No Happy New Year for Claret and Blue

AFC Emley's year got off to a disappointing start as they fell to 10th in the Northern Counties East League First Division after a 2-0 defeat at Rossington Main.

Darren Hepworth’s side went into the game unbeaten in four but were undone by two first-half goals in Doncaster.

Ben Hunter curled a shot into the top corner on 14 minutes and then Steve Etherington notched with a sweet volley from a corner after half an hour.

Emley had early chances to grab the lead however, with Rossington’s defence coping with a quick succession of corner kicks as the claret and blue piled on the early pressure.

It was on the counter from one of those corners that Hunter put the home side ahead and from a corner of their own Etherington volleyed in.

After an end-to-end first half, the second period was much tighter but Emley were aggrieved when a penalty for handball was waved away - just as the tide seemed to be turning in their favour.

Rossington have taken 13 points from the last 15 and are up to 16th while Emley will aim to bounce back at home to Yorkshire Amateur on Saturday.

“It was very frustrating, because we had loads of possession but lacked end product,” said Hepworth. “To be fair to them, they scored two absolute crackers.”