Emley downed by Dronfield

Home defeat for the Pewits

AFC Emley suffered their 2nd home league defeat of the season after going down 0-2 to Dronfield Town at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.
A goal in each half from Mark Fereday saw Dronfield take all 3 points back to North Derbyshire .
In a game which was preceded with an impeccable minutes silence for long standing supporter Trevor Curtis and to remember other members of the Emley family, Emley started the brightest in the bright sunshine.
After some great work by Ben Mills released Ruben Jerome, the striker's shot was saved by the Dronfield Keeper, Jerome would get another chance a minute or so later from an equally impressive run and cross from the right by Danny Stocker, but this time,Jerome fired his shot wide.
Emley were on top in the early stages and looked to make their domination count, Brad Kemp picked the ball up on the left and cut inside before unleashing a shot that, again went wide of the post.
Dronfield managed a very rare early raid on the Emley goal, but good defensive play saw the attack snuffed out.
Emley were back onto the attack a couple of minutes later, when Kemp again on the left, put in a great looking cross, but it was headed out for a corner, which ultimately came to nothing.
The visitors were now finding their feet and causing Emley some problems, a couple of half attacks were dealt with before Adam Ledger pulled off a tremendous double save, a close range shot was well parried but only to a Dronfield attacker, whose solid shot was on target before Ledger swung a leg at it to see the ball go for a corner, which was then put over from close range.
Dronfield then took the lead after another attack, a cross from the right wasn't dealt with and a neat turn and shot from inside the area beat Ledger.
Emley had a chance to draw level, but Stocker's free kick from outside the area sailed over the bar, Dronfield closed the first half with another attack, Emley couldn't deal with a through ball but luckily Ledger was on hand to save one on one.
H/T: 0-1
The second began, like the first half ended, with with a couple of tasty challenges, which looked like getting out of hand, but after firing a shot straight at Ledger, Dronfield doubled their lead 7 minutes into the half, a mix up in defence saw Fereday clean through, Ledger, again, made the initial save but Fereday was on hand to tap the 2nd effort home from close range to double the visitors' lead.
The game became a bit of a midfield battle, with Emley trying to break down stubborn Dronfield defending and the visitors looking for a 3rd to kill the game.
Ledger was on hand again to make another good save, a quick break and shot was pushed onto the post and out for a corner to the relief of the home side, who then got a second wind and heaped a load of pressure on Dronfield, constant raids by the wing backs had the Dronfield defenders back pedalling, 3 successive corners were earned in this spell, but again, no joy in the finishing department from Emley.
As time ran out Emley threw Sam Jerome up front and he caused problems, but still Emley couldn't break down a very good defensive unit, Ben Burnett was inches away from connecting with a cracking left wing cross, and then Sam Jerome found himself clean through after finally breaching the Dronfield defence, but unfortunately his shot drifted wide of the post and Emley's chance for at least a consolation goal had gone.
F/T: 0-2
Attendance 127
AFC Emley:Ledger(A), Kemp, Stocker, Wallace, Stafford, Jerome (S), Whittaker, Tunnacliffe, Jerome(R), Townend, Mills: Subs used; Ingham, Starkey, Burnett- Unused ;Hughes, Jackson
Hepworth Group Man Of The Match- Danny Stocker