Report: Handsworth (A)

Ruthless Emley dispatched hosts Handsworth 7-1 to put their first league defeat since August behind them in some style.

Ruben Jerome starred with a hat-trick with Iyrwah Gooden, Alex Metcalfe and James Walshaw also weighing in on the scoresheet of an empathic victory - plus a hapless Handsworth also adding to the tally with an own goal.

Emley had a fast start and there were early fears of a frustrating day as both Tom Haigh and Jerome were denied by Dylan Parkin in the Ambers’ goal.

Those fears were shown to be unfounded after just 5 minutes. Gooden showed quick feet and his customary turn of pace to force his way past the right back to the byline. His cross was inch perfect for Jerome to start the scoring with a header from no more than a couple of feet out.

The two combined again for another chance almost immediately from the restart. That chance was cleared but Gooden was soon running at the defence again and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot when a clumsy challenge came in. Emley and Jerome had their second as the number 9 put away the penalty.

With Handsworth limited to long-range efforts and even longer balls forwards, Emley were well in control and the scoreline reflected the dominance on 35 minutes. Gooden tried his luck from the edge of the area and hit the jackpot - albeit through a deflection so big the host’s marked it down as an own-goal.

Frustration boiled over as an Amber player was fortunate to not see red. Joe Clegg was fouled in the centre circle and the Nelthorpe decided to land studs first onto the stricken player. Luckily for him the referee must have missed it. But he was off the field moments later for a spell on the naughty step. His feedback to the referee after he was adjudged to have committed a foul in a similar spot to the prior flashpoint was judged to be over the top and he was sin-binned for 5 minutes both sides of the halftime interval.

Just before the break, Haigh went close to making the numerical advantage count but as his shot drifted agonisingly wide, the break came with Emley three to the good.

H/T Handsworth 0 - 3 Emley AFC

As the second half got underway, Jerome was keen to complete his treble early doors but Parkin in the Handsworth goal had other ideas with a smart save when Jerome was able to get his shot away under little pressure.

The fourth goal wasn’t long in coming though but it was Gooden who got his reward for another hard-working performance. Alex Metcalfe was the man put through by a defence splitting pass form midfield colleague Haigh. As Parkin rushed out, Metcalfe unselfishly squared the ball to Gooden who was able to stroke home into an open goal.

It was still all Emley and the story swung back to Jerome’s hat-trick hunt but again he was thwarted by Parkin who saved the shot before punching away his own deflection.

The inevitable fifth goal came but unexpected circumstances. Metcalfe was over the ball for a free-kick on the left corner of the box. Everyone expected a cross but he found the top corner without it taking another touch. Parkin looked a broken man as he sat on his own 6 yard line as Emley celebrated.

That was Metcalfe’s final contribution as Joe Kenny came on at the same time as Sam Pashley was replaced by Donna Lawrence at right back.

Things went from bad to worse for Handsworth and the ‘keeper was again on his backside with the ball in his net behind him. Ross Hardaker swung over a delightful through-ball from the left side of the halfway line. Jerome only needed to take a touch to guide the ball into the perfect position to, finally, complete his hat-trick and he didn’t need a second invitation to slot home.

It could have been 4 for Jerome minutes later but his attempted lob didn’t quite connect and the ball drifted harmlessly wide.

That was the last action of the game for Jerome - as well as Gooden and Man of the Match Haigh as manager Richard Tracey emptied his bench - including the introduction of top-scorer James Walshaw plus Jimmy Eyles and Nathan Curtis.

The flurry of changes - for both sides - briefly saw Handsworth look a little more dangerous and they garnered a consolation from the spot after Lawrence was judged to have fouled the on-rushing winger.

Substitute Eyles had three half-chances to restore the 6-goal cushion with two efforts just wide either side of a shot cleared off the goal-line.

Those near misses only delayed the 7th goal with Walshaw on the scoresheet with a cute header from a Clegg free kick.

The referee took mercy on Handsworth with just a solitary minute of injury time before the Pewits were able to celebrate a swift return to winning ways.

F/T Handsworth 1 - 7 Emley AFC

ATTENDANCE – 259

TEAM – Lambton, Pashley, Hardaker, Metcalfe, Knowles (C), Cowgill, Clegg, Haigh, Jerome, Gooden, Walker

SUBS – Used – Lawrence, Kenny, Walshaw, Eyles, Curtis
Unused – x

MOXON & CO. MAN OF THE MATCH
Tom Haigh