Emley kick started the new Northern Premier League Division One East season with a comprehensive win over newly promoted Silsden under the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground lights.

In what was a match up of the Northern Counties East League's last two champions, it was 23/24 champions Emley were too good for a Silsden side.

To be fair, the Cobbydalers made a decent start to this match and started on the front foot and forced a couple of early set pieces, a free kick and a corner were both cleared by the Emley defence.

Emley's first real attack came on 10 minutes, debutant Joe Stacey's teasing cross was put behind and the resulting corner hit the side netting, but it would only be another 3 minutes before Emley could celebrate their first goal of the new season, a throw in on the right from Baldwin found Barks who headed into the path of Jannai Gordon who got a shot away but it was Laurence Sorhaindo then who swept home from close range to put us ahead.

Emley then started to play with confidence, attacking the shed, Metcalfe drilled a low shot after it had opened up for him but it flashed wide and a superb corner from the right was cleared off the line by a desperate Silsden defence.

Still, the Pewits kept pushing, Silsden struggling to get out of their own half and the pressure eventually told as Emley doubled their lead 10 minutes later, a poor challenge saw a penalty awarded, up stepped Laurence Sorhaindo to bury it into the bottom corner for his and Emley's second.

To their credit, the Cobbydalers didn't sit back, instead they forced Dec Lambton in an extraordinary save at the other end, from a firm volley, Lambton tipped the shot onto the crossbar with an acrobatic save to keep our goal intact.

Emley though were well on top, new signing Gordon was showing some neat touches and link up play and as well as an assist for the first goal, could have bagged himself a goal too, but couldn't hit the target with a couple of quickfire shots, as half time approached, some great work found Stacey on the left who dinked a lovely looking ball over, unfortunately it dropped just wide and out but Emley went in at half time much the happier side.

H/T- Emley 2-0 Silsden

The onus was on Silsden to come out and attack in the second half, Emley were comfortable playing out from the back and looking to break, they managed to do this but Stacey's cross eluded everyone and the danger was averted.

Silsden then hit a bit of a purple patch and asked some questions of Emley's rearguard, first, a lovely overhead kick hit the post and went out, relief for Emley, and then a few minutes later, Lambton was called into action to stop a powerful effort from Price as the visitors threatened to reduce the deficit.

Emley held firm and then made the first change of the evening, Joe Kenny coming on to replace double-goalscorer Sorhaindo just past the hour, and within 4 minutes, the Pewits had bagged a third, following an attack down the left, Belchior Rodrigues was on hand to calmly slot home and end Silsden's resistance.

Isaac Baldwin found some space for a shot but it curled just wide and then Rodrigues found himself with another opportunity a few moments later but this time his bicycle kick didn't trouble the defence.

Silsden then created a great chance, an attack down their right eventually found former Golcar hitman Kayle Price but his shot was well off target and that was their last chance gone.

Emley made more changes as they saw the game out, Hardaker for Dawson, Belchior Rodrigues was then replaced by his namesake, Carlos Rodrigues making his Emley debut and there were also two other debuts for Sonny Whittingham and Alfie Dean, replacing Cowgill and Metcalfe.

There was just time for Joe Stacey to fire wide in the closing seconds and with the shed in full voice, Emley saw out the game, 3 goals, 3 points and a clean sheet was almost the perfect start to the season, with a big local derby against Bradford Park Avenue to come on Tuesday.

F/T- Emley 3-0 Silsden

Attendance- 489

Emley- Lambton, Lindley, Baldwin, Metcalfe [c], Cowgill, Barks, Dawson, B.Rodrigues, Gordon, Sorhaindo, Stacey
Subs used- Hardaker, Kenny, C.Rodrigues, Dean, Whittingham.

Goals- Sorhaindo (12', 24') B.Rodrigues (67')

WM Sykes Man of the Match- Joe Stacey