Report: Goole (H)

An impressive campaign continued for Emley as they put five past struggling Goole in a masterful performance.

All units of the Emley side looked in fine form as they shut out their probing visitors while proving deadly on the offensive foot.

A first half full of industry from The Pewits helped them to a one-goal advantage at the break.

Fresh legs didn’t go amiss in, as the returning Alex Metcalfe worked tirelessly with Joe Clegg to win a lion’s share of possession in the middle third. Almost every second ball was won by the trusty central midfielders and not without some important creativity either.

Curtis showed his class in a number 10 role, sitting in front of the hardworking Emley pivot to create numerous openings for a front three with almost 50 league goals between them.

Emley struck fear into Goole’s defence from the off. Pashley’s goalscoring instincts led him to shoot after 5 minutes as the green opened up before him, but his daisy-cutting effort was the wrong side of the left post.

Five minutes later, Knowles reminded us why he commands a place at the base of the Emley spine, as he collected the ball and picked a pinpoint diagonal to the feet of Gooden, who forced an early free kick in a dangerous position by the Goole byline. Metcalfe’s pacy set piece was dealt with, but Emley were firmly in pursuit of an early opener.

Petrovic was forced into some first half rearguard action as Goole tested Emley for the first time with a shot from the edge of the area. The new Emley ‘keeper showed his intelligence as his quick distribution set Curtis on a counter attack that lead to another attempt on goal, but the playmaker could only put it wide.

Some impressive creative play in midfield led to Emley’s opener, as Curtis did superbly well to swivel out of a tight space just inside Goole’s half, before flicking a pass on to Metcalfe, who found Iyrwah Gooden in space to cut inside and score the first goal of the evening in the 21st minute with a curling effort that nestled into the far bottom corner.

After the opener Goole enjoyed the rub of the green for a short period. The resulting 5-0 scoreline may feel harsh to travelling Goole fans, who watched their struggling side really have a go at the league leaders.

The defensive unit showed their nous to sweep up every loose ball and deprive the away side of an equaliser in the first half where they looked the most dangerous.

After half an hour, Goole looked to have beaten Emley’s defensive line as their number 7 looked to be 1-on-1 with Petrovic, who bravely beat the attacker to the ball and launched it out for a throw in.

Emley almost had a second moments later. A late challenge on Gooden was let go for advantage by the referee as Hardaker took the baton, finding Walshaw in a dangerous position. The forward held the ball up and flicked it on the Metcalfe who lashed the shot just over as Emley fans sounded their appreciation for some attractive football.

Moments before half time Ruben Jerome almost added to his impressive league tally, as Curtis once again dumbfounded his defensive adversary and floated a cross towards the number 9, who’s header was acrobatically tipped onto by bar before a golden chance on the rebound was stabbed wide.

H/T: Emley 1-0 Goole

Only a minute after returning to the field, Goole found themselves a man down after their number 5’s challenge over the top of the ball on Walshaw was punished with a straight red.

Emley capitalised on Goole’s depleted numbers through Ruben Jerome, who exquisitely backheeled Clegg’s driven cross past the rooted ‘keeper for 2-0 after 50 minutes.

Emley’s ultras behind the goal were delighted and sounded their appreciation with a tongue-in-cheek ‘Viking clap’, perhaps to taunt the ‘Vikings’ of Goole, who were now being smothered by the home side.

The third goal came after a string of Emley corners taken by Metcalfe. Eventually, one was turned home by James Walshaw, who leapt comfortably above his markers at the near post to head home to make it 3-0.

Jerome was goal hungry as ever. A constant thorn in Goole’s side for the whole game, he could have easily had more on the night. He received a slide rule pass into the channel from Gooden, but stretching for the ball he could only find the side netting after 70 minutes.

Richard Tracey’s substitutions really helped Emley in seeing out the result and deepening Goole’s misery.

Jimmy Eyles, on from the bench, scored a cracking goal from outside the box after Jerome found him with ample time and space to work with. The substitute wasted no time in picking his spot low into the bottom corner for the fourth.

The fifth of the night was delayed by a couple of hotly debated offsides, but it eventually did come through Ruben Jerome for his second of the night. Alex Metcalfe, who claimed his third assist of the evening, worked hard to regain possession in the Goole penalty area, before selflessly tapping it into the path of Jerome, who rolled it into an empty net.

After a first half where Emley perhaps lacked impetus in front of goal, The Pewits did not hesitate to hammer the result home in the second half with the help of a one-man advantage. The league leaders turned on the style, showing why Emley sit top of the league and now three points clear with two games in hand.

Emley now turn their attention to the huge prospect of Whickham in the FA Vase 5th Round on Saturday.

F/T: Emley 5-0 Goole

ATTENDANCE: 331

EMLEY: Petrovic, Pashley, Hardaker, Metcalfe, Knowles, Cowgill, Curtis, Clegg, Jerome, Gooden, Walshaw

Subs used: Eyles, K.Haigh, Smith, Jagger

Unused: Barks

Goals: Gooden (21'), Jerome (50', 89'), Walshaw (67'), Eyles (81')

Moxon & Co. Man of the Match: Petrovic