Emley 8-0 Bottesford Town. Joseph hat trick inspires Emley rout

Aaron Joseph inspired the victory with an outstanding display in midfield which earned him a hat trick in the process.

Joseph created the first goal on 9 minutes showing great determination down the left flank, first to keep the ball in play then deliver an excellent ball over for Steven Kenworthy to nod home.

Bottesford responded well and Mike Thompson broke through the Emley defence straight from the restart but Paul Day dealt with his chipped effort well. Play moved from end to end with Emley creating the better chances, Bottesfords attacks were kept at bay by the home defence with Paul Sykes particularly dominant in the air and leading his backline well.

Ashley Flynn was unlucky not to score after being released by Devon McIntosh, the league’s leading striker turned his marker then drew ‘keeper Steve Barker off his line but fired across the face of goal from a tight angle. Sykes also went close heading a Liam Schofield free kick into the side netting.

A deflected Mark La Rocca shot which Day again dealt comfortably was all that the visitors really had to shout about for the remainder of the half before Emley finally doubled their lead.

Jonny Irving made a confident run before striking a hard low shot between two Bottesford defenders, Barker saved the shot but Joseph followed up well to chip home from 10 yards out, making it 2-0 on 35 minutes.

Flynn sprung the visitors offside trap on 41 minutes again drawing Baker from his line but this time his shot found the net from a tighter angle than his earlier chance. In scoring his 42 goal of the season he aggravated his hamstring injury which has plagued the second half of his season leaving him to play no further part in the game.

Emley continued to press despite having 10 men on the field before Darren Hepworth had the opportunity to bring on Reuben Jerome as substitute and Kenworthy rattled the cross bar from just inside the box. Bottesford cleared for a corner but their relief was short lived as corner kick was only cleared as far as Joseph, 25 yards from goal he drove through a packed penalty area to make it 4-0 on the stroke of half time.

Bottesford’s only clear chance of the second half came early on when Danny Bolton dispossessed Josh Ingham before crossing to Thomspson but Sykes was on hand to make a timely block.

Good interplay between Jerome and Kenworthy set up Antony Leech but his close range shot was blocked. Irving also went close with a drive from the edge of the box and Joseph had an excellent opportunity to notch a hat trick after being released by Kenworthy but struck ball past Barker and just the wrong side of the post.

Joseph did get his hat trick on 65 minutes however reacting quickest to the loose ball after Barker saved a decent effort by Jerome.

Hepworth introduced Mark Wilson from the bench to record a landmark 900th appearance in non league football much to the appreciation of the home crowd. He wasted little time getting into the action releasing Kenworthy down the left who fed the ball in for Jerome to force home from close range (70 minutes) – his first goal since making the step up from the under 19 side.

Wilson, played out the remainder of the game with a clear smile on his face, getting stuck in and organising the young team around him. He almost scored a fairytale goal too with a cracking 25 yard volley which appeared goalbound until it deflected of a visiting defender.

Kenworthy scored Emley’s 7th goal on 85 minutes tapping home an unselfish McIntosh cross from a move started by Jerome.

It was Emley’s other young substitute that wrapped up the scoring with 2 minutes to go. Jordan Townend volleying home from close range after Wilson picked him out brilliantly with a deep free kick taken out on the right wing.

This was a thoroughly dominant performance from Emley and particularly pleasing for the performances of the younger players, Jerome, Townend, Irving and McIntosh who have made the transition to first team football with great success.

Emley:
Day, McIntosh, Schofield, Leech, Cyrus, Sykes, Joseph, Ingham (Wilson 69), Flynn (Jerome 41), Kenworthy, Irving (Townend 61). Sub (not used): Cooke.

Cautions: None Man of the Match: Aaron Joseph. Att:91.

Emley’s final game of the season takes place on Saturday when they visit promoted Athersley Rec (3.00pm). Meanwhile the Development squad wrap up their league campaign at home to Wibsey on Friday evening.