Report: Penistone (H)

Penistone ended Emley’s impressive run of 14 straight wins and a 19 game unbeaten streak, in a game which should’ve been dead and buried by half-time.

The only goal of the game came for Penistone in what was one of their very few attacks from which they managed to beat Lambton, and through some resolute defending, they successfully sullyed any promising chances that Emley could generate.

Following Emley's demolition derby last Saturday, as they beat Bottesford 9-2, it would’ve seemed that today’s match would’ve once again been an absolute goal-fest, however Penistone were well suited to cope with the Pewits’ on form attacking threat, and the visiting keeper, pulled off some amazing saves to deny Tracey’s men from taking any points at all.

Emley were clearly the dominant team straight from the first whistle, putting heaps of pressure on the visitors, looking to start the game as well as they did in the last outing, and they were certainly motivated by the Emley faithful within the ground.

The first promising chance presented itself with less than 5 minutes on the clock, as once again the home side looked to utilise their crossing capabilities, sending a lovely ball into the box, yet no-one was on hand to get on the end of it, and it was booted forward to safety for Penistone.

Emley from this point onwards saw an opening, an opportunity to do some real damage, and began to show their slick passing skills, leaving the opposition with no option but to play counter-attacking football, a strategy that was adopted for the whole 90.

It was clear from the off that Penistone were frustrated at not having control over the game, and some rash tackles and poor decisions were made by the outfield players, the first of which came very early on. Johnson caught Ruben Jerome in the face with a studs up challenge, yet at this early stage he didn’t even see a booking, for a challenge in which many thought should’ve resulted in very early marching orders.

The Pewits continued to show their dominance in the first half, showing impressive passing and movement, and not letting Penistone’s counterattacks turn into any concrete chances, it was however just that final ball, the finishing touch that they were missing in the closing stages of the move, they just could not find a way to breach Ambler's goal, and give themselves a well deserved lead.

Penistone looked a rather feeble test in the first half, not making many progressive passes, and they really struggled to make anything for themselves, and when any opportunity did present itself, the Emley defensive players were on hand to clear the danger.

H/T Emley 0-0 Penistone

One of the most interesting battles in the first half between Gooden and Lenthall nearly boiled over just a few minutes into the second half, as a ball was played over the top towards Gooden, who was getting the better of Lenthall, and in a bid to stop the tricky winger getting into a good position, cynically brought him down, as he knew he could not keep up, and took the booking. Something which the Emley team and supporters were very vocal about in their distaste for the action by the visiting full-back.

It was very much a rinse and repeat approach of what we had seen in the first half from both teams, as Emley continued to dominate proceedings, something we have seen a lot of this season, and Penistone looked to continue to block out Emley’s chances and spring forward when the opportunity presented itself.

It was just shy of 20 minutes into the second half when the visitors broke the deadlock, as a through ball split apart the Emley defense was clasped onto by Keightley, who smashed a shot toward Lambton’s back post, who could not have done much to prevent the goal, sending the visiting fans and players into raptures. It did not seem that they would get anything from the game, the way it was going, and the goal came completely against the run of play, in what was only Penistone's second chance of the second half.

Lambton’s frustrations grew over the next 5 or so minutes, after Walshaw was fouled, no opposition player was booked, for a challenge that many deemed bookable, Lambton questioned the referee about his decision, and for this he received a yellow himself, something which confused the contingent inside the ground.

It was at this point that Penistone knew a second goal was very unlikely to come, and Emley stepped it up a gear, trying to beat the very low block, and find at least an equaliser.

Chance after chance came for Emley, but time after time, good goalkeeping, lots of defenders or poor finishing stopped Emley from balancing the scoreline and rescuing at least a point.

As the game tipped over into the closing 10 minutes, Tracey commanded his team to push further forward, throwing more and more men into the final third, trying to get the vital equaliser they so desperately needed, not just for the points, but to get something to show for their total dominance of the fixture.

It was however to be to no avail, as Penistone dropped further and further back, keeping as many bodies behind the ball as they could, throwing their bodies on the line to prevent the Pewits from taking the three points that their few attacks had got them.

Balls continued to fly into the box from both flanks, and some were smashing shots from all-over trying to catch the visiting keeper off guard, however it was not Emley’s day on this occasion, and it seems football granted Penistone a late Christmas present, in the form of all three points against their local rivals, in a game that Emley did deserve to win.

F/T Emley 0-1 Penistone

ATTENDANCE – 689

TEAM – Lambton, Pashley, Hardaker, Metcalfe, Knowles (C), Cowgill, Haigh, Kenny, Jerome, Gooden, Walshaw

SUBS – Used – Lawrence, Walker
Unused – Barks, Clegg, Curtis

MOXON & CO. MAN OF THE MATCH
Ross Hardaker