Emley’s FA Cup campaign is already over after a heavy 5-1 defeat to Longridge Town and, truth be told, it could have been worse on a dismal afternoon for all concerned.

As poor as Emley were, Longridge were very good - outplaying, outfighting, outthinking, and totally dominating proceedings from the off. Despite being a level below Emley, the hosts thoroughly deserved their win.

Emley’s day didn’t start well. The coach carrying the team and staff was stuck in endless motorway traffic and only arrived at the ground just after 2pm and things didn’t get any better from there.

Emley actually started well, earning a corner after only three minutes from a Sorhaindo shot, but it curled harmlessly over the top of the net. Longridge then found a weakness in Emley’s setup and exploited it time and again. A corner won off Sheppeard was cleared by Cowgill, and the hosts should have been ahead after ten minutes when a header flashed wide following a good cross.

Longridge created another good chance a couple of minutes later, this time, Lambton was forced into saving a low shot and then followed up to prevent the hosts from opening the scoring. Two minutes later and another chance for Longridge as Emley were already being pulled apart by Town's quick, incisive attacking play.

Emley did manage to get a sight at goal almost 20 minutes in but Sorhaindo pulled his shot wide of the target, Sorhaindo was then booked for a challenge in the Longridge half, before a half chance for Emley fell to Gordon who tried to lob the keeper but instead it was weak and easy for the keeper to catch.

Emley had to be on rearguard duty again as Longridge piled the pressure on, Lambton, again forced to push a shot away, this time the corner was cleared as the game was paused for a drinks break in the baking Lancashire sunshine.

Almost straight away and Longridge were back on the attack and testing Lambton yet again but the Emley number 1 was off his line quickly to deal with the danger. At this point in proceedings it was all Longridge, Emley struggled to get out of their half or put passes together and were being constantly caught backpedaling, they were left off when a poor piece of defensive play saw the ball eventually cleared off the line with Lambton beaten.

However, on the next attack, the hosts made no mistake and finally punished the Pewits, another lightening quick attack ripped Emley apart and the ball was fired home off the post by High, Emley's frustrations were beginning to show and Stacey went into the book after a tangle with his opponent, hopefully Emley could regroup and find their feet in the second half?

H/T- Longridge 1-0 Emley

At half-time Emley made changes with Hardaker replacing Cowgill and Whittingham replace Dawson as Emley looked to turn it around. But the hosts kept piling on the pressure, and Emley’s afternoon went from bad to much worse in a dreadful second half.

Within a couple of minutes, Lambton was again forced into a save as Emley's defensive frailties started to show again, a decent low save and then a follow up with the feet kept the Ridge out, for now, with only five minutes of the half gone. A poor clearance by Emley ended up at the feet of High who doubled his tally and his team's lead with a stunning shot from 25 yards out that left Dec with no chance.

Many Emley fans felt that was game over, even so early, we were so far off the pace in the game and struggled to create anything, defensively all over the place. They did find Sheppeard on a run down the right, he was brought down and the free kick saw Metcalfe's shot blocked before another Longridge attack ended with a shot into the side netting.

Another run from Sheppeard saw his cross/shot sail well wide of the goal and Stacey couldn't make anything of the follow up, Gordon then blazed a shot wide after a decent bit of play from Emley, Gordon was then booked for another frustrating challenge.

Just around the hour mark saw another double change for Emley, Sorhaindo and Belchior Rodrigues gave way to Carlos Rodrigues and debutant Manasse Mampala.

Then the game was well and truly up just past the hour when a bizarre incident led to Longridge's third goal, following another attack, Lambton had the ball in his hands but in his rush to try and get the ball downfield quickly, the ball struck the back of Atkinson and rolled back past Lambton into the net, it was a goal that perfectly summed up Emley's afternoon.

Sheppeard was also booked in the aftermath of that bizarre goal and just two minutes later, Longridge once again cut open a weak defence and Atkinson smashed a 20 yard first time lob over the stranded Lambton. Emley fans were in complete shock and disbelief and that would be exacerbated with a 5th goal for the hosts.

Another lapse in concentration saw Emley's defence wide open and in acres of space, the ball was played in for Atkinson to slam home and complete and 8 minute hat trick and complete an absolute rout for the team from the NWCFL. Another lobbed effort from the hosts went over and a long distance Longridge free kick flashed just wide as Emley hoped to not concede a sixth.

Carlos Rodrigues was booked late on as Emley's day got slighter better when Charlie Barks headed home well following a late corner, but it was scant consolation for an Emley side, playing in their new green kit who travelled home with a touch of the blues following a disjointed performance.

We are back on the road next week when we face a trip to newly promoted Redcar Athletic as our FA Cup dream is over for another year.

F/T- Longridge 5-1 Emley.

Attendance- 212

Emley- Lambton, Sheppeard, Stacey, Lindley, Cowgill, Barks, Dawson, B.Rodrigues, Gordon, Sorhaindo, Metcalfe[c]
Subs used- Hardaker, Whittingham, C.Rodrigues, Mampala
Unused- Kenny, Baldwin, Dean.

Goal- Barks (90')