambton was forced into a save following a bright opening by the visitors, Emley soon got on the front foot, after Gooden's attempted shot was blocked, a corner was swung over from the right and James Knowles was on hand to thump home from 10 yards, the league champions were on their way.

Emley thought they'd bagged a second a few minutes later but the offside flag was up as Gooden was ready to tuck home after a succession of corners, Bottesford finally got out of their own half and managed a couple of half chances themselves, Lambton had to make another save as the shot came in and then another shot flew over the bar, those were the visitors' only real chances of the half as Emley then dominated.

Emley looked for more and but for the final ball being a bit more accurate they probably would have, 2 or 3 times the ball was just behind or too far in front of an Emley attacker, but on 23 minutes, The Pewits did get it right, Hardaker marauded down the left wing and then played a perfect ball into the box where Alex Metcalfe met it with a superb first time volley into the back of the net.

5 minutes later and almost a third for Emley, Metcalfe and Gooden forced a hurried clearance which was returned back into the danger zone to be met with a fizzing Paul Walker shot but a deflection took it wide of the post rather inside it and the visitors eventually cleared up.

Gooden did have the ball in the net a few moments later but the offside flag was up against Walshaw on the left, things then went a little bit quiet as both teams more or less cancelled each other out.

Then, with the game heading towards half time, Emley struck again, Iyrwah Gooden took advantage of a defensive lapse, he wasn't tracked back and found himself in space and didn't hesitate to put his foot through the ball and bury it clean past the keeper, it was 3-0 and just about game over at half time.

H/T- EMLEY 3-0 BOTTESFORD.

The first minute of the second half was fairly lively, a ball over the top by Metcalfe saw Jerome chase down the bouncing ball, but the keeper got there just in time to nick it from the league's leading scorer, Bottesford went straight up field and fashioned a chance of their own, however, the shot was wide.

There was a yellow card for Jerome for a heavy challenge which the Bottesford bench were livid about and demanded a red, with the Emley forward seemingly wound up with Bottesford looking for some retribution, Jerome was brought off and replaced by Curtis, in between, Cowgill headed wide from a free kick.

Cowgill was right there again a couple of minutes later, but this time he flashed a header from a corner over the bar, Gooden was causing problems down the right for Emley and he was unceremoniously dumped on his way into the box, a free kick just outside the area was given and Walshaw's well struck free kick was punched clear by the keeper and eventually cleared.

With the game won in the first half, it was mainly about seeing the game out from an Emley perspective, more changes were to be made, Metcalfe, Walker and Hardaker were replaced by Clegg, Tom Haigh and Baldwin respectively.

Bottesford tried their best to get something back but despite their efforts, Lamb ton was mainly a spectator in the 2nd half, only having to watch a couple of shots drift wide.

Emley had a couple of half chances to add to their tally, Walshaw failed narrowly to connect with a wicked Baldwin cross and Gooden beat a couple of defenders before shooting across goal from a tight angle.

The final substitution for Emley came in the last minute, Barks replaced Man of the Match Hardaker as Emley easily saw the game out and will be be in the semi final draw along with Silsden/Parkgate, Rossington and Campion as the league and cup double is still on.

F/T- EMLEY 3-0 BOTTESFORD

ATTENDANCE- 412

EMLEY- Lambton, Pashley, Hardaker, Metcalfe, Knowles [c], Cowgill, Walker, Kenny, Jerome, Gooden, Walshaw; Subs used- Curtis, Clegg, T.Haigh, Baldwin, Barks.

GOALS- Knowles (5'), Metcalfe (23') Gooden (43')

Moxon and Co. Man of the Match- Ross Hardaker.