AFC Emley 0-4 Hallam

A Chris Wood hattrick was enough to see Hallam take all three points in a comfortable away win at AFC Emley Wednesday night.

It was a very good defensive first half for both sides with very few chances. It was Hallam who threatened first three minutes in when Chris Wood’s dangerous shot was deflected out for a corner which came to nothing.

Emley had the next big chance when early substitute Aaron Joseph was through on goal, but brought down by Hallam’s Gareth Griffiths, who was only shown a yellow for his challenge, many felt it should have been more.

Emley had a glorious chance in the 28th minute when Matty Waller danced his way into the box but nobody could get to the ball before it was cleared. What followed were several hand ball appeals from the home side, but the referee waved them all away, and it was goalless at half time.

Hallam took the lead two minutes after the break, when captain Wood headed home for the visitors. He added his and his team’s second goal three minutes later tapping home from a cross.

Lewis Dickinson had the home side’s best chance of the second half when he brought down a long ball and his powerful shot from outside the box was saved by Hallam Keeper Andrew Sneath. There was a break in play shortly after as tempers flared and players from both teams got into a scuffle which resulted in Hallam’s Mitchell Dunne being shown a yellow card.

Dunne made it 3-0 to the away side in the 86th minute, before Wood completed his hattrick in the 88th minute, securing Hallam all three points. Emley will look to bounce back and get a more positive result on Saturday, when they host league newcomers FC Bolsover.