Emley are promoted to the NPL Premier Division following a penalty shootout win over West Yorkshire rivals Bradford (Park Avenue) in a fiercely contested promotion play off final at a packed and raucous Fantastic Media Welfare Ground after a goalless 120 minutes of play.

It was emotional, it was nervy, it was cagey at times and Emley were second best for many parts of the game but once again, Richard Tracey's Pewits showed tremendous spirit, determination and guts to see them through, and after only 2 seasons at this level following promotion to D1 East as NCEL champions, the super Pewits are once again going up!

The game was far from a classic, but no one of an Emley persuasion will care one jot, as early as the 3rd minute, a Bradford attack saw a penalty claim but the ref wasn't interested, Emley's first real attack saw Sheppeard zip a ball across the box but Sorhaindo couldn't get a shot on target.

Avenue took control of the game, dominating possession and pushing Emley back but the defence stood firm, Emley were relieved when an Avenue header was sent wide, Emley then created a chance themselves, earning a corner from a free kick that was only partially cleared. Neither keeper had had much to do for the first half an hour but the game ebbed and flowed with both backlines proving a tough nut to crack.

Emley's keeper, Porter then had to be on his guard to thwart the visitors, with help from Hayden Lindley and then the Avenue defence was made to work to keep Emley out after Stacey's second ball in was wide, Bradford then had another good chance but the shot was screwed wide to the relief of the Emley fans packed into the shed.

It was all even at half time with neither side being able to really threaten to break the deadlock.

H/T-Emley 0-0 Bradford PA.

The second half followed a similar pattern with Avenue enjoying the better of possession and territory but Emley showed some great spirit to keep them out, within a couple of minutes of the restart, Bradford were once again threatening Emley's goal, but after an initial shot was blocked, the next ball in was whipped wide of the post.

The atmosphere inside the packed ground was superb, both sets of fans urging their team on, Bradford's hordes mainly massed at the Warburton end, as Emley attacked their claret and blue packed shed, Johnson, Stacey and Sorhaindo combined but Sorhaindo couldn't shape himself to get the shot away from Stacey's ball in. Bradford then created a decent chance but again, their shooting let them down and it fizzed over.

The game was becoming a real battle as the 90 minutes ticked down, a penalty shout for Emley was waved away when Johnson's shot was blocked and Turner went down in the area but the ref wasn't impressed, Emley were forced to defend then for the last 10 minutes of normal time but did it superbly well as Bailey Thompson replaced Sorhaindo.

As with Tuesday's semi final win over Dunston, Emley headed and kicked everything and did what they needed to to keep Avenue out, another shot went wide from them and then another shot flew across the face of goal before Barks did brilliantly to clear it, then came the moment of the match so far with just a minute of normal time remaining.

Bradford put a lovely attack together and after the initial shot was blocked, the follow up was heading in but Jordan Porter flew across his goal to get a firm hand to it and push it away, a fantastic save under some pressure late on, Bradford peppered the Emley goal in the 5 minutes added time but with Emley fans' emotions almost at breaking point, their boys held out for extra time.

F/T- Emley 0-0 Bradford PA.

With the deadlock still intact the emotions were high, Emley fans nervous, hoping they could nick something and avoid a shootout, but again, it was the visitors who looked the more likely, their passing was crisper, sharper and they seemed to have more energy, but Emley dug very deep to find something, 2 more shots from Avenue were off target before the game's big moment so far.

Emley made more changes as Heaton and Turner were replaced by Hardaker and local lad Joe Clegg respectively. 10 minutes into extra time, Joe Clegg was unceremoniously dragged down after he turned Mark Beevers outside the area, and like in the league game at Horsfall, Beevers, the former Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall defender was shown a second yellow and then red and he faced a lonely walk to the dressing rooms with the shed waving him off. The second time this season Beevers has seen red against Emley.

Could the tide now turn with the visitors now a man down? Barks almost found something from the free kick but it hit the bar and went over and with both teams now running on empty, chances were again at a premium but there was still plenty of nervy moments for both sides, Avenue sent a header wide and then Clegg almost latched onto a through ball but the ball ran nicely for Bradford keeper Hall.

Time was now ticking down and it appeared that we would be going all the way to penalties, two more changes for Emley, Stacey had run himself into the ground on Emley's left and was replaced by Jack Boyle. Emley were awarded a couple of free kicks on their left but couldn't really trouble the Bradford defence, and that was that.

Emley's fans had given as much as the team and had shouted themselves hoarse to try and get their team over the line but it wasn't to be, but the loud and proud shed would still have a part to play.

AET- Emley 0-0 Bradford PA.

And so, the play off final would be decided on penalties after a gruelling 120 minutes, Emley got the toss they wanted and opted to take the penalties in front of their supporters in the shed, who raised their voices for one last, big effort.

Bradford went first and the penalties went to form Johnson, Lindley and Boyle netted for Emley, Carver and the ex Emley pair of Parkin and Haw for Avenue, and we were all square at 3-3 and with the shed right behind Emley, Bradford's 4th was lashed wide to the delight and relief of the Emley faithful.

Bailey Thompson was next up to slam home and make it 4-3 to Emley and put enormous pressure on Avenue keeper Hall who stepped up to coolly beat his opposite number to keep them in it, but only just, it was down to Emley lad Joe Clegg, with the hopes of the team and village on his shoulders, Cleggy made no mistake as he fired into the net to spark wild scenes amongst the Emley fans all around the ground.

Emley had done it, from looking like they were completely spent just a few weeks ago when we couldn't buy a win, Clegg's spot kick earned a second promotion in 3 years and a third under Richard Tracey's tenure in 7 years, the fans flooded onto the pitch as Emley hadn't seen scenes like this for nearly 30 years when Morecambe were beaten in a pulsating FA Cup 1st round replay, the crowd today of 1,771 was the biggest at Emley since that day and the celebrations would continue long into the night.

A mention for Bradford though, who more than played their part in a momentous day, and were probably the better side overall but didn't take their chances and then missed the only penalty in the shoot out, it was probably cruel on our neighbours but that's sport, there has to be a winner and a loser, today was about Emley though.

PENALTIES- Emley 5-4 Bradford PA.

Attendance- 1,771

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

WM Sykes Man of the Match- THE WHOLE TEAM!