Narrow win at windy Welfare

Emley bounced back from their midweek defeat at Teversal by putting in a dogged team performance to overturn a strong Dronfield side and move themselves up to seventh place in the league table.
With an incredibly strong wind blowing it was always going to be a game in which playing neat, attractive football would be a struggle.

However, attacking with the wind behind them during the first half, Emley started the game by exerting pressure on the Dronfield backline, a trend that would continue for the majority of the opening 45 minutes.

After just five minutes Ruben Jerome beat the offside trap to go one on one with Dronfield goalkeeper Nick Siddons, but could only chip his effort tamely into his opposition’s midriff.

With Dronfield struggling to get out of their own half, largely due to the strong wind blowing directly into their faces, Emley’s pressure continued to build.

Central midfielder Max Leonard had two efforts in the space of as many minutes as a 25 yard half volley cannoned off the crossbar and a good chance in the 18 yard box was well saved by Siddons in the Dronfield net.

After soaking up countless Emley attacks it seemed to be only a matter of time until something would give in the Dronfield defence, and when a clearance was charged down in the 27th minute Ruben Jerome didn’t need a second invitation to put his side deservedly ahead.

It was a fine finish from the youngster, who composed himself well when faced with his second one on one of the afternoon, which gave the crowd reason to celebrate.

Dronfield responded well before half time and their striker Lewis Naylor was proving to be a physical handful for the Emley backline but there were no more goals before the break and the score remained 1-0.

With Dronfield now having the wind advantage it would prove to be a testing second period for the Emley defensive line up, led by captain Paul Sykes.

A sharp start to the half almost brought an equalising goal for the visitors as wide man Nick Horsfield skilfully made some space for a shot but couldn’t beat Emley’s goalkeeper Adam Lawlor.

The away side continued to push forward but struggled to find an end product to their territorial dominance as Lawlor continued to thwart any crosses that came into the area.

Against the run of play Emley could have taken a two goal lead on 61 minutes, as birthday doy Doran Jordan missed a golden chance to make sure of the three points as he completely missed the ball with a swinging boot when he only had the goalkeeper to beat.

Despite the wind advantage, Dronfield were not looking close to finding an equaliser as the home side’s back four stood up well to the physical test of Naylor and Horsfield.

The closest the away side came to beating goalkeeper Lawlor was in the 68th minute when substitute Steve Whitehead drilled a free kick destined for the bottom corner, only for Lawlor to get down quickly and make a fantastic save.

Emley manager Darren Hepworth made three changes to see the game out as Alex Hallam, Steve Kenworthy and Jonny Irving came on in place of Sylbert Stewart, goal scorer Jerome and influential midfielder Max Leonard.

Emley saw the remainder of the game out with very few causes for concern as their defence remained solid to earn a clean sheet, their ninth home win of the season and most importantly three points.

Man of the Match Adam Lawlor