Shirebrook 3- 1 AFC Emley

Emley played only their 3rd game of 2013 and their first for two and a half weeks away to Shirebrook last night.

Shirebrook seemed to find their rhythm quicker but Emley always looked dangerous on the break.

After the first 10 mins Emley started to work themselves into the game and the league top goal scorer Ash Flynn should have scored when through with only the keeper to beat but the Shirebrook no.1 came out quickly and smothered the ball.

This followed with a dangerous Doran Jordan cross which was cut out by the Shirebrook defence and another Ash Flynn shot that didn't hit the target.

As the half progressed Emley were looking solid at the back and strong going forward and against the run of play Shirebrook scored with a wind assisted 40 yard strike following a clearance by Luke Herriot that fell straight to Shirebrooks Carlos Forbes who volleyed the ball back goalwards, over Luke and into the Emley net.

The goal saw a spirited fightback from Emley but unfortunately before the break both Josh Ingham & Anthony Haigh picked up yellow cards for over zerlous tackles.

Early in the 2nd half the ever dependable Josh Cooke slipped to allow Shirebrook through with only Luke to beat but the Emley shotstopper produced a great save getting down low to his left hand post.

Emley were struggling to get their normal passing game going and went further behind when they failed to clear a Shirebrook corner and Tom Mullen netted on 49 minutes to make it 2-0 to the home side.

Ten minutes later it looked like Anthony Haigh had given Emley a lifeline scoring his 16th of the season after being put through by Ash Flynn. The revival was short lived however as Shirebrook went straight back up the the field to score their third when Josh Cooke deflected a cross into his own net.

On 65 minutes Daz made a triple substitution bringing on Curtis Roberts, Levi Maturine and Brad Riley for Doran Jordan, Anthony Haigh and Steven Kenworthy. This seemed to spur Emley on as they chased the two goal deficit and after some good work Ash Flynn made some space for himself in the box but shot straight at the keeper. Clearly it wasn't going to be the strikers night, he must have left his scoring boots at home ready for Saturdays vase game when we are hoping Emley can bounce back with a victory to take them through to the last 16.