Emley let lead slip

The point means that Emley are now without a win in six, but if taken their second half chances the hosts could have claimed all three in what was a thrilling spectacle.

November had been a disappointing month and one to forgot for Emley, after recording only one win in six attempts, resulting in crashing out of two cup competitions and a unwanted descent down the league table. But, when Doran Jordan struck a stunning half volley to double the home side’s lead, after only 25 minutes, Emley’s fortunes looked to be changing for the better. That was until Andrew Catton clawed one back 2 minutes later and then fifteen minutes before the final whistle Liam Radford completed the comeback for Pontefract.

On a bitter evening at the Welfare Ground it was Emley who adapted to the wintery conditions the quickest and as so often seen this year, started the game the better, forcing two corners early on.

The Collieries may have been surprised by the impressive start and if it wasn’t for Antony Brown failing to hit the target on his favored right foot, they could have found themselves behind after just eight minutes.

Despite the visitors coming more into the game, it was still the hosts who looked more of an offensive threat and went close again on 18 minutes. The build up to Brown’s effort at goal was sublime. Arguably the best move of the match. It started when Adam Lawlor picked out Brown in acres of space on the half way line, after collecting the ball from a Pontefract corner. Brown then played a simple pass into Alex Hallam located on the left touchline. The winger beat his man and got into a crossing position to whip in a delightful ball for Brown who had continued his run, but the forward was unable to direct his shot goal-wards. Such fluent football was greeted with a rapturous round of applause from the home crowd as they appreciated the speed in which Emley turned defence into attack.

The brilliant link up play from Hallam and Brown was a warning to Pontefract, but one they appeared not to pay much attention to, as a mere two minutes later the two combined again, this time to much greater effect. Hallam found space on the left, and picked out Brown who had been left unmarked to comfortably head Emley in front.

A second quickly followed. This time through individual brilliance. On 25 minutes the ball fell loose just inside the area for Jordan who sent the ball crashing off the underside of the bar and into the net, with the keeper not even wasting energy with an attempt to save a strike that was of the highest quality.

Nonetheless, Pontefract instantly reduced the deficit to cap off a frantic seven minutes. It was their first meaningful attack of the game and one which saw Catton peel off to the back post. He controlled well from a Tom Agus cross and calmly slotted the ball past Lawlor and into the far bottom corner bringing the score to 2-1.

The goal brought confidence into the away side and they finished the half much the stronger. Both Kingsley Weatherald and Kyle Hawthorne forced Lawlor into making two tremendous saves, while on the 43rd minute Hawthorne did beat Lawlor, but was to be denied by a questionable offside flag.

Emley will have been relieved to be going into the break with their marginal lead intact as Pontefract were looking likely to get the next goal.

However, straight after the interval, Emley had a wonderful opportunity to increase their lead. Steve Kenworthy raced to the byline and zipped a low cross across the face of goal. The ball reached the far post where the onrushing Hallam shot first time, but only at the feet of goalkeeper Craig Parry; either side of Parry and it was sure to be a goal.

Afterwards, Pontefract started to have more of the possession but similar to the first period, it was in fact Emley who looked the more dangerous when on the attack. Michael Tunnacliffe, who came on for the injured Brown in the first half, failed to stretch his leg far enough to get the important touch that would have sent the ball goal-wards. Then, Kenworthy had his close range shot cleared off the line whilst in the same attack Hallam saw his effort come crashing off the upright.

As each chance went begging, you couldn’t help in thinking that these wasted opportunities would come back and haunt the team in Claret and Blue. And sure enough, on 75 minutes, it did. Emley were punished for failing to clear the danger inside their own penalty area, as forward Liam Radford was quickest to react to the loose ball and fired an unstoppable shot into the corner to complete the Pontefract comeback.

Both sides pushed for the victory late on, but neither team could provide the much needed clinical finish in what was a truly entertaining ninety minutes of football.