Bradford (Park Avenue) U18 2-2 Emley AFC U18

Following an unbelievable start to the competition, Emley U18s put in yet another impressive performance at the Horsfall Stadium against Bradford (Park Avenue) but didn’t get the luck that you all too often need in football with the game finishing two apiece then, heading straight into penalties, the Pewits crashed out with Bradford winning 4-3 in that lottery.

Kobe Simpson with a fizzing free kick and Keelan Grist with his light feet were the two scorers for Emley. Their goals equalising two early Bradford goals in each half.

Overall, Emley had lengthy spells where they dominated the game and, perhaps if the ball bounced in their favour on a couple of occasions, the result could’ve been very different on another day. As is the way of football, which we know all too well, the better side doesn’t always win.

It was a nervy start for the Pewits and within the first minute, before our media team could even get the kick off tweet out, the sharp Sebastian Bolton of Bradford was onto a loose pass back. He slotted the ball away to give Bradford the early advantage.

Emley didn’t allow this to faze them and were immediately looking for the equaliser. Jkwon Morgan caused problems for the Bradford defence all evening and it began with a pacey attack on Bradford after their opening goal. His lobbed shot was sliced off the line and went out for a corner which took another headed goal line clearance to keep Emley off the scoresheet.

Chances were being created by Emley from well-executed passing plays but none came to fruition in the final third. Credit to the Bradford keeper, Liam Hall, though as he had to make a couple of decent saves to keep the ball out and settle the game down.

At the other end of the field, Bradford barely tested the Emley defence. However, Jack Barker-White and Nathan Fletcher both had good games and swiftly dealt with any attack so that keeper Oliver Salmon wasn’t troubled too much.

Three minutes before half time, it took a foul to stop Kobe Simpson and his nimble feet in their tracks. Simpson stepped up for the free kick 15 yards out and watched as he put his laces through the ball which was rifled through the defensive wall into the bottom left corner, well out of reach of the outstretched Hall, and with that, the game was level going into the break.

After the restart, Emley came out on the front foot. A style of play that Dom and his team of coaches have been keen to develop since pre-season.

However, it was against the run of play when referee Andrew Cottrell awarded Bradford a penalty after a poor challenge in the box. Myles La Bastide made no error in sending Salmon the wrong way to net the penalty and put Bradford back in the lead once again on the 48th minute.

Again, Emley dominated in their hunt for another equaliser. Morgan created another chance and belted the ball at the Bradford net which Hall had to save.

Not long after that attempt, Isaac Jeffreys showed off his skill and took a shot at goal which went narrowly wide.

On the hour mark, an impressive passage of play ended with the ball landing at Grist’s feet. He danced around the defence and created the opening to slot the ball away and level the match for a second time. Bradford 2-2 Emley.

Bradford looked rattled as Emley attacks kept coming unchecked. One attack went for a corner and the head missed the goal by a matter of inches.

Shortly following that, Hall had to put in an awe-inspiring display of goalkeeping to leap full stretch and tip Fletcher’s rocket over the bar. In another one of those fine margin moments, the resulting corner was headed onto the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

The Bradford goal mouth turned into the Alamo with volley after volley of attacks from the Pewits. But Emley just did not get the luck of the bounce on this slick pitch.

It took a blatant handball that prevented Emley from having a clear attempt on goal for Cottrell to dig his cards out and show them to Bradford. Perhaps over-compensating for some questionable refereeing decisions, Bradford were shown red for it and went down to ten men.

In the last kick of the game, Emley had one final chance on goal. A well-delivered corner by Simpson landed plum on an Emley head and glanced inches wide of the upright.

With the 90 minutes finishing level, the game went straight to penalties.

Emley were up first and straight away lost their advantage as the ball flew over the crossbar. Hall made a fantastic save to deny Emley a glimmer of hope after their fifth spot kick.

Penalties are always a lottery and, in the end, it was Bradford’s experience that got them through as they hit four well-struck penalties into the back of the net. They now have a tie with York City at home in the second qualifying round.

Yes, there were costly errors that led to goals but this is a steep learning curve. Bearing in mind this is only the third competitive match that the team have played together, the young Pewits did the club proud. They had by far the better chances, played the most creative football and demonstrated the team work that Dom and his coaching staff have tried to instil from the off. Their attention can now turn to the JPL Cup where they next face UFCA Yellow of Weetwood, Leeds next Saturday.