"Bradford at home Ole, Ole, Ole" sang the jubilant Emley fans packed into the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground as Emley beat Dunston to book a home play off final against rivals Bradford (Park Avenue) on Saturday. The first time Emley have ever hosted a play off final.

Emley were beaten at Dunston by a stoppage time winner at this stage last season but got revenge over their north east rivals with a strong performance but one that had the crowd biting their nails in the end, a win that means Emley have won their first play off game for 10 years when they beat Penistone Church in the NCEL D1.

This was about sheer determination and will to win for Emley, who went into the play offs with the poorest form of all 4 contestants but this second straight win means it's now 3 games unbeaten for the first time since February!

To be fair, the game was pretty even throughout and there was little between the sides, both sides had early chances, an early Dunston was cleared and Emley couldn't finish off an attack either as defences started on top in a cagey opening 15 minutes before Emley keeper, Jordan Porter on debut had to make a routine save.

Gabriel Johnson then saw an effort saved by the Dunston keeper and then a couple of minutes later, Johnson was at the thick of the action as Emley took the lead, one they would hold on to for what seemed like an eternity by the end! Johnson got on the end of a good throw to get a shot away, the keeper did well to save but the rebound fell nicely to Laurence Sorhaindo who fired home to the delight of the Emley fans. It was the big strikers' 3rd goal in two games and he was delighted with it.

Sorhaindo then did well to earn a corner as Emley looked to put the pressure on, but the corner was cleared by a sturdy Dunston header away, Dunston earned a corner themselves that was only partially cleared but thankfully the shot was put wide of the goal. Emley thought they had doubled their lead when a towering Niall Heaton corner was bundled in by Johnson but the offside flag curtailed Emley celebrations.

There was a bit of niggle creeping into the game, Heaton along with his opponent were both booked for a tussle at a corner which got a bit out of hand and then another yellow for Dunston for a clattering challenge on Ellis Farrar.

It should have been Dunston celebrating 5 minutes before half time but for an astonishing miss, a neat move down their right caught Emley out and the ball was played across the mouth of the goal and with a gaping net and Porter scrambling, the Dunston attacker inexplicably hit the post from yards out to Emley's relief and amazement!

With half time approaching, Kurtis Turner found space for a shot which was saved low down, Stacey then found Sorhaindo inside the area but a Dunston defender got there just in time to clear and there was half chances for Lindley for Emley and one for Dunston which were blocked and cleared.

H/T- Emley 1-0 Dunston.

Dunston were out before Emley for the second half and they almost caught Emley out early on, a chance was blocked with a big handball shout from the visitors but the ref was having none of it and Emley cleared their lines, Sorhaindo had a half chance for Emley at the other end as Heaton played in a nice ball but he couldn't get it on target and then Johnson saw his shot blocked.

Dunston then enjoyed a spell of pressure that left Emley fans biting their nails, Porter had to be alert to smother a close range effort and then a flashing header went wide, The Feds kept the pressure on winning a couple of corners, but The Pewits stood firm to keep them at bay, a first change for Emley saw goalscorer Sorhaindo given a rousing reception as he gave way to Bailey Thompson.

Another Dunston attack ended with space on the right but the cross was wild and flew into the Warburton end netting, at the other end, Emley were attacking the shed which was packed and noisy, Johnson and Thompson worked well together to create a chance but Johnson's shot was dragged wide.

The game had now drifted into the last 10 minutes of normal time and the tension was tangible in the cool night air, would Emley hold on, would Dunston snatch a late equaliser? The Emley fans in the shed were doing their bit, raising the noise levels even more as Dunston threatened a comeback, another change saw Joe Clegg replace Turner in midfield, there was another Dunston yellow for a crude challenge on halfway as Emley looked to break clear.

With time ticking away, Emley were looking for that one chance to put the tie to bed, Heaton's long throw was on the money but a Dunston leg/backside got a block on Johnson's shot, Dunston then looked to threaten and charged down the other end, fingernails were getting chewed just a bit more as 5 minutes added time were shown.

It was all or nothing now for Dunston but they were met by a claret and blue wall who cleared just about everything, there was another penalty shout for Dunston as Porter dived bravely, but again, the referee wasn't interested, and instead gave a free kick in Porters favour. Emley fans were now praying for the final whistle, nails bitten, fingers crossed, every clearance was cheered to the rafters as the five minutes ticked into six and then seven.

Finally, the final whistle blew, there were joyous scenes and scenes of relief as another famous night under the Welfare Ground lights was added to Emley's historic and famous games, we now have another to come possibly, news of Bradford's win at Matlock meant that it's the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground, the ground on top of a hill in a small West Yorkshire village will host it's biggest game for nearly 30 years as the West Yorkshire rivals fight it out for a place in next season's NPL Premier Division!

The attendance of 909 replaced the New Year's day attendance as Emley's biggest crowd for 27 years, apart from a band of Dunston fans, the vast majority of them will have gone home happy and started making arrangements for Saturday's huge clash!

F/T- Emley 1-0 Dunston.

Attendance- 909

Emley- Porter, Sheppeard, Heaton, Lindley, Barks, Farrar, Turner, Dawson [c], Sorhaindo, Johnson, Stacey:
Subs used- Thompson, Clegg
Unused- Roxburgh, Hardaker, Boyle.

Goal- Sorhaindo (18')