AFC Emley 1-3 Yorkshire Amateurs

AFC Emley succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at home to Yorkshire Amateurs, but go into the festive period still sitting top of the NCEL Division One.
In what was a rather subdued start to the game, with both sides being tentative and feeling out each other’s style of play, it was Emley who had the first half chance of the game. Steven Kenworthy managed to get beyond the Amateurs left back Carl Heard before whipping a tempting ball across the face of goal, however no Emley player could get a telling touch.
Then came a period of sustained pressure from the Emley side, first Alex Hallam hit a tame effort straight at Suwara Bojang, before the first real incident of note came along. New signing Max Leonard managed to work his way into the box, evading the first challenge before being felled by the keeper, giving Emley the chance to score from the spot. The striker stepped up to take the spot kick himself, but could only scuff his effort wide of the goal.
Leonard soon found himself back in the action, this time providing the ball to set up Jordan Townend. The midfielder ran onto the ball before delicately lifting the ball first time, over the advancing Bojang and into the goal.
The visitors then started to establish their own pressure on the game, first Joel Hughes struck an effort from outside the area, but saw the effort go over Adam Lawlor’s goal.
Then came the equalising goal, Thomas Rose collected the ball out on the left and dribbled his way into the Emley area, before striking a right footed effort past Lawlor and into the bottom corner.
Following the goal, the game began to open up, with both sides starting to create chances, Hughes once again found himself through on goal, but fired his shot over the bar.
At the other end, Kenworthy found strike partner Leonard, however he could only fire wide. Then came a neat move by Emley, with Doran Jordan finding fullback Josh Ingham, who in turn delivered the ball into the box, where Hallam could only redirect the ball at the keeper.
The second half began much like the first and it took Emley a few minutes before they could get their first strike of the half on goal. Leonard and Michael Starkey linked up well down the left flank, before Leonard cut in and fired his shot over the bar.
Starkey was once again in action down the left when his cross almost made its way to Jordan at the back post, however, the winger was beaten to the ball by the covering defender.
Whilst at the other end, an Ingham block was required in order to deny Jahsai Donaldson from having the opportunity of firing a shot on goal.
The next attack the visitors had resulted in them getting their next goal. Once again Hughes managed to get himself into the Emley penalty area, before this time stroking the ball past Lawlor and into the net.
Following the goal, Emley had a succession of set pieces, including a string of corners of which Emley could not capitalise on and also a free kick which Starkey fired just wide.
In the dying stages of the game, Emley got one final corner. Lawlor went forward as Emley craved the equalising goal, However, Bojang was able to collect the ball and the visitors broke on the counter attack down their left flank, with an open goal, Tom Marsden was teed up to roll the ball into the vacant goal.