Eccleshill 1-1 Emley - Chances Blown in the Wind

The game was played in blustery conditions on a bobbly pitch meaning neither side was able to play any fluent passing football.

The home team were quickest out of the blocks with Marcus Edwards, a player who has so often been a thorn in Emley’s side scoring just 4 minutes into the game. Emley boss Darren Hepworth had warned his defence about allowing the attacker too much space but this advice appeared to go out of the window.

Edwards was allowed an opening in the second minute of the game but scuffed his shot at Paul Day in the Emley goals. Emley didn’t learn from this however and soon after he found himself in acres of space to beat Day at his near post to make it 1-0.

Emley responded and were unlucky not to have an equaliser as the Eccleshill keeper Dominic Smith made a stunning reaction save from an Anthony Leech header. In a well worked move John Cyrus knocked down a Josh Ingham free kick into the path of Leech who’s header was clean enough but Smith spread himself well. The ball ran free to Liam Schofield but he couldn’t keep his shot under the bar.

Smith was on hand soon after to tip a rasping drive by Schofield round his post following an intelligent ball into the youngster’s path. Schofield indeed had the better of Emley’s chances in the first half curling a free kick across the face of goal and forcing another save from Smith after well weighted through ball by Anthony Haigh.

When Matt Thornton was felled on the edge of the box there were cries for a penalty but the referee ruled correctly that Thorntons trailing leg hadn’t crossed the line. Nevertheless this was a dangerous position and Schofield whipped a free kick in which was goal bound but cleared by Jermaine Springer off his line.

After a strong spell of pressure by Emley, their opponents almost sprung an unlikely second goal. Drake Trease caught the Emley defence flat footed and squared to Edwards but the wind took the ball away from his strike partner as he bore down on goal.

Aaron Joseph almost capitalised on a spell of good play by Emley early in the first half but his well struck effort flew across the face of goal with Smith stranded.

Both sides had the ball in the net but were ruled offside as first Flynn for Emley and then Tyson Newell for Eccleshill displayed comfortable finishes.

Emley played their better football as Hepworth introduced Mark Wilson from the bench and moved to a 4-4-2 formation and soon after they were back on level terms. A ball over the top by Wilson found Flynn in the box, he held off his marker and in trying to square the ball to Steven Kenworthy saw the ball blocked by the hand of an Eccleshill defender.

Flynn calmly sent Smith the wrong way from the spot to record his 40th goal of the season on 70 minutes – an excellent return achieved despite him being hit by a string of injuries since January.

John Cyrus went close to giving Emley the lead minutes later but his header from a Schofield free kick was kept out by Smith at his near post. Smith was again Eccleshill’s saviour after palming a well struck shot by Haigh round the upright.

With 5 minutes to go Emley brought on 18 year old Reuben Jerome from the bench and the young striker almost scored with his first touch. Josh Ingham pumped a long throw into the box which was held up by Flynn before he laid it off to Jerome who fired agonisingly over the bar through a packed penalty area.

Throughout Eccleshill looked to hit Emley on the break but they were contained in the most but almost scored a winner against the run of play in injury time. Edwards go the better of Josh Cooke and ran clear with just Day to beat but smashed the ball wide.

A late defeat would have been undeserved for Emley who dominated for long periods after a slow start. Eccleshill have Smith to thank for a solid display of goalkeeping, the centre half pairing of Springer and Ismael Mills too also caught the eye as Emley’s forwards got little change out of them.

Emley:
Day, Thornton (Cooke 46), McIntosh (Wilson 56), Ingham, Leech, Cyrus, Joseph, Kenworthy (Jerome 86), Flynn, Schofield. Sub (not used): Townend.

Cautions: None.

Man of the match: Liam Schofield