Goole 0-5 Emley

Emley emphatically secured their status as the Northern Counties East League Premier Division champions in a 5-0 romp against strugglers Goole away at the Pleasure Grounds on Easter Saturday.

A first half brace from leading goalscorer Ruben Jerome set Emley on their way in the first half, before The Pewits showed why they were champions-elect with a glut of goals in the second as they swaggered their way to victory.

On the front foot from the start, Emley’s first half was packed with chances. They enjoyed a lion’s share of possession, most of it in Goole’s half, but still had some slight scares to deal with as the home side tried to spoil The Pewits’ party.

Thomas Haigh had an early sighter from the edge of the area parried. The ball ricocheted loose and Emley shirts swarmed, looking to pounce for an early lead, but Goole frantically cleared.

Ruben Jerome looked dangerous on his first start since picking up an injury three weeks ago. In the 10th minute the number 9 picked up the ball in the left channel and held off two defenders at once, steamrolling his way into Goole territory with ease and winning the first corner that was ultimately wasted with a wild cross, but Emley were making a positive start.

There were moments in the first half where Goole could have punished Emley, as The Pewits found themselves stretched at the back a couple of times dealing with counter attacks early on. On the transition, The Vikings almost beat Emley to the opener as a pass across goal was misplaced in what was a gift of an opportunity for the home side.

Barely a moment later, Joe Kenny unleashed a cracker of a low drive towards the bottom right corner that was destined to nestle in the back of the net if not for the quick reflexes of the Goole ‘keeper, who tipped it around the post.

The opening goal came in the 18th minute, and the ever-reliable Ruben Jerome was the man to put The Pewits ahead. The lethal centre-forward latched on to Iyrwah Gooden’s flick-on and held off his marker in the box, squeezing his shot underneath the ‘keeper before wheeling away in delight. Emley had one hand on the trophy and the travelling fans knew it as excitement began to brew around the ground.

Emley had their tails up after going ahead and had the ball in the net for a second time just five minutes later. Charlie Barks leapt to meet Ross Hardaker’s delivery from a corner, but the referee blew for a foul against the centre-half.

Peppering the Goole goal, it was only a matter of time before Emley doubled their lead. Ruben Jerome had his second in the 34th minute after deftly taking the ball around the onrushing Goole ‘keeper, leaving an empty net at his mercy to roll the ball home for his second.

Frustration had well and truly set in for Goole as they struggled to keep pace with the league leaders, and a cynical challenge flew in on Kenny moments after the second goal. Emley clamoured for a red card, but Goole’s offending player was let off the hook with just a booking.

Goole’s best chance of the game came moments before half time, as Declan Lambton did fantastically well to get down to his left, saving a good effort from just inside the area on his return to the side after an injured spell, replacing the unavailable Aleksander Petrovic.

Iyrwah Gooden had the Goole ‘keeper scrambling with a beautifully struck dipping effort from 30 yards on the stroke of half time, but it was just over the bar, bringing the half’s action to a close.

H/T: GOOLE 0-2 EMLEY

It was evident from Emley’s second half that any pre-match nerves had now been relieved by their two-goal advantage. The champions-elect came out for the second half looking fired up, wasting no time before testing Goole’s ‘keeper 5 minutes after the restart.

Goole’s number 1 pulled off an impressive stop at close range to deny a combination of Gooden and Jerome, the former getting the more meaningful touch on the ball in the 6-yard box after a teasing delivery from Baldwin on the overlap.

The dominance asserted by Emley throughout the second half left Goole feeling exasperated, and frustrations boiled over as a coming together between Pashley and Goole’s left-winger turned nasty when players from both sides, as well as some Goole coaches, clashed on the sidelines. Goole manager Nathan Helliwell was sent off for dissent while Pashley and his adversary both received bookings.

Well in the ascendancy, The Pewits toyed with Goole before really turning on the style in the final 20 minutes with a trio of goals and a whole host of chances that could have extended Emley’s winning margin even further.

Captain Alex Metcalfe slammed home Emley’s third from close-range in the 74th minute after latching onto a ball in between the two Goole centre-halves. He ran over to the delighted Emley faithful with his arms out wide, embracing a wall of elated cheers and chants of “Campeones! Campeones! Olé! Olé! Olé!”.

Off the bench, Steve Smith almost scored what may have been goal of the season, as he picked up the ball around the halfway line before taking on everyone in his path and making his way into the area, but the substitute right back’s shot was agonisingly wide.

A fitting 4th goalscorer came in the form of the Emley born and bred Joe Clegg in the 88th minute, who was in the right place at the right time to slot home after James Walshaw miscontrolled a low cross. He coolly rifled his side-footed effort past the ‘keeper at his near post, and Emley were now moments away from confirming their champion status.

A couple of minutes later, Emley were awarded a penalty as the prolific James Walshaw was tackled late inside the area as he was shaping up to shoot. Emley had a chance to give their other top scorer a hand in the promotion deciding victory, and the veteran centre-forward sent the ‘keeper the wrong way in true Walshaw fashion. A poignant moment as the Emley fans began to party in the stands.

Nathan Curtis had the last kick of the game to extend the lead to six, but narrowly missed as the travelling support demanded “We want ten!”.

Scenes of elation followed as the referee called time on an Emley rout, as players embraced the fans who have sacrificed so much of their time to support them throughout such an impressive season.

With the league won, Emley will be promoted to the Pitching In Northern Premier Division One East next season, mixing it with some prestigious non-league outfits back where we spent much of the 1990s and 2000s.

However, this will not be before The Pewits see out the season as champions with 3 remaining league games and potential ties at the business end of the League Cup.

F/T: GOOLE 0-5 EMLEY

ATTENDANCE: 527

EMLEY: Lambton, Pashley, Hardaker, Metcalfe, Barks, Cowgill, Kenny, Haigh, Jerome, Gooden, Baldwin. Subs used: Clegg, Curtis, Walshaw, Smith, Lawrence.

GOALS: Jerome (18’, 34’), Metcalfe (74’), Clegg (88’), Walshaw (90’)

Moxon and Co. Man of the Match: The whole team.