Emley return from the North East with another 3 point haul in the Northern Premier League Division One East after a hard fought 1-0 win over Newton Aycliffe in County Durham, a third win in a row but a win that means that the Pewits are still unbeaten away from home in the league, including 5 unbeaten in the North East.

Despite taking an early lead, Emley were forced to dig deep and hang on by the end as the hosts piled the pressure on but Emley stood firm aided, by a superb performance from goalkeeper Dec Lambton to bring home all 3 points again

Emley were quick out of the blocks and on the front foot despite conceding an early corner, that early pressure soon paid off as early as the 5th minute when Joe Clegg was bundled over in the area and a penalty awarded, new signing from Bury, Gabriel Johnson stepped up and calmly smashed the penalty home for a debut goal.

It was a lead Emley would have to defend, and defend they did! But they also attacked, and did that well too in the early stages with Johnson and Bailey Thompson causing problems for the Aycliffe defence, the two combined a few minutes later but Thompson's shot fell wide of the target, another good Emley move saw Hardaker play in Thompson but the offside flag was already up, and a Johnson header was turned away for a corner which was cleared.

Newton Aycliffe then had their first real chance of the game but Lambton got down to make a comfortable save, their next attack a few minutes later caused concern for the Emley defence but a good header by Hardaker and then a clearing header by Stacey saw off the danger.

Emley then created a good chance of their own, Joe Stacey on the left cut inside and played a lovely ball into the box but the header from Johnson led to a corner from which captain Jack Cowgill headed high from yards out, Manny Mampala then created a chance for himself, surging forward from midfield, he left home defenders in his wake as the defence opened up but sadly couldn't find the finish to match the run and he was well off target with the shot, another Mampala effort was then comfortably saved by the keeper.

There was then a red card shown to the home bench as the incident stemmed from not letting Emley have the ball back from our own throw in, and both sides then created half chances just before half time but Emley had the lead and would need to be strong in the second half.

H/T- Newton Aycliffe 0-1 Emley.

Emley dominated most of the play in the first half and had the better of the chances and the lead but were made to scrap and fight all the way until the end for their reward, they also had chances to wrap the game up but failed to take those chances.

There was little between the sides at the start of the second half, Lindley and Stacey saw shots blocked and saved for Emley and the defence needed to be firm as the hosts started the turn the pressure up as the pitch got heavier, however, Emley had a glorious opportunity to double their lead when Johnson found himself one-on-one with the keeper but dallied too long and the keeper eventually made the stop.

Newton Aycliffe put Emley under tremendous pressure for the next 15 minutes, and seemed to win every ball and have a spring in their step, Emley made changes, Thompson and Stacey were replaced by Gordon and Ceesay respectively, Stacey, one of a number of Emley players cautioned in the last ten minutes as we were forced to dig deep.

The fact that Lambton hadn't had to exert himself too much in terms of saves was a credit to the hard work and effort put in by the 10 men in front of him, but as legs got tired, that would change and Lambton would become Emley's hero and saviour, the hosts still piled the pressure on but heads, legs, knees and sheer bloody mindedness got in the way for Emley, Dawson was yellow carded and then Mampala gave way to Isaac Baldwin.

With Emley under severe pressure and with the game heading into added time, there was a breakaway, but Ceesay's shot was turned away for a corner, Hardaker was then strangely booked for time wasting in taking the corner, despite the linesman preventing him from taking it and making him reposition the ball.

Then it was time to Lambton to step up, or dive as the case proved, a good move for the hosts saw the ball played across goal and a well timed shot was well saved by Lambton down low, Emley then saw a shot by Baldwin flash wide as the added time ticked over into 5+ minutes.

It was a nervy ending for Emley but Lambton then pulled off two terrific saves within seconds to keep the Cliffe out, the second one, was a phenomenal effort that looked for all the world a very late equaliser but somehow he managed to dive and contort himself to beat the goalbound shot away and there was cheers of relief from the travelling support as the referee finally blew for time after what seemed like neverending stoppage time.

A good all round, strong, team performance but Lambton's heroics in the dying seconds when Emley were out on their feet saw us back down the A1 with maximum points for the fourth time this season to move us up to third in the table, with a West Yorkshire derby with Pontefract to come next weekend.

F/T- Newton Aycliffe 0-1 Emley.

Attendance- 165

Emley- Lambton, Clegg, Farrar, Lindley, Cowgill[c], Hardaker, Mampala. Dawson, Thompson, Johnson, Stacey;
Subs used- Gordon, Ceesay, Baldwin;
Unused- B.Rodrigues, C.Rodrigues.

Goal- Johnson (5' pen)

WM Sykes Man of the Match- Declan Lambton