Another 4-0 win for AFC Emley

Two goals in each half saw AFC Emley claim a 4-0 victory over Dronfield Town at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.

Kieran Ryan hit a hat-trick for the home side, with captain Michael Tunnacliffe also getting his name on the score sheet.

The first chance fell to defender Sam Jerome, but he saw his header blocked by a Dronfield defender.

Alex Hallam and Jordan Townend both had shots that went wide as Emley were knocking on the door, and playing some nice football.

One move saw goalkeeper Adam Lawlor’s long throw collected by Ryan, who played it down the wing for Ruben Jerome. He lifted a cross to the back post, where Townend was and his ball inside found Tunnacliffe, but his first time goal-bound effort was blocked as Dronfield defended well.

The away side ventured forward, with Lee Anthony running at goal, only for Lawlor to smother the ball at his feet.

Emley then got the breakthrough following a corner from Tunnacliffe which got a flick on at the near post from a Dronfield player before it was turned into the far corner by Ryan for his 20th of the season.

Michael Akhavan-Hezavem attempted to test Lawlor with a volley, but it ended up being comfortable for the goalkeeper.

It was another nice move that led to Emley’s second. The move started with Iwan Heeley, who was impressive on his debut, with the ball ending up with Ryan who played it into Tunnacliffe, and he slotted past the on-rushing goalkeeper Steve Booth which gave Emley the lead at the break.

The exact same combination nearly paid off again at the start of the second period, but this time Tunnacliffe’s effort was saved by Booth.

There was a brief scare when Blake Owen had the ball in the back of the net for the away side, only for the assistant to have his flag up.

Ryan managed to get his second after taking on his man and unleashing a low shot across the goalkeeper, finding the bottom corner to make it three.

Not long after Emley won a penalty, again after some flowing football down the left hand side. Ryan stepped up to seal his hat-trick, sending Booth the wrong way.

Heeley and Ruben Jerome combined down the right, but Jerome fired over at the near post. Tunnacliffe also had an effort go over the bar.

Dronfield rarely threatened after that, with Ashden Morley shooting wide following a rare attack in the second half.

Emley nearly made it five, and Kieran Ryan nearly had his fourth of the game but his thundering effort hit the post towards the end.

The win puts Emley four points off AFC Mansfield in second, with a game in hand on them. Next weekend is against table toppers Hemsworth Miners Welfare, the last team to beat Emley in the league, way back in October.