Emley suffered a fifth defeat in 6 games to leave their play off hopes hanging very thinly following another disappointing day away from home and leave the Pewits outside the play off positions for the first time this season with only 1 more game left to go of the league season.

There was controversy and frustration here at Bracken Moor but truth be told, Emley didn't deserve anything from another poor showing to leave their travelling fans, who made up a large percentage of Stockbridge's biggest crowd for 3 years disappointed again.

However, there appeared to be little to worry about as Emley, backed by their vocal travelling support made a fine start to the game and looked to have the bit between their teeth, but all that was unravelled following a highly controversial moment 10 minutes in.

Following some fine work by Berchil on the left, he squared to Metcalfe who sent it on to Parkin but his shot was wayward, a couple of minutes later and with Emley on the front foot from the start, Berchil was involved again, following a corner that Steels failed to clear, Cowgill won another corner when a flashing volley was deflected, the ball was recycled to Parkin out right but his ball in wouldn't sit right for Berchil.

Emley were continuing the good start and looking confident, however, all that changed in an instant, Stocksbridge had been penned into their own half for the first 10 minutes but they finally broke and earned a corner which Emley looked to have dealt with, suddenly the game was stopped and to everyone's surprise, the referee awarded a penalty to Stocksbridge, no one from the home side appealed, no one apart from the referee seemed to see anything, there was a stunned disbelief as Rawson stepped up and smacked the hosts into a lead they certainly didn't deserve.

However, Emley didn't react well to it, despite having the next attack which saw Berchil's long looping cross nestle on top of the net instead of in it, Emley's afternoon was about to get worse as captain Alex Metcalfe was helped gingerly from the field to be replaced by Donae Lawrence just a quarter of an hour in.

That goal gave the hosts confidence as Emley's looked to be draining away and they were soon back on the attack, Emley had to be strong in defence to deflect a shot and then saw the header from the corner go over, a minute later and Steels were on the break again, this time a shot sailed well wide.

On the half hour mark, Emley were back up on attack, after forcing a corner following good pressing and harrying, Parkin found himself with the ball at his feet inside the area but his control let him down and it ran away from him, Parkin was putting himself about up top and creating problems for the Steels' defence, and Emley's frustrations weren't' helped when Parkin was slammed to the ground from behind after watching a ball roll dead for a corner, however, the ref deemed that the Stocksbridge player did no wrong by going right through the back of him.

Emley were now not only frustrated but being pushed back by the hosts, a free kick for Stocksbridge landed in a dangerous area and after a bit of a panic, Emley finally cleared their lines, however, it was only a brief respite as Stocksbridge doubled their lead on their next attack, a corner was headed home too easily by Owen and Emley now faced a massive ask to get back into it.

H/T- Stocksbridge 2-0 Emley

A double substitution by Richard Tracey at half time saw Cowgill and Parkin give way to Kenny and Hardaker as Emley looked to get their play off hopes back on track, Josh Ayres, returning from a 3 match suspension headed a Dawson free kick wide, another free kick, from the opposite side eluded everyone in claret and blue as Emley tried desperately to get something.

Frustrations were growing again as the inconsistent referee blew up for things that he let go moments earlier, but Emley were their own worst enemies, sloppy and careless passing kept gifting possession back to Steels who were only too happy to receive gifts, Lambton and then Lindley were called into action to tidy up after defensive errors almost cost the Pewits.

They did manage to trouble the Stocksbridge defence enough for Chris Dawson to find space just outside the area but his curling shot flew wide of the upright, Emley's miserable day was the summed up by a red card for right back Harry Sheppeard, following a quick burst down their left, the Stocksbridge winger was sent sprawling by a hefty challenge by Sheppeard and everyone in the ground knew what colour card the ref was going to show.

To Emley's credit, they kept going, even with 10 men but the hosts didn't really trouble Lambton's goal that much in the second half, apart from a rasping shot that flew back of the post, the job was done for them, Belchior Rodrigues came on for Baldwin but there was no time for him to make any difference.

In stoppage time, Emley had a couple of half chances to half the deficit, first, Ayres found space for a header but headed straight into the keepers hands and then following another header by Ayres, Barks could only nod wide on the second attempt.

The referee blew for time and ended another disappointing away day for an Emley side that had such a tremendous record away from home up until late February, this was Emley's 6th defeat in the last 7 away games and only 1 goal scored in that time, Emley's players applauded the travelling fans but they were well beaten in the end.

It all comes down to Saturday and a must win game against Consett at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground if Emley are to make the promotion play offs!

F/T- Stocksbridge 2-0 Emley

Attendance- 423

Emley-Lambton, Sheppeard, Baldwin, Lindley, Cowgill, Barks, Dawson, Metcalfe [c], Ayres, Parkin, Berchil:
Subs used- Lawrence, Kenny, Hardaker, Rodrigues;
Unused- Curtis

Red card- Sheppeard (76')

WM Sykes Man of the Match- Hayden Lindley

Photo by Mike Bayly.