Report: Frickley Athletic (H)

Emley maintained top spot in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division with a 4-1 win over Frickley Athletic at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.

It was a 5th straight win over The Blues for The Pewits who are now 4 games unbeaten, and level on points at the top with Campion but with games in hand and a superior goal difference.

Frickley had lost their last game, 5-1 and this game didn't start well for them, within the first minute they were up against it when their keeper came charging out of his area to stop a rampaging Ruben Jerome but he used his hands to stop a certain goal and the ref had no option but to brandish a red card.

To their credit though, they made Emley work very hard for the points after that, and after the free kick was cleared they managed to thwart any other Emley attack, sometimes a bit too robust for some people's likings.

But Emley were determined to put the pressure on, attacking the Warburton end, Emley found lots of joy and space down the flanks, but the end product was lacking a lot of the time, Gooden was finding loads of space down the left and his ball in found Walshaw but the stand in keeper blocked well, alas, he was well beaten a minute later as Joe Clegg let fly with a 20 yard ripper that crashed off the bar.

Emley then had a couple of penalty shouts turned down as Frickley turned defence into attack and forced Emley's keeper Petrovic into a save but Emley were hungry, down the other end, Walshaw had the ball in the net but it was given as offside, then there was a remarkable passage of play, Frickley couldn't clear their lines and from a 2nd successive corner, a goalmouth scramble ended with the ball appearing to cross the line but somehow it stayed out and the visitors could clear.

Pashley was finding space down the right and looking to put balls in but one such burst saw the cross go behind before it could hit an Emley attacker, another Pashley raid ended up with a free kick from the right which flashed across the goalmouth and evaded everyone.

A good spell followed for Emley but again, they couldn't find the killer touch, good work by Clegg found Gooden who played in Hardaker, his chipped ball found the head of Jerome but straight at the keeper for an easy catch, then another near miss, this time the keeper clawed the ball out from under his bar, Emley were adamant it had crossed the line but the officials disagreed.

One felt it was only a matter of time before Emley did finally strike, and they eventually did, not once but twice, right on half time, Gooden's ball in caused a kerfuffle and the league's top scorer Ruben Jerome was on hand to stab home for his 28th goal of the season and The Pewits were on their way.

Jerome almost had a second on Emley's next foray down field but he put a close range header over the bar, however, just a minute later the lead was doubled when Frickley's defence were cut open, Pashley's ball in from the right found Gooden who teed up Paul Walker who slotted home inside the post.

H/T - EMLEY 2-0 FRICKLEY

Emley came out early for the second half, full of confidence following their 2 goals late on and they looked to waste little time in making it 3, but following a lovely Pashley ball into the box, Jerome couldn't adjust his feet quick enough to get a decent contact on it.

Charlie Barks then found himself with a couple of chances, the first, from Hardaker's corner caught the defender a bit off guard and he could only knee the ball wide, a couple of minutes later he flashed a header wide

The vocal ultras in the shed wouldn't have long to wait to celebrate again though as Emley went 3 up inside the hour, and a lovely goal it was too, great play again by Clegg in midfield set the tone, Hardaker took possession on the left, he in turn played into the feet of Walker who shimmied, then played in James Walshaw who slammed home from 6 yards to put the game out of reach of the visitors.

It was Walshaw's 23rd goal of the season as he, Jerome and Gooden are trying to outscore each other and become the leading scorer, the veteran striker almost had another to add to his tally but his shot flew wide a couple of minutes later.

Walker was replace by Eyles, his work done, and Curtis replaced Gooden who had ran himself to the ground and given The Blues the runaround at times.

Frickley hadn't shown much of an attacking threat at all with Petrovic being very quiet throughout the game, but on 66 minutes they stunned the partisan Welfare Ground, a run and cross wasn't dealt with, the ball fell loose and Boocock netted to give the small bunch of Frickley fans something to finally cheer.

Jerome was then off target as he curled a shot wide of the far post, but just 2 minutes later, another good goal sealed the points for The Pewits, Eyles beat the offside trap and made his way downfield, finding Curtis on his inside, Curtis could have possibly taken it on himself but instead he unselfishly played in James Walshaw coming up in space on his left and Walshaw fired his 24th and Emley's 4th into the net and the game was up for Frickley.

Last seasons top scorer Joe Jagger replaced this seasons top scorer Jerome and Jagger was determined to try and get on the scoresheet as Emley had numerous chances in the remaining few minutes to add a 5th.

Barks steered a header from a free kick wide, Eyles sent a shot well wide as the focus then shifted onto the keepers, first, Emley's Petrovic made a good save low down as the visitors broke down their left and then Jagger was denied by a great save with his legs by the stand in keeper Collier, the save and his efforts were appreciated by the Emley fans in the shed.

Jagger had the last say, or should that be laugh when he was presented with a shooting opportunity but he blazed his effort, high, wide and not very handsome as the ref blew for time, Jagger saw the amusement of the Emley fans' wit behind the goals.

It looked like what could become a frustrating afternoon turned on the 2 first half goals as Frickley looked like hanging on until half time, but with Campion also winning, the top 2 are now clear and in a dogfight for the title.

Emley are back on home soil again on Tuesday when The Vikings from Goole look to cause an upset.

F/T- EMLEY 4-1 FRICKLEY

ATTENDANCE- 381

EMLEY- Petrovic, Pashley, Hardaker, K.Haigh, Knowles, Barks, Walker, Clegg, Jerome, Gooden, Walshaw

Subs used- Eyles, Curtis, Jagger

Unused- Metcalfe, Smith

GOALS- Jerome (44') Walker (45') Walshaw (54' 75')

Moxon and Co. Man of the Match- Joe Clegg