AFC Emley have now lost back-to-back league matches for the first time this season after 15th placed Brigg Town caused an upset with a 1-0 win at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground this afternoon.

Substitute Jake Crozier scored the winning goal only five minutes after coming onto the pitch.

Brigg frustrated Emley throughout the game and defended desperately to dodge any comeback from the hosts.

Darren Hepworth’s side were expected to bounce back from last week’s 4-2 defeat to promotion rivals Pontefract Collieries but they were tactically outwitted by a determined and disciplined Brigg.

The game could have been very different if Ashley Flynn’s second minute curler wasn’t expertly clawed out of the top corner by Zebras goalkeeper Dan Waring.

The longer the first half dragged on, the more confident the visitors became.

They may well have taken the lead when Sam Jerome’s short back-pass was seized by Oscar Marsden, but he couldn’t capitalise as the towering former Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Matt Glennon spread himself big.

Brigg eventually found themselves ahead with 20 minutes remaining, Crozier curling past Glennon with aplomb.

Emley’s desperate hunt for an equaliser began and was nearly found almost immediately as Aaron Joseph’s cross was almost turned into his own net by Nathan Peat.

Then Callum Charlton’s teasing ball across the box just needed a touch to find the back of the net, but nobody in a claret shirt was on hand.

Jordan Coduri let fly from 25 yards out but the ball curled wide and Matthew Jackson’s one-on-one was somehow slotted wide.

As the game drew to a close, it became evident that it wasn’t to be and that Brigg would deservedly take all three points back to North Lincolnshire.

Now the Pewits’ spot at the top of the Toolstation NCEL Division One table is under serious threat.

Pontefract have closed the gap on Emley’s lead to two points and have two games in hand. Penistone Church also have two games in hand but are five points adrift. Hall Road Rangers have three games in hand and are six points away.

As the tension grows at the top of the table, Emley must beat strugglers Dronfield Town on the road next week.