AFC 1-0 Pontefract Collieries

AFC Emley return to the top of the NCEL Division One thanks to a 1-0 win at home to Pontefract Collieries, an excellent Ruben Jerome strike early in the first half enough to seal the points.
In a game that was largely dictated by a strong breeze, neither side were able to get a fluent passing game going, with both keepers only having to deal with a hand full of efforts. Pontefract were not helped when Craig Rouse received his second booking in the late stages of the game.
Emley took the lead when Jerome received the ball out on the left wing, cut in and drifted past three Pontefract players before firing a right footed effort into the bottom corner.
Emley were playing with the breeze in the first half and could have taken the lead minutes before the opener. Ashley Flynn showed great control in the Pontefract area, but he dragged his left footed shot wide of Craig Parry’s goal.
At the other end, Liam Radford hit a sweetly timed volley just wide of Adam Lawlor’s goal, whilst Nigel Danby saw his free header on goal blocked behind by Jerome.
Emley could have doubled their advantage just before the half time interval. Flynn drove into the box before pulling the ball back to Max Leonard who saw his subsequent shot well saved by Parry.
The second half was largely disrupted by the wind, with neither side able to create many telling chances, Radford fired a shot well wide after some decent work before the attempt. Flynn had another great chance to grab Emley’s second of the game, with Pontefract hunting the equaliser, the striker managed to get behind, however, Parry stood him up well and Flynn was unable to get a shot away.
With Pontefract throwing bodies forward in an attempt to grab a leveller, an Emley clearance rebounded and narrowly missed the post as it squeezed narrowly wide. From the resulting corner, Rouse received his second booking as he knocked it on with his hand. Allowing Emley to close the game out and seal a vital three points.