Report: Thackley (H)

In form Ruben Jerome bagged another league double as Emley stretched their unbeaten run to 16 games with hard fought 2-1 win over a well organised and dangerous Thackley.

In a game which was pretty much even throughout, Jerome's clinical finishing was the difference as Emley secured a 6th consecutive league win to keep the pressure up on leaders Campion.

The visitors from Bradford undoubtedly had the better of the first half but missed chances cost them, Emley had the better of the second half and took theirs.

An early Jake Kelly free kick from distance was caught by the keeper before Thackley started to control the early stages, they had 3 decent chances in the first 5 minutes or so, but luckily for Emley, they left their shooting boots in the changing rooms as shots were sent wide and over.

Emley got themselves into the contest though as following a dangerous corner, Jerome fired narrowly wide, and 10 minutes later, it was Gooden who was through on goal but the keeper denied him, Curtis' follow up shot was blocked, Iyrwah had another go a minute later but again it was blocked by some resilient defending.

Thackley then enjoyed their best spell of the game, putting Emley under immense pressure and they really should have had something to show for it, Dec Lambton had to be alert to pull off a good save down low and less than a minute later another glorious opportunity for The Dennyboys was wasted as a shot blazed wide from a clean break.

There was a similar incident a couple of minutes later but Curtis brought the Thackley man down to prevent another quick break and found himself in the book for his effort, Emley pushed forward and Tom Haigh was wide with an overhead kick from inside the area, a Metcalfe effort was deflected away by his own man as both teams looked to break the deadlock.

And right on half time, that looked like it was about to happen, Thackley created space behind the Emley defence and the ball in was perfect but the shot was blazed over into the car park when most expected the net to bulge, a let off for Emley, despair for Thackley.

H/T EMLEY 0-0 THACKLEY

The second half was barely 2 minutes old when Emley found themselves with a good chance, after a corner wasn't cleared the ball fell to Tom Haigh who crashed a shot inches wide.

Haigh was involved again when he sent a good looking ball into the box and it sailed just over the crossbar as Emley started the half exceedingly well.

The Emley faithful behind the goal thought they were about to see the lead taken when a brilliant ball in found Metcalfe whose header was a yard wide, but an offside flag was already up.

Porritt replace the industrious Haigh just past the hour mark as Lambton was called into action again, pulling off a good low save, but within 2 minutes, Emley were ahead.

After some fine play in midfield by Clegg and Metcalfe, the ball was played in for Ruben Jerome who casually took the ball away from the keeper before slotting home in front a celebrating shed, Emley finally had the breakthrough.

They almost double it 2 minutes later as a scramble in the box saw the ball find its way to Joe Clegg who let fly but a brave defensive block cleared the danger for Thackley, following good work by Gooden on the left which earned a corner, Barks saw a volley go wide.

But then Thackley's persistence paid off with an equaliser 12 minutes from time, the ball was worked in from the right and Greaves was on hand to prod home to silence the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground apart from the cheers of the small cluster of Thackley fans and players.

We were back all square with both teams looking to snatch a winner, Emley thought they had it with 7 minutes to go, but Thackley's keeper pulled off a fine double save, first from Ross Hardaker who found himself with a shooting chance inside the area and then the rebound from Jerome.

With time ticking down and the temperatures dropping even further on a freezing cold night, the hearts of the majority of the 334 souls who braved the cold were warmed when Emley scored a decisive second goal.

The ball was shifted out to the right where a great ball in was met by the head of Ruben Jerome who planted a header beyond the keeper to send the ground into raptures just 4 minutes after the leveller, it was almost a carbon copy of his late winning goal at Frickley 2 weeks ago, both these games saw Emley at their spirited best, having to dig deep to get a result.

It was Jerome's 7th league goal in 3 games and his 9th in 5 games as he challenges Gooden and Walshaw for the top goalscorer.

But tonight was about the team and Jerome's contribution couldn't have been bigger.

The goal seemed to deflate Thackley who had worked hard throughout, but they would have one more chance for an equaliser.

Knowles came on for Curtis as Emley looked to hold on to their lead, after the referee had indicated 4 minutes of added time, Thackley put Emely under immense pressure for the final moments of the game, but dogged defence saw Emley clear their lines twice and then a glorious chance for Thackley almost on time but the shot flew into the gardens at the Warburton end.

The referee finally blew following a succession of throw ins for Emley at the right end and another vital 3 points were in the bag, but The Pewits had to work very hard for them as we move to within 1 point of Campion with 3 games in hand going into the big FA Vase tie with West Didsbury & Chorlton on Saturday.

F/T EMLEY 2-1 THACKLEY
Attendance- 334

EMLEY- Lambton, Kelly, Hardaker, Metcalfe [c] Cowgill, Barks, Clegg, Haigh, Jerome, Gooden, Curtis
Subs used- Porritt, Knowles; unused- Mirza, Rowley, Eyles.

GOALS- Jerome (68'82)

Moxon and Co. Man of the Match- Joe Clegg