Emley will head into the weekend's fixtures in the Northern Premier League Division 1 East still as unbeaten league leaders following a hard fought goalless draw at Pontefract Collieries.

On a damp night on a pitch that showed little signs of the deluge of rain that's fallen recently, a credit to the Ponte groundstaff, both sides slugged it out for 93 minutes eventually settling for a point each, for Emley, it meant another game unbeaten at the top, for Pontefract, it stopped the rot of 2 consecutive defeats.

The hosts perhaps had the better of the first half with Emley's defence having to withstand a bit of bombardment, some of it, quite literally, aerial!

There was a distinct retro feel clash of styles here, Ponte aiming to be direct and aggressive, Emley looking for neat, patient passing but both sides were more than happy to mix it up.

Pontefract had the games' first corner but the header at the back post was cleared, before Dec Lambton was called upon to make his first save a couple of minutes later, the Colls then saw another chance go begging when a free kick was headed wide from inside the area.

Emley weren't having much joy in attack so far but came alive around the 17 minute mark when Berchil found a bit of space to get a shot away, but the keeper blocked it, Donae Lawrence couldn't fashion a shooting chance about a minute later either as the game entered a bit of a lull.

Emley broke the lull and almost opened the scoring 10 minutes later, a free kick from outside the box was set up for Metcalfe to strike, it struck the crossbar, via the keepers' outstretched hand for a corner which was dealt with.

Ponte were looking dangerous with their long, direct balls, Lambton was forced into saving a shot low shot and even more direct throw ins from their full back, one of these saw them fashion a chance as Barks finally cleared a low shot away for a corner, Colls then laid siege to the Emley rearguard, peppering them with long balls and shots but the resilient Pewits held firm.

Emley then finished the half off strong themselves, Sorhaindo couldn't keep his feet when he appeared to be pushed and then a superb, one-look, crossfield diagonal pass by Metcalfe found Lawrence down the right who did well to keep the ball in play but couldn't get his cross past the keeper.

H/T- Pontefract 0-0 Emley

The second half was barely 30 seconds old when Pontefract fashioned the games' best chance so far, but Lambton was relieved to see the lob drift past his post rather than inside it.

Emley caused problems at the other end, from a corner, Sorhaindo didn't get the greatest connection but it looked like he'd won his side a corner but the ref ruled the other way, much to Emley's disapproval.

A long ball from deep inside their own half saw Ponte once again fashion a half chance, but it was cleared by Cowgill for a corner which was eventually cleared following a shot from the back post, yet another long raking ball by the Colls' centre back created their next chance, with Emley unable to deal with the bouncing ball, the chance was there but the resulting shot went wide.

Sorhaindo was replaced by Curtis with 20 to go and Curtis could only watch as another aerial bombardment headed towards Emley's goals, it ended with a corner after a header, The Pewits looked to break but Parkin couldn't get enough on a pass to Dawson to set him free.

Emley looked to turn the screw and look for a winner, they finally got some joy on the left when Berchil, freed himself from the shackles of his marker and put a lovely ball across the goal but Parkin's header was straight at the keeper.

Donae Lawrence had enjoyed a couple of minutes in the limelight, following his tussle with former Emley defender Jack Steers, he was shown a yellow card for a frustrated foul and then taken out himself a minute later before he was replaced by Ross Hardaker after putting in a tremendous shift for his team.

Luke Parkin was also yellow carded late on as both teams were content to hang on to a well deserved point, Emley, clapped off by their usual good number of travelling fans, now welcome North Ferriby to The Fantastic Media Welfare Ground on Saturday hoping to keep the unbeaten run going a bit longer.

F/T- Pontefract 0-0 Emley

Attendance- 271
Emley- Lambton, Sheppeard, Baldwin, Metcalfe [c], Cowgill, Barks, Parkin, Dawson, Sorhaindo, Lawrence, Berchil;
Subs used- Curtis, Hardaker;
Unused subs- Calligan, Clayton, Malumo.

WM Sykes Man of the Match- Charlie Barks