AFC Emley clinch three points against resurgent Louth

The White Wolves clearly benefitted from their midweek change of management but it looked like Emley were on their way to victory at a canter when a Liam Schofield free-kick was flicked goalwards by Doran Jordan. Captain Paul Sykes made sure at the back post to put the hosts ahead on 11 minutes.

A strong penalty shout was turned down when Schofield was pushed over in the box, referee Wayne Escreet adjudging the offence took place outside the area. From the resulting free-kick, Brighton Mugadza was unlucky not to double the advantage as his effort went inches wide of Josh Thompson’s left post.

Despite the windswept conditions, Emley played good football – building well from the back and switching play to really stretch lowly Louth. But it remained 1-0 at the interval due to a combination of poor finishing and lack of the ‘killer’ final ball. Michael Tunnacliffe the guilty party on two occasions with efforts sailing the wrong side of the woodwork.

Emley were kicking themselves not to have put the game beyond doubt in the first period and, to compound matters, Louth came out of the blocks much the stronger side. The second half was in its infancy when Emley failed to clear smartly, lost possession in midfield and could only thank their lucky stars when Marcus Mason’s thunderbolt effort rattled off the corner of the Emley woodwork with ‘keeper Danny Armitage stranded.

The bar was rattling again on 55 minutes as Louth captain Jason Flint’s free-kick from a central position looked goal-bound from 22 yards out.

Emley’s luck ran out moments later. Conceding a free kick for a innocuous challenge on the corner of the 18-yard area, Mason’s free-kick was cruelly deflected by Schofield past a helpless Armitage.

However the injustice of the free-kick seemed to fire up Emley from the restart and they were quickly back in front. From the half-way line, Aaron Joseph strode forward with purpose and showed great strength to bring Emley to the edge of the box. He was eventually upended but advantage was played as the ball dropped to Alex Hallam who hit a rasping shot past Thompson.

The remaining half-an-hour was a scrappy affair with four Louth players cautioned for late tackles as they tried in vain to get something from the game. Sykes went closest to putting the game beyond any doubt – his header wide from no more than 4 yards out was the last in a trio of chances in a goal mouth scramble.

AFC Emley: Danny Armitage, Ryan Brook, Liam Schofield, Antony Leech, Sam Jerome, Paul Sykes ©, Aaron Joseph, Doran Jordan (Steve Kenworthy, 67), Alex Hallam, Brighton Mugadza (Sylbert Stewart, 67), Michael Tunnacliffe (Josh Ingham, 82)

Unused subs: Jack Steers, Adam Lawlor

Emley Man of the Match: Liam Schofield

Attendance: 77