Lethargic Emley drop points at App Frod

Darren Hepworth’s side were looking to get back on track after a heavy defeat at Albion on Saturday but failed to find the cutting edge that has seen them win comfortably against more lowly opposition this season.

Hepworth was without 5 key players in Josh Ingham, Aaron Joseph, Liam Schofield and long term absentees Ash Flynn and Paul Sykes and the side failed to play the flowing football has been their trademark. Full credit should go to Frod’ however who after a shaky start grew into the game and might have snatched the 3 points themselves.

The home side gifted Emley the lead on 17 minutes as Matthew Oates headed a Curtis Roberts cross into his own net. Prior to that neither side had threatened the goal at either end.

Appleby’s Christopher Rodgers was their most threatening player but he blasted wide with an ambitious volley from a tight angle. Soon after he had the ball in the net but was clearly in an offside position.

As the half drew on Emley began to create more and Steven Kenworthy hit a curling effort just wide of the top right hand corner after the home team failed to clear a corner.

Doran Jordan too went agonisingly close after a good passing move he turned his marker and drilled a shot into the side netting.

The half was well into injury time when Rodgers looped a header onto the Emley crossbar but rather than this acting as a warning to Emley it seemed that their minds were already in the dressing room allowing Rodgers another free header to flick on to Junior Okojie also unmarked for a simple close range header into the back of the net level the scores at half time.

Emley came out with a greater sense of purpose in the second half with Anthony Haigh forcing a fine save from Michael Guilliatt with a low well struck drive. From resulting corner the ball was played out to Haigh on the edge of the box, he again made a good clean strike but Guilliatt somehow kept the ball out this time with his feet.

Anthony Leech got into good positions to attack crosses from Jordan and Devon McIntosh but both times could only steer them wide of the goal.

At the other end of the fields Rodgers continued to cause problems for Emley. Allowed too much space he struck from long range but at a comfortable height for Paul Day to save.

Day was on hand again to make a magnificent reaction save after good play by Rodgers fed Okejie, who in turn slid the ball across the face of goal to Thomas Spall. The keeper spread himself well to block Spall’s shot from point blank range.

With 25 minutes to go Hepworth introduced Brad Riley and Levi Maturine as they went out in search of a goal. Riley forced a decent save from Guilliatt following a decent run and low strike but it was apparent that as the game went on Emley were getting more and more frustrated by a disciplined Frod’ back line.

Guilliatt was again at full stretch to tip a Haigh volley round the post as Emley began to throw men up in numbers to try and force a winner. Kenworthy drove across the face of goal after a well timed run onto a chipped ball over by Maturine.

As the clock ticked down John Cyrus timed a great run round the back of the defence onto another lofted ball but headed just over. It was all too little too late however and Emley paid the price for not getting a firmer grip on the game when they had the chance earlier on.

Next up for Emley is a home clash with a resurgent Pontefract Collieries side on Saturday and they will need to put in a stronger showing than this if they are to take anything from the game.

Appleby Froddingham:
Guilliatt, Johnson, Oates, Robinson (Okojie 10), Girling, Reid, Bradbury, Rodgers, McDonald, Tait.
Sub (not used): Yamah.

Emley:
Day, Thornton, McIntosh, Leech, Cyrus, Cooke, Wilson (Irving 80), Jordan (Riley 66), Kenworthy, Haigh, Roberts (Maturine 66).

Cautions: (App Frod) Johnson, Girling.
(Emley) None.

Man of the Match: Devon McIntosh.