Emley AFC boss Richard Tracey believes his side are beginning to show they can compete at Step Three as the Pewits prepare to welcome Ashton United to the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground on Saturday.

Emley have made an encouraging start to life in the Northern Premier League - Premier Division, picking up seven points from their opening four matches. A goalless draw at Hyde United on the opening day was followed by a 2-1 defeat at home to Ilkeston Town, but Tracey’s side have responded with consecutive 2-1 victories over Curzon Ashton and Leek Town.

Those results leave the Pewits ninth in the early league table, with Saturday’s visitors Ashton sitting fifth having collected nine points from their opening four fixtures.

Emley began their campaign with a hard earned point at Hyde, where goalkeeper Ben Bottomley produced an impressive competitive debut to help the Pewits secure a clean sheet. Reflecting on the opening day, Tracey said: “Hyde certainly didn’t make it easy for us. They controlled a lot of the possession in the first half, but I thought we were better after the break and looked more of a threat. The reality was that it was the first game of the season and neither side really wanted to lose. It was a good, fair and hard earned point on the road, and we were really pleased with that. I don’t think there were any nerves about stepping up a level. There are only a couple of players in the squad who haven’t played at this level. It was more about sizing up the task ahead and making sure we were in the right place. I thought we looked calm and probably more composed in possession, keeping the ball for longer than we might have done in the past.”

Emley were left frustrated three days later as Ilkeston Town claimed a 2-1 victory at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground. The visitors established a two goal first half advantage before Bailey Thompson scored Emley’s first NPL Premier Division goal in 20 years. The Pewits dominated for long periods after the interval, with Gabriel Johnson hitting the post and Ilkeston forced to withstand sustained pressure.

Tracey believes it was a game his side deserved more from. He said: “Out of the four games so far, that’s been the most dominant we were. The goals that we conceded, we were very much contributors to. If we hadn’t made those mistakes and had defended the second one better, I really believe we would have won the game. I think if we had got the equaliser, we would have gone on and won it. That was the frustration and disappointment because the games don’t get any easier. When you’ve played that well and not got anything, you’re thinking about how you’re going to find those wins if you don’t win the games where you are dominant.”

Emley didn't have to wait long for that first victory. Just three days after the Ilkeston defeat, the Pewits produced an impressive performance to beat Curzon Ashton 2-1 under the Friday night lights. Diego Di Girolamo opened his Emley account with a superb volley before Charlie Barks headed home a second before half time. Curzon pulled one back deep into stoppage time, but Emley held firm to secure their first three points of the campaign.

Tracey said: “I thought we performed really well. They’re a very good side and they move the ball really well, but I thought we kept them at arm’s length and deserved the win. Their goal in the 96th minute took a little bit of the shine off it, but it was late enough for them not really to have another chance to impact the game. I was delighted with those first three points. It’s massive for the mentality. You want to get those three points and get up and running.”

Emley followed that victory with another impressive result on Tuesday night, this time coming from behind to win 2-1 at Leek Town.

The hosts opened the scoring, but Aaron Haswell's powerful effort restored parity shortly before half time. Gabriel Johnson then finished a flowing Emley move in the 80th minute to secure all three points, while Bottomley made two important stoppage time saves as Leek searched for an equaliser. It was a different type of performance, but one which pleased Tracey just as much. He said: “I would probably say it was our worst performance of the four games. It was our fourth game in 10 days and I think there was some fatigue in there, mentally as much as physically. We didn’t play particularly well, but what we did was find a way to equalise quickly after they scored, keep them at bay and then manage to hit them on the counter attack and score. The lads stood up and defended well and we earned the win by defending the lead. You’ve got to give Leek credit because they’re a good football team. They’re a big team, but they can play football as well and they asked a lot of questions of us.

“When the chips were down, for us still to be able to come away from home and get a win was really positive. We’ve got four points away from home from two games and I think that’s a very good return.”

Attention now turns to Ashton United, who make the trip to the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground on Saturday afternoon. The Robins have made an impressive start themselves, winning three of their opening four league matches to sit fourth in the table. Tracey knows Emley will face another significant examination and revealed members of the Ashton management team were in attendance for the Pewits’ victory against Curzon.

He said: “They were there at the game on Friday against Curzon watching us. Steve is a good guy and Tom Denton, who is obviously a former Wakefield and Emley favourite, is part of their management group now. They’re a competitive team. They’ve had a little bit of a reset this year, moved a few players on and brought a few more in. John Lufudu, who plays for them, is one of our former players from Step Six. John signed for us when we first took over at the football club before moving onwards and upwards. They’re a good side and they’ve gone and got some really good results, but we’re at home and we need to make sure we put the pressure on them and ask questions of them.”

Tracey has also highlighted Ashton’s threat from dead ball situations as one area his side will have to manage carefully. He added: “They’re very good from set pieces. Alex Byrne has been around a fair while, he’s technically sound and delivers great quality, so they’re going to ask a lot of questions of you if you give away set-pieces. They’re a big defensive unit, they’ve got pace in the back line and going forward they’ve got quality. The reality is that everybody has quality at this level and everybody can beat everyone else. At Steps Five and Six, you might have teams with flashes of brilliance in them. Everybody seems very capable at this level and there’s nothing given away for free.”

Emley will assess Harrison Sheppeard ahead of the weekend after he was forced off against Curzon Ashton and subsequently missed the victory at Leek. Ross is also back from holiday, while Tracey confirmed the club remain open to strengthening in midfield following the losses of Chris Dawson and Jamie Spencer, although there is no desire to rush into a signing.

Tracey said: “We’ve started well. I’m not going to be naive and say we’re not interested if the right midfielder becomes available. We’ve asked a lot of Hayden and Haswell in there at the moment and young James Murray is another option for us. It’s difficult, especially with all the games. But the lads have been brilliant so far, so we’re not going to force the issue. If the right thing hits us in the face, then we’ll jump on it.”

After seven points from their opening four games and consecutive victories, the Pewits now have the opportunity to continue their promising start against one of the division’s early frontrunners.