Report: Bottesford Town (H)

Emley turned in a blistering performance to destroy Bottesford Town 9-2 and deliver an early Christmas present for their supporters.
There was a double hat trick for James Walshaw whose 6 goal haul has taken him above Ruben Jerome and Iyrwah Gooden at the top of Emley's competitive goalscoring charts.

The win, which broke a club record that had stood since 1979/80 for 14 straight wins was also Emley's 8th straight league win, their 19th game undefeated in all competitions, and the 9th goal was Emley's 100th of the season so far, and incredible run, but it also means that The Pewits are now only 1 point behind leaders Campion but crucially, 3 games in hand.

Emley were on fire right from the start, at a rainy Fantastic Media Welfare Ground, some of the 349 crowd were still coming through the gates when Emley opened the scoring, from the first whistle, Emley, attacking the Warburton end, earned a corner when Paul Walker's shot was palmed away, from the resulting corner from the right, Ross Hardaker curled the ball straight into the net , barely 2 minutes gone and Emley were on their way.

The Pewits were back on the attack almost straight away, successive corners were cleared by the visitors but then another dangerous ball wasn't cleared and after the bar was struck by an Emley header, it fell nicely to Sam Pashley to find the back of the net, 2 goals in the first 6 minutes and both full backs on the scoresheet.

Fair play to Bottesford for trying to make a game of it though, and they did cause a few problems themselves, in what was probably their first meaningful attack, Tom Haigh was on hand to clear the danger as they got a shot on goal, 5 minutes later and they found themselves with another decent chance but the effort was wide and the chance was gone.

And Emley made them pay for their wastefulness, within a minute the play was back down at the Warburton end, a lovely ball was played into the feet of James Walshaw who superbly spun and shot to leave the keeper well beaten, Walshaw would later hit a mesmerising purple patch.

It was 3-0 after barely half and hour and it felt like the game was already up for The Poachers, who were turning into the poached in a torrid afternoon for them, another chance for Walshaw and a shot by Gooden were saved and a Metcalfe free kick was deflected over the bar by one of his own.

But it would soon be 4 for Emley not long before half time, after Joe Kenny unleashed a fizzing shot was which was well saved by visiting keeper Dennis, he could do little to stop James Walshaw burying a header past him from the resulting corner.

Walshaw had another couple of half chances which failed to trouble the keeper before Bottesford had the last say of the half by reducing the deficit when a rare error at the back allowed Moody to slot home past Lambton.

H/T-EMLEY 4-1 BOTTESFORD.

Like the first half, Emley were straight into it, Walker flashed a shot wide within 2 minutes of the restart, but there would be another goal a minute later as a great ball through saw James Walshaw slot past the keeper for his hat trick to make it 5-1.

Again, credit to Bottesford who didn't go into hiding and managed to grab another goal back, Lambton pulled off a great save after the initial shot, then, after a corner wasn't cleared, the ball was eventually smashed home by Walker.

But Emley were in no mood to let them back into the game, Metcalfe again tried his luck but his shot was saved, at the other end, Bottesford had a shot go wide and a couple of corners that didn't cause Emley any problems, changes were made, Walker and Gooden replaced by Curtis and Eyles.

The hapless keeper was then beaten for a 6th time a few moments later and a cracking goal it was too, the ball in from the left found Skipper Alex Metcalfe who emphatically smashed into the corner with the outside of his left boot to the delight of the vocal fans in the shed.

The final quarter was all Emley who didn't let the Poachers off the hook, Cowgill had a header saved, Walshaw's turn and shot was blasted over from close range as Tom Haigh was replaced by Joe Clegg and Kelly came on for Pashley.

Then it became the Wally show for the last 10 minutes as the striker hit 3 goals in 4 stupendous minutes for Emley, first, he powered his way past a defender before smashing low into the net, then after good work by Eyles, who's shot was saved before Walshaw tucked home the rebound, and then a minute later he completed his double hat trick with a composed penalty after Clegg was sent tumbling.

3 goals in 4 minutes to complete the rout and for Walshaw to net his 21st goal of the season and seal another 3 points, although there was still a couple of chances for Emley to add more, Cowgill flashed a header an inch wide of the far post and then Curtis blasted over after being set up by Man of the Match Walshaw.

It mattered not as Emley recorded an emphatic victory against a team who came into the game in decent form themselves, and we now look forward to the boxing day clash with Penistone.

F/T- EMLEY 9-2 BOTTESFORD TOWN

ATTENDANCE- 349
EMLEY- Lambton, Pashley, Hardaker, Metcalfe [c], Barks, Cowgill, Haigh, Kenny, Walshaw, Gooden, Walker.
Subs used- Curtis, Eyles, Kelly, Clegg; Unused- Knowles.
GOALS- Hardaker (2'), Pashley (6'), Walshaw ( 29', 42', 49', 81', 84', 85p) Metcalfe (66').

Moxon and Co. Man of the Match- James Walshaw.