Report: Eccleshill United (H)

Match Report by Isaac Hall

Emley secured all three points during a stunning sunset show at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground, showcasing their dominance with an impressive 4-goal spree. This victory marks their sixth consecutive league win and extends their unbeaten streak to 14 league games.

Eccleshill started the game well, looking to catch Emley off-guard in the opening few minutes, however this was not to be for too long, as Emley responded well, kicking it up a gear and immediately taking charge of proceedings.

It was chance after chance, which gave the freezing Emley faithful lots to cheer about, and the first clear-cut chance came just before 10 minutes had been played. Gooden sent in a cross that was collected on the opposite flank by Hardaker, who then delivered another cross for someone to get their head on, however the blustering winds took it too close to the goal, resulting in the visitors keeper getting a touch to send it behind for a corner.

The resultant corner was almost a carbon copy of what was just seen, as a ball was whipped in. This time an Emley head did manage to connect with the ball, but yet again the keeper managed to tip it over.

This showed much more of what was to come, corner after corner and cross after cross came Emley's way, and thanks to some sensational goalkeeping, the visitors managed to shut out every Emley effort, keeping the scores level.

Skillful midfielder Donae Lawrence and tricky winger Iyrwah Gooden turned on the class as the latter sent a cross in, which was met by the first defender, luckily for him it fell straight back into his path, however he scuffed a shot that flew towards the touchline.

The Emley attackers didn’t give up, as a cross was sent into Lawrence, who ran the ball to the byline. He then fizzed in a cross towards the penalty spot, yet once again the keeper got a strong hand on it, sending it behind for yet another corner.

It was at this point, with 26 minutes on the clock, that Emley’s corners began to bear fruit, as a pinpoint ball from Kelly fell perfectly on the head of Walshaw, and he managed to knock it into the net, giving the home team a well-deserved lead.

Emley repeatedly tried to replicate the opening goal, constantly sending balls into the oppositions box, keeping the ball in the final third and denying the visitors from progressing and making any concrete chances.

Towards the end of the first half, with 7 minutes still to play, Eccleshill’s frustrations at being completely shut out began to show, as Gooden was brought down by an opposition defender, for which he saw yellow, for a challenge in which many within the ground felt should’ve resulted in his marching orders.

Emley couldn’t make anything of the free kick, and managed to calmly see out the first 45, sending them into the warmth of the changing room the right side of the scoreline.

H/T Emley 1 – 0 Eccleshill

Eccleshill were the architects of their own downfall early on in the second half, however the high-speed winds really did capitulate a defense which coped reasonably well with Emley’s first half efforts, as just 5 minutes after the restart, Ruben Jerome capitalised on a ball that was well wayward of its intended target, and he simply passed the ball into an empty net, doubling The Pewits’lead.

Hardaker and Kelly’s crosses all throughout the 90 were sublime, and created many promising chances for Emley’s attackers and this enabled the hosts to soar into a 3-0 lead with what was their 90th goal of the season.Hardaker’s cross towards the back post was met by an Eccleshill defender, and fortunately for the richly experienced left-back, the opposition defender turnedthe ball into his own goal, adding insult to injury on what was now an afternoon to forget.

Just 10 minutes later, Lee Elam’s men managed to grab their solitary consolation goal of the outing, as the ball was sent in from a corner, from which it pinballed around, with a string of shots being smashed towards Bancroft’s goal. After a few attempts, Brice Ghussein poked home, giving the few visiting fans in attendance at least one thing to cheer.

For the final 15 minutes, the game began to calm down, as Emley looked to avoid any silly mistakes, sitting back and absorbing any lacklustre pressure that was thrown at them and counter-attacking when the opportunity presented itself.

The 4th of the day was added with the last relevant kick of the game, as a loose pass from the Eccleshill defence was intercepted by Eyles, who had a clear run on goal, and despite pressure from the visiting centre-half, he managed to shrug them off and blast a shot at Wilzynski’s near post, who couldn’t get anywhere near the shot.

Emley’s next game comes at home to in-form Bottesford, who will look to breach a defence that has only conceded 28 goals this campaign. High-flying Emley will set out to make it 15 league games without defeat.

F/T Emley 4 – 1 Eccleshill

Attendance – 405

Team – Bancroft, Kelly, Hardaker, Metcalfe, Knowles, Barks, Lawrence, Kenny, Jerome, Gooden, Walshaw

SUBS – USED – Clegg, Curtis, Walker, Eyles, Cowgill

Goals – Walshaw (26’) Jerome (50’) Parchment (OG 64’) Eyles (90’)

Moxon & Co. Man Of The Match –
James Walshaw