Sykes is spot on after Todd injury set-back

However an early injury to Adam Todd and the visitor’s goal against the run of play on the hour mark made it anything but straightforward.

The game was just 6 minutes old when Emley were forced into a double substitution. Ryan Brook had aggravated a groin injury and, just before he made way for Antony Leech, Todd went down after an innocuous aerial challenge.

It was immediately clear the striker had damaged his left arm and an ambulance was called. Following a 75 minute delay, play re-started with Leech and Mark Crossfield called into early action.

At the re-start it was Hall Road Rangers that had the first chance, Emley goalkeeper Danny Armitage bravely saving at the feet of the on-rushing Chris Adams. That was the nearest the visitors’ came to a goal for 45 minutes of play, when Adams got in behind the Emley defence and calmly slotted home totally against the run of play on 60 minutes.

Between those two opportunities, it was pretty much all going the way of the home side. Liam Schofield, Doran Jordan and Brighton Mugadza all provided good service into the box but the final decisive touch never came.

Sub Mark Crossfield had Emley’s best chance early in the second half with the scores still level at 0-0, but his reaction shot was saved at point-blank range by Ryan Ramsden who was in inspired form in the Hall Road Rangers’ goal.

Alex Hallam, Mugadza and Aaron Josepeh all blasted opportunities wide or over the woodwork before the visitor’s took the lead.

Now 1-0 down, Emley streaked forward at every opportunity and it seemed like only a matter of time before the Emley would get the equaliser.

Hallam’s brilliant shot from the edge of the box was bettered by the Ramsden save, low down to his right. From the resulting corner, Michael Tunnacliffe hit a fierce shot that left the crossbar shaking.

The inevitable happened on 77 minutes. Up for a corner, Paul Sykes was adjudged to have been punched by ‘keeper Ramsden after the Emley captain had played the ball. Sykes made no mistake from the spot to make it 1-1.

The wind was in the Emley sails again and the home side pushed on for all three points. After a appeal for a further penalty was waved away by referee Michael Brownsett, he had no hesitation on the next occasion when Doran Jordan was brought down on the left hand side. Sykes was on hand again to despatch the resulting penalty – his sixth of the season from the spot to make him joint top scorer for Emley so far this term.

2-1 was the least Emley deserved for the chances they created and the way in which they reacted to the loss of Todd. But two pens was also a harsh way for Hall Road Rangers to lose – especially for their goalkeeper Ramsden who was head and shoulders above the rest for his team’s Man of the Match.

AFC Emley: Danny Armitage, Ryan Brook (Antony Leech, 7), Liam Schofield, Tunnacliffe, Sam Jerome, Paul Sykes ©, Aaron Joseph, Doran Jordan, Adam Todd (Mark Crossfield, 7), Brighton Mugadza (Jordan Townend, 75), Alex Hallam

Subs not used: Robbie Wadsworth, Chris Senior

Booked: Sykes (73)

AFC Emley goals: Sykes (77 & 89, both pens)

AFC Emley Man of the Match: Paul Sykes

Attendance: 75