Report: Hallam (H)

Emley suffered their first league defeat of the season as Hallam scored a 3-1 win at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground on a bitterly disappointing night.

After picking up their first league win of the season at Eccleshill last week, Emley were looking to pick up their first win in front of their home fans following a draw with Garforth and a defeat in the FA Cup to Avro.

Things started fairly brightly for Emley who were on the attack in the first few minutes forcing a corner and a free kick, but things would turn around as the visitors gradually took firm control of the half.

After the initial encouraging few minutes there was little else for Emley fans to get excited about as their team huffed and puffed but found no way to blow down the house.

Emley's defence was tested time and again as Hallam marauded down both wings, a couple of corners were forced and Dec Lambton had to make a couple of saves as Emley hung on, Hallam kept up their onslaught, a corner was well saved and then the follow up was scrambled away for another corner, and eventually Emley's dam would burst.

After another attack wasn't dealt with the ball fell to Bradbury just inside the area and his low shot beat Lambton into the bottom corner.

Emley's defence had to be alert a minute later from another dangerous attack but this time they managed to clear their lines.

Emley then finally had a sight at goal themselves as a break saw Donae Lawrence pick up the ball from distance but his shot flew well wide of the target, Emley then enjoyed a bit of pressure themselves towards the end of the half, Walshaw's shot was also off target and a couple of corners were cleared by the visitors defence as Emley failed to trouble Hallam keeper Lawrie.

H/T- EMLEY 0-1 HALLAM

Emley had the first chance of the 2nd half within 4 minutes as Nathan Curtis and Will Norcross combined and Norcross saw his shot saved well and went out for a corner which came to nothing.

But within a minute of that chance, Hallam went down the other end and doubled their lead, a long ball was chased down the left by Watson who beat Lambton to slot home.

Emley rallied, Ruben Jerome teased a save from Lawrie with a low shot and Jake Kelly sent a free kick from wide left well wide, Clegg replaced Walshaw and then Norcross saw a shot saved.

Emley were desperately trying to get back into the game, Kelly was replaced by Smith on the right, but it was Lawrence on the left who jinked his way into the 6 yard box but he pulled his shot wide.

Hallam pushed forward and a chance went begging as a volley flew over, but the game was then more or less wrapped up as Hallam struck for a third time, as Emley pushed forward, the visitors broke, the ball was played from left to right and Fearon finished into the bottom corner.

Emley now had 15 minutes to get something out of the game and to be fair, they gave it their all but just wasn't to be.

Jerome was starting to cause problems and he flashed a shot over before he was unceremoniously dumped to the ground by 2 defenders inside the area, penalty and a chance for Emley to get on the scoresheet, which they did as Ruben Jerome stepped up and smashed home for a consolation and his first goal in his latest spell with the Pewits.

There would be a couple of chances for Emley to reduce the deficit even further in added on time but Curtis flashed a header over and then shot wide as the referee blew up for full time.

Disappointment for Emley who must now pick themselves up and look to pick up points in the derby clash at Golcar on Saturday.

F/T- EMLEY 1-3 HALLAM

Attendance- 305
EMLEY- Lambton, Kelly, Hardaker, Lawrence, Knowles (c) , Barks, Curtis, Haigh, Jerome, Norcross, Walshaw; Subs used- Clegg, Smith; Unused- Pashley, Kenny, Walker
GOAL- Jerome ('89 pen)