Report: Tadcaster Albion (A)

In form Emley came away from Tadcaster with 3 more points and another 5 goal haul to add to their tally in an eventful game which saw the arrival of the Yorkshire air ambulance following a serious injury to Emley striker James Walshaw.

It was the second Saturday in a row that Emley have hit 5, league leaders Campion were put to the sword last weekend, now it was The Brewers turn to be mashed.

Despite conceding a sloppy early goal, Emley never really looked back and the game was well over as a contest before the hour mark.

Emley started brightly, but the final ball wasn't quite there despite the efforts of Iyrwah Gooden, who was already tormenting his marker in the first few minutes.

Tadcaster scored almost on their first foray into the Emley half, a loose ball after a defensive mix up was picked up on their left and played in to the danger area, Lambton couldn't react and the ball was slotted home.

Emley came back strong though and a dangerous free kick was cleared before Gooden found himself with a bit of space to try and chip the keeper, but the Tad keeper tipped it over for a corner.

At the other end, the hosts created a couple of chances, another good cut back was put wide and then Gooden blazed a shot over after a great run and ball in from Pashley.

Emley were now starting to take control and they were duly rewarded with a fine equaliser, Gooden teased the defence, the ball in was recycled back to him from Kenny but a deflection landed into the path of Pashley who lashed a shot in towards goal, it was stopped on the line but Ruben Jerome was on hand to smash home from close range.

Tad looked to hit back but after good work on their left the shot was high and wide, Emley had another chance and it was the centre backs who combined, from a free kick that wasn't cleared, Knowles set up Cowgill who blasted over.

Emley then had a shout for a handball inside the area waved away as Albion struggled to get out of their half, but just a minute later, another handball was spotted and the spot kick was awarded, Joe Clegg stepped up and gave Romero no chance in the home nets, Emley took a lead they were never going to lose from here.

The visitors were in complete control heading towards the break despite no further goals but plenty of half chances, Gooden just failed to connect with a Lawrence flick on, Pashley stubbed a shot from a corner wide and Walker was denied by a great challenge as he was about to pull the trigger.

It was Tadcaster who had the final say of the half as they finally managed some respite to break down field but the shot was wide again with the aid of a deflection, from the corner, Emley finally cleared despite handball shouts from the home side but the referee waved them away and blew for half time.

H/T -TAD 1-2 EML

It was to be a long and eventful second half but in terms of football, it was mainly all Emley, playing towards their army of fans who made up a large portion of the 284 crowd, Emley looked at ease, stroking the ball around, working hard and moving around, Walker shot wide within a few minutes after more good work by Gooden, closing down the defence who not for the first, or last time would get caught out trying to play out from their own goal line.

But just 2 minutes later, the 2 would combine to deadly effect, Gooden, skinning his man down the left before sending a perfect ball onto the head of Paul Walker who only had to head it straight into the net with the keeper well and truly beaten for number 3.

Tadcaster then had a free kick which was met by a header which didn't cause any problems for the Emley defence.

Within a minute, Tad had contributed to their own downfall with a calamitous goal from their point of view, once again, they tried playing out from the back but Emley's pressing meant they were unable to move the ball far, when the ball was played across the face of their goal, confusing defender and keeper ,a bemused Iyrwah Gooden was there to simply tap home into an empty net to the cheers of the Emley fans

Emley were on it by now and looking rampant, it looked to be all over for Tad, but another free kick, which saw Pashley booked for what looked a good challenge needed to be saved by Lambton, Pashley was then replace by Jake Kelly.

Having already conceded from trying to play out from their own area, Tadcaster almost did it again but this time they just about got away with it with a hurried clearance with Walker closing in, Jerome then had a half chance for Emley but the keeper managed to save.

Emley made further substitutions as the looked to see the game out, Nathan Curtis for the impressive Joe Kenny, Shiraz Khan for the equally impressive Walker and top scorer Walshaw replaced Jerome.

Sadly, following Walshaw's first, and only touch of the ball, he stayed down in obvious discomfort and pain and play was immediately stopped.

After lengthy treatment from medics from both clubs, Walshaw was stretchered off to a warm round of applause and play eventually resumed with Charlie Barks coming on.

Most people's thoughts were with the Emley striker, but within a couple of minutes, Emley struck for a 5th time and a wonderful goal it was too, following a superb challenge in midfield by Clegg, he released Gooden who crossed halfway before looking up and finding Nathan Curtis on the right, who took a touch then blasted past the keeper to seal the win.

There then followed another lengthy stoppage as the pitch was cleared to allow the air ambulance to land, news emerged that Walshaw had been taken to hospital by road ambulance and so the air ambulance left and the final 10 minutes or so were finally played out as the darkness descended over Tadcaster.

The win was obviously soured somewhat by the injury to Walshaw and we all wish him the very best, his team mates and their army of fans did him proud.

The win sees us move up to 4th but with games in hand on the top 3 as the games now come thick and fast, and we now look for a 5th straight league win when Handsworth visit Emley on Tuesday

F/T- TAD 1-5 EML

Attendance- 284
EMLEY- Lambton, Pashley, Hardaker, Kenny, Knowles {c) Cowgill, Walker, Clegg, Jerome, Lawrence, Gooden; Subs used- Kelly, Curtis, Khan, Walshaw, Barks.

GOALS- Jerome (17') Clegg (25'p) Walker (53') Gooden (58') Curtis (90')
Moxon and Co. Man of the Match- Joe Kenny

Photo credit to Craig Dinsdale on Twitter