Battling Emley came from 2 down to earn a point in an entertaining 2-2 draw with Maltby Main at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.

Most Emley fans would be forgiven for thinking they were about to witness the second defeat in a week when the Miners struck twice in the first half to lead 2-0 at the break but Emley showed great resilience and determination to claw their way back in the second half.

Emley started brightly and direct and had Main on the backfoot early on, Paul Walker was wide with a curling shot after cutting in from the left.

But Maltby soon grew into the game and began to take charge, Dec Lambton was forced into a save and then scrambling defence cleared another strong chance for the visitors.

Emley were struggling with Main’s counter attacking and Lambton was on hand to save another shot, but by the 20th minute the visitors were in control.

They finally broke the deadlock on 22, a set piece from their right wasn’t dealt with and Bagley flashed a header past Lambton for the lead.

Emley, to their credit looked to hit straight back and started to get a bit of joy down the flanks, Gooden had a really good chance after he cut in from the left, so good that he had options to pass inside or shoot himself, he passed inside but good defence thwarted the Pewits on this occasion.

With Maltby sitting back slightly, Emley could push forward more, and managed to earn a few corners in succession, although despite the pressure, Maltby defended well, left back Ross Hardaker found himself with a shooting opportunity but the shot was saved by keeper Parkin.

Junayd Cassius-Gill was next up with an Emley chance, following a great ball in by Hardaker, his header was straight at the keeper.

But just when it looked like Emley might nick and equaliser just before the break it was the visitors who instead doubled their lead, Emley failed to clear their lines and a great ball in was headed in for number 2, both goals came after a spell of Emley pressure.

H/T EMLEY 0-2 MALTBY

That second goal looked to have deflated Emley and it seemed that was still the case early in the second half as Maltby dominated the first 10 minutes, Lambton needed to save from a corner early on and then 3 decent chances were created by the visitors, but Emley were grateful that they were all off target and it remained at 0-2.

It was time for changes, Joe Kenny was replaced by 30 goal top scorer Joe Jagger, and he was immediately causing problems for the defence, it was Jaggers tenacity in winning the ball in midfield that sent in Cassius-Gill but the keeper pulled off a brilliant double save to deny the striker with his first Emley goal.

But the pressure wasn’t released and within seconds the ball was turned back into the area where Joe Clegg got a header that went in to give Emley some hope.

Charlton replaced Cassius-Gill not long after but Emley then had to defend again as Maltby came back, again though, the shot was wide to the relief of the home faithful.

The game was getting a little bit tetchy, Emley had a penalty appeal turned down and then Gooden was sent sprawling just outside the area, Jagger stepped up but smashed the 20 yard free kick into the wall, twice.

Another foul in a similar position on Emley’s right, this time Walker stepped up and blasted the shot into the side netting, a minute later and Jagger got a sight of goal, but his shot fizzed high, wide and well over.

Both sides were giving it a real go now and Maltby seemed happy to try and sit the last 10 out and claim the points, Emley had other ideas though.

After a period of pressure had Main pinned down at the Warburton end, Maltby failed to clear their lines, the ball was sent out to the right and despite appeals for offside from the Main defenders, the ball was played in into the path of ace marksman Joe Jagger who slotted home the equaliser and his 31st goal of the season.

It was now anyone’s to win and both teams looked for a winner, Walker saw a shot saved and then Lambton had to be on his toes and down quickly when a Maltby break caught Emley out, Lambton’s fingertip save steered the ball out for a corner.

Into 3 minutes of stoppage time and a couple more chances for an Emley winner but it wasn’t to be, Hardaker fired a close range shot onto the bar and out and then Jagger headed wide from a corner as the referee ended the contest with a point each.

Two draws between the sides following Septembers 1-1 draw in South Yorkshire and Emley now face a tough midweek trip to Humberside to face Barton Town on Tuesday.

F/T EMLEY 2-2 MALTBY
Attendance- 263
EMLEY- Lambton, Smith, Hardaker, Metcalfe, Knowles ©, Paylor, Clegg, Kenny, Gooden, Cassius-Gill, Walker
Subs used- Jagger, Charlton, Pashley; Unused- Kelly, Lawrence.
GOALS- Clegg (’61) Jagger (’79)
Moxon and Co. Man of the Match- Joe Clegg