AFC Emley v Grimsby Borough - NCEL 29th September 2012

This is the 4th time in 7 games that Darren Hepworth’s side have fallen to defeat after taking the lead and the manager will be looking for his side to bounce back against Clipstone Welfare on Tuesday.

Whilst Emley’s current run of form is a major concern the biggest talking point of the game was the referee Michael Coles and a string of questionable decisions that he made leading to both sides having a player sent off in a game that was played in good spirit throughout.

Emley started the game strongly with Sean Hazelden heading into the side netting in the first minute from a Matt Thornton free kick. They were in the lead a minute later as Ashley Flynn notched his 8th goal of the season from close range following good work by Ashley Ellis and a cross by Curtis Roberts. Flynn came close to doubling the lead 10 minutes later after a driving run into the penalty area but the Grimsby goalkeeper Leigh Cook made a good save.

Grimsby gradually found their way back into the game and went close as Towm Heaton volleyed the ball back into the mix after a corner was cleared but John Waugh couldn’t turn it in at the post. They did manage to even things back up on 37 minutes as James Petronzi dispossessed Liam Schofield out wide before delivering a cross into the box for Luke Fanthorpe to stab home from close range.

A combination of the wind and good goalkeeping by Cook kept Emley at bay for the remainder of the half. A swinging cross by Schofield evaded the Cook’s reach and ended up on the roof of the net before the keeper saved from hard low shot by Roberts after a direct run into the box brushing off the visiting defence on his way through.

Josh Ingham replaced Anthony Haigh at half time with the midfielder suffering from tonsillitis as Emley started the half positively. Schofield thought he had scored for Emley with a good finish following a flowing move but was ruled to be in an offside position.

As Emley took a good grip on the game in the early stages of the half Grimsby were restricted to a handful of attacks on the break. Waugh volleyed into the side netting for Grimsby after latching on to a well weighted ball, whilst a drilled free kick by Mark Courtly brought a decent save from Herriot.

A driving run by Thornton took him well into the visitors half but his shot, following a neat 1-2 with Levi Maturine was blocked. Thornton worked hard to win it back and delivered a good cross but Maturine headed over.

A concerted spell of pressure lead to play being almost exclusively confined to the final 1/3 of the field with Roberts, Schofield, Maturine and Flynn all seeing efforts blocked by some resolute defending. A neat ball by Schofield found Flynn in a good position 10 yards from goal but his angled strike was saved excellently by the impressive Cook.

Borough took the lead against the run of play on 69 minutes as Waugh raced onto a through ball to roll it home past Herriot from the edge of the box. He almost doubled the lead soon after curling a shot over the bar as the visitors began to grow in confidence. A mazy run through the Emley defence by Petronzi deserved a 3rd goal for the visitors but his shot crashed against the crossbar.

Emley were reduced to 10 men in the 79th minute as Thornton picked up a second yellow card after questioning the referee’s decision to play advantage following a foul on an Emley player. The decision left players and fans bemused after similar comments made by the opposition went unpunished.

Hepworth brought on Paul Banton and Josimar Bradshaw to provide fresh legs to help salvage something from the final 10 minutes of the game but Emley clearly missed Thornton who had grafted tirelessly through the game.

Emley were up against a keeper on top form however and Cook turned another decent effort by Flynn round the post. Next came a good low block from a downward header by Cyrus followed by an aerial leap to deny Maturine.

Referee Coles brandished a second yellow card to Fanthorpe with 4 minutes to go for dissent, this was not before time as it was the 4th time that the ref had had to warn the player for his conduct. The more cynical would say that this was just levelling things up following Thornton’s sending off. Bizarrely Schofield was also booked for kicking the ball away when returning it to a Grimsby player who was due to take a throw in despite the protestations of players on both sides.

Schofield was in the thick of the action in the final stages of the game as he flashed a shot across the face of goal from a difficult angle following a good ball from Roberts. Then in the final moments of the game he did well to win the ball back following a heavy challenge on Flynn before getting round the back of the defence and squaring for John Cyrus who slid in but skied the ball over the bar to end a thoroughly frustrating afternoon for Emley.

Emley have an early chance to bounce back on Tuesday evening when they entertain second placed Clipstone Welfare (7.45pm). The under 19s squad have a league game the same evening at Liversedge.

Meanwhile the development side played out a thrilling 5-5 draw with Wibsey in the WRCL. Emley were 3-1 down at one stage but fought back to force a draw.