Dinnington Town v AFC Emley - NCEL 25th August 2012

Manager Darren Hepworth was able to put out an unchanged starting eleven with Mark Stuart replacing Josh Ingham on the bench. Ash Flynn dominated the scoring with a hat trick, with the other goals coming from Curtis Roberts and substitute Liam Schofield.

Emley were on top from the first whistle with both centre backs having early headers at goal and Wharam latching onto a Haigh through ball, lobbing the keeper but just wide of the post. On 10 minutes Dinnington had one of their few chances of the half when the ball was scrambled clear after a glaring far-post miss. After more Emley efforts the inevitable goal arrived on 18 minutes. Wharam ran from half-way beating his marker and passing the ball on to Jordan. His cross reached Flynn who took a couple of touches and placed it inside the post.

Emley continued to press and Wharam had efforts smothered by the keeper and just wide and Flynn fired over. Dinnington’s best attempt in this period was a 35-yard strike from full back Jefferies past Herriott’s post. Emley retaliated with three relatively good headed chances – Bernard’s being blocked, Hazelden’s being held by the keeper and Flynn’s going over.

Towards half time Wharam, who was all over the pitch looking for work, had yet another chance smothered, put a header wide and curled a shot just over after cutting inside. The second goal arrived on 44 minutes. This time Wharam went to the by-line after a Cyrus centre was moved on by Haigh. Wharam’s cross found Roberts who couldn’t miss from a yard out.

Half time Dinnington 0 Emley 2.

Emley continued where they left off after half time with Flynn’s mis-kick in front of goal falling to Wharam, who hit the back of the net, only to be ruled offside. After more pressure and attempts on goal from the visitors, the home side had their best chance to date when Lynam’s shot was well saved by Herriott on 55 minutes. Two minutes later they threw on all three subs in an effort to change the pattern of the match. This had the desired effect for a period with several chances coming and going and Herriott having to be alert to the danger.

However on 71 minutes the points were wrapped up for Emley when Roberts, after battling to win the ball in midfield, put Flynn through on goal and the latter calmly beat the keeper on his near post. Immediately Roberts and, especially, Wharam were given well-deserved breaks and replaced by the fresh legs of Kenworthy and Schofield. Within two minutes the former had unselfishly squared a ball to Flynn to complete his hat trick. Kenworthy was again involved in the final goal on 78 minutes when he controlled the ball, passed to fellow sub Schofield, who shot across the keeper and inside the far post.

There was still time for Schofield to nearly beat Thornton in the Dinnington net direct from a corner and Flynn to hit the post and then, in injury time, the bar. It looks like a long struggle ahead this season for the home side and, with a degree of cautious optimism, a more successful one for Emley.

TEAMS
Dinnington – Thornton, Jefferies (Hoyland), Sykes (Wade), Ramsden, Lepianka (Jon Roper), Allott, Trench, Murfin, Lynam, James Roper, Outram.
Emley – Herriott, Thornton, Leech, Cyrus (Wdowczyk), Hazelden, Banton, Haigh, Jordan, Wharam (Kenworthy), Flynn, Roberts (Schofield). Subs not used – Bradshaw, Stuart.
Attendance – 61

Man of the match – While it is very difficult to ignore the credentials of hat-trick hero Flynn, Wharam made an outstanding contribution to the team’s performance.