Emley cruise to Dinnington Double

The victory was set up by 2 goals from leading striker Ashley Flynn who made amends for a string of misses on Saturday but was inspired Steve Kenworthy who worked tirelessly throughout and Anthony Haigh who put in his best performance in a long time.

Haigh had Emley’s first chance early clipping a first time shot just wide of the top corner after good work by Matt Thornton. Emley struggled to find their rhythm however and it was the vistors who created the better openings.

Paul Day made a good save from an angled drive by the impressive Mark West and was again on hand to tip over a cross from John Roper as West bore down on the target. Matthew Lepianka headed a corner just over the bar for Dinnington and John Cyrus made a telling block on the edge of the box to keep the visitors at bay.

There was a strong sense that a goal would settle Emley down, Haigh went close with a low drive following an intelligent flick by Curtis Roberts but Boyd Sheldon saved well for the visitors.

The breakthrough did come on 20 minutes however and it was created by great perseverance by Kenworthy chasing a lost ball and dragging it back from the line before crossing into the 6 yard box for Flynn to hook home.

Dinnington almost had an instant equaliser, a neat layoff by Tom Fairweather put Matthew Smith in space with just Day to beat but he inexplicably fired wide of the target from just 10 yards out. West tested Day again from 30 yards out but his save was comfortable enough.

Haigh was beginning to excerpt his influence in midfield playing some superb balls through and over the Dinnington defence to feed the goal hungry Flynn. Sheldon did make an unorthodox stop with his backside from Flynn on the edge of the box to keep him at bay on one occasion but he was powerless to stop him from notching his 37th of the season on 34 minutes.

Haigh swept a majestic ball over from just inside his own half which found the run of Flynn perfectly. The striker took one touch with the outside of his boot before directing it past the oncoming Sheldon. Simple but devastatingly effective football.

Late on in the half Haigh had a shot blocked and the loose ball fell to Aaron Jospeh but his stinging volley went just wide meaning the scores remained 2-0 at half time.

Emley remained in control through the early stages of the second half and Flynn came close to notching a hat trick but could only direct a teasing cross by Haigh onto the roof of the net.

John Cyrus went close 3 times in the space of 5 minutes with his head and a volleyed as Emley piled on the pressure forcing a series of corners. Substitute Anthony Leech drilled a low effort just wide with his first touch and then moments later couldn’t connect quite as well with after a Flynn effort deflected into his path.

Emley finally made their pressure count with 80 minutes gone as Liam Schofield delivered an inch perfect cross for Paul Sykes to head home after his initial corner had been cleared back out to him on the wing.

The final 10 minutes were the most open of the game, with Emley looking to push forward and improve their goal difference. Dinnington’s Smith curled a free kick just over the bar from a dangerous position on the edge of the box whilst Schofield was called upon to make a header of the line and Day a couple of smart saves to ensure that he kept a clean sheet.

Brad Riley injected some real fire into the game after coming on for Emley straight after their 3rd goal. He tied Lepianka in knots before crossing to Flynn only for him to clip the far post from close range. Flynn was again denied a hat trick being ruled offside following an excellent move involving Maturine and Joseph.

Then in the final minute of the game referee Cedric Duval ruled what appeared to be a clear hand ball in the box by Lepianka as accidental. Riley had again used his skill to get round the defence and delivered another teasing ball across the face with the defenders arm clearly stretched out to stop it. Had the two sides been level at that point Emley would have been mightily aggrieved not to get the decision but at 3-0 the game was comfortably in the bag.

Emley now travel to Grimsby Borough on Saturday looking to build upon this performance and end the season on a good run.

Emley:
Day, Thornton, Schofield, Ingham (Leech 71), Cyrus, Sykes, Joseph, Kenworthy, Flynn, Haigh (Riley 80), Roberts (Maturine 71). Sub (not used): Jordan.

Dinnington:
Sheldon, Yaya, Lepianka, Taylor (Cartiledge 55), Sykes, Smith, Spooner (Neath 75), Trench, West, Fairweather, Roper.

Emley man of the match: Anthony Haigh. Attendance 86.
Cautions: Sykes 85.