Sykes & Joseph seal Emley Win

Borough started well and Paul Day was forces to clear his lines from Josh Fuller and Andy Taylor before Emley settled down and began to play some decent football.

Aaron Joseph fired over the bar and Ashley Flynn’s finishing let him down after being played in by Liam Schofield before Emley finally took the lead on 12 minutes.

Flynn stretched the home defence before pulling the ball to Joseph on the edge of the box who hit a rocket of a shot into the top left hand corner. The industrious Joseph has now scored twice in the last three games after being goalless throughout the season up to that point.

Joseph continued to run the game in midfield for Emley whilst Flynn was denied by a tremendous interception by Matty Hall.

John Waugh hit a powerful shot from distance for Borough but it deflected into the safe hands of Day off Emley captain Paul Day. Taylor also hit a shot just over the bar but the home team failed to record an equaliser in the first half.

Emley came out all guns blazing in the second half and Flynn hit a powerful shot just wide after dispossessing Keran Wressell. The 37 goal striker was forced off soon after with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, being replaced by Levi Maturine.

It was only a matter of time before Emley doubled their lead and it was Sykes scoring for the second consecutive game on the hour mark. The veteran defender successfully converted a Schofield corner with a 6 yard volley into the back of the net.

Sykes was denied another goal by a full stretch save by Liam Higton, as again up for a corner he planted a header on target.

Rather than Emley extending their lead the next goal came against the run of play with the home team clawing one back. Substitute Jake Thompson started the move, playing in Fuller who hit a firm shot at goal. Day could only parry the effort which ran free to Louis Grant to stab home into an empty net on 71 minutes.

Things turned worse for Emley 2 minutes later as Liam Schofield was red carded following a clash with Thompson after the full back reacted to what he felt was an unfair challenge by the Grimsby player.

Despite Grimsby’s numerical advantage Emley still took a positive approach to the game and Joseph went agonisingly close to making it 3-1, with Higton making a fingertip save to tip the ball over the bar.

Emley had two strong calls for penalties waved away and survived a late scare as Day saved an injury time free kick to hold on for a well earned victory.

Emley:
Day, Leech, Schofield, Ingham, Cyrus, Sykes, Joseph, Jordan, Flynn (Maturine 55), Haigh (Thornton 74), Kenworthy (Riley 88).

Sent Off: Schofield 73. Caution: Kenworthy: 87.

Emley Man of the Match: Aaron Joseph.