Worsbrough Bridge Athletic v AFC Emley - NCEL 18th September 2012

A well taken goal from former Emley man Craig Goodyear early in the second half was all that separated the two sides at the end of a scrappy game.

Emley boss Darren Hepworth was forced to reshuffle his side with defenders Antony Leech and Sean Hazelden out injured and John Cyrus who has been outstanding in recent games suspended for one match. Anthony Haigh returned to the side following his own suspension and Steven Kenworthy started up from for the Emley.

Worsborough started strongest and had two good chances in the opening stages as Emley’s unfamiliar looking defence looked unsettled. Scott Turner got round the back of his marker and in attempting to divert a cross into the net stretched his arm out the ball to earn himself a yellow card. Soon after the normally lethal Adam Podmore was inches away from turning in a cross from strike partner Lee Garside.

At the other end of the field Emley were restricted to a curling effort by Doran Jordan, which was comfortably saved by James Jenkinson and a shot by Dean Wharam which went wide of target. It was Worsborough who enjoyed the better of the possession however using the sloping pitch to their advantage.

Turner impressed for the home side and was allowed space down the left flank all too often. He drove into the box before squaring to Podmore but Liam Schofield was alert to block inside the six yard box. Soon after Turner was let in again following a slip by Josh Ingham and this time he had the space to go it alone but Emley keeper Luke Herriot was on hand to make a good reaction save at his near post.

Garside followed Turner into the referee’s notebook after a high challenge on Herriot which left the keeper requiring sustained treatment. Minutes later he missed a great opportunity to give his side the sliding in on a cross from Turner but poking it wide.

Schofield ended the half with the two best Emley efforts seeing the first blocked by Jenkinson with his feet. Then in the dying minutes of the half, following an intelligent ball by Haigh he hit a terrific half volley from 25 yards out which produced an equally impressive save from Jenkinson who turned the ball round the post.

Emley opened the half well with Ashley Flynn making a good break before hitting a decent shot just wide of the goal. It would be Worsborough however who took the lead in the 52 minute and it was a true moment of class that saw Goodyear curl an unstoppable shot past Herriot into the top left hand corner.

Garside might have double the lead soon after turning his marker well but firing just over the bar. Emley responded in search of an equaliser but Flynn fired high over the bar after good work by Jordan. Josh Ingham then hit a cracking strike from distance which had Jenkinson well beaten but the home keeper was relieved to see the ball canon against the bar.
Wharam who saw too little of the ball to excerpt his usual influence on the game worked hard to make space for himself before laying the ball off for Schofield but his shot was simple enough for Jenkinson to deal with. Meanwhile Andy Broadbent, another former Emley player was booked for the home team after making a crude block on Jordan who was threatening to race through on goal.

Worsborough failed to push on from their goal advantage and Emley, likewise found it difficult to carve out any decent chances as the final 20 minutes was punctuated by a series of substitutions. Tempers flared five minutes from time following a challenge between Emley’s Matt Thornton and ‘Boroughs Turner. Eventually after consulting with his two assistant’s the ref awarded a free kick to Emley and a second yellow card to Turner. Jordan also picked up a yellow card for dissent following the incident and substitute Curtis Roberts was booked for a clumsy challenge late on.

Emley might have forced an equaliser in injury time as Wharam hit a thunderous strike from 35 yards out but Jenkinson was again on hand to turn the ball round the post. So Worsborough clung on to earn the points as Emley failed to replicate the performances of their last two games. Next up they face their fifth away game on the trot with a trip to early pacesetters Teversal on Saturday.

Worsborough:
Jenkison, Scully, Roberts, Goodyear, Morley, Forgione,Turner, Broadbent, Podmore (Gelsthorpe 76), Garside, White (Anthony 82). Not used: Hilton, Kean, Atkins.
Booked: Turner, Garside, Broadbent. Sent Off: Turner (second yellow)

Emley:
Herriot, Jordan, Schofield, Ellis, Thornton, Banton, Ingham, Haigh, Wharam, Kenworthy (Maturine 67), Flynn (Roberts 79). Sub (not used) Lyness.
Booked: Jordan, Roberts.

Emley man of the Match: Matt Thornton.