AFC Emley retained a place in the Toolstation NCEL Division One automatic promotion places after ending a bad run with a 2-0 away victory against Rossington Main on Saturday.

Captain Kieran Ryan scored a goal in each half, securing the Pewits’ first league win since January 21st.

Darren Hepworth’s side remain under pressure from the chasing pack – Hall Road Rangers and Penistone Church both have two games in hand and are two and four points away from Emley, respectively.

Hepworth will have breathed a sigh of relief after the full time whistle blew at Oxford Street, as Emley’s slim chance of gaining automatic promotion remains in sight.

Tom Robinson and Jordan Coduri warmed Main goalkeeper Daniel Morton’s hands early on with long range efforts.

The visitors persistently pestered Rossington’s goal as Josh Ingham’s header was flicked just wide before Ryan couldn’t capitalise on a break.

Coduri, who found space to play a square ball across to the penalty area, found an unmarked Ryan, making no mistake with the finish.

Emley had chances to double the lead before half-time but Ingham, Sam Jerome and Robinson couldn’t punish the hosts.

Rossington nearly made Emley pay barely a minute after the interval. Cameron Johnson beat the offside trap but couldn’t beat Graham McLachlan’s right iron fist.

Johnson could have made amends when he cropped up at the back post and on the counter attack but it wasn’t his day.

Ryan became Emley’s second highest scorer for the season, but goal number 15 certainly won’t be the first he remembers, capitalising on a defensive horror show from the hosts.

He was denied a hat-trick by a smart Morton save before substitute Jordan Townend had an effort blocked on the line in stoppage time.

Emley travel to Premier Division side Rainworth Miners Welfare on Tuesday night (7.45pm) in the quarter-final of the NCEL League Cup.