Emley's promotion push continued thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over Blyth Spartans courtesy of a stoppage time penalty from top scorer Gabriel Johnson to leave Blyth broken hearted at the death on Valentine's Day.

A tremendous effort to get the game on from the groundstaff helped by a strange phenomenon, the sunshine!, yes, that's right, SUNSHINE! although it was bitterly cold as Emley got the game underway attacking the Warburton End.

But the team sitting 3rd in the NPL Division One East wouldn't have it all their own way as bottom club Blyth made life hard for the Pewits, there was little action for the first ten minutes or so except a few timely clearances by both defences, Blyth registered the first attempt on goal but the shot was harmless and curled wide, another shot a couple of minutes later was deflected of Kurtis Turner and out for a corner as the visitors made the brighter start.

Emley were struggling to find a rhythm that has seen us win our last 7 at home and only conceded once, and we failed to really trouble the Spartans keeper in the first half, it was Emley keeper Lambton that was the busier of the two stoppers, Blyth finding plenty of joy down Emley's left side to create attacks and put balls into the box, Lambton was forced to make a save from a volley inside the area, he was then able to make a comfortable take from the next shot which took a deflection.

Emley's first real chance came on 25 minutes when a good piece of play by Sheppeard earned a corner which was nodded wide by Farrar, Lambton was called into action again to tidy up after a header from a Blyth free kick, Blyth had so far kept Emley's hard working front two of Johnson and Thompson quiet but Johnson managed to get a shot away that drifted well wide, as did Mampala right on half time.

H/T-Emley 0-1 Blyth Spartans.

Emley were proactive at half time, Mampala was replaced by debutant Jacob Hanson who made an immediate impact, driving at the heart of the Spartans defence before feeding Sheppeard who was unceremoniously dumped to the ground by a robust Blyth challenge, Johnson's free kick hit the wall and was cleared by the visitors.

Emley were looking a bit more fluid now and restricting Blyth's ability to get forward, a good piece of interplay between Lindley and Turner ended with the latter's' shot being turned behind for a corner which was cleared, Hanson was then involved again as Emley finally got on the front foot, a good ball to find him by Sheppeard but the half time sub couldn't finish it off.

Just short of the hour mark and another chance for the Pewits, hard work by Thompson to set up Lindley who saw his shot also turned behind for another Emley corner, Barks was just beaten to the ball for another one and this time, Barks did get his head to it but could only steer it wide. At the other end, Blyth created a chance but the shot didn't get the right connection and it was easily gathered by Lambton.

Both sides were now looking for a potential winner as we entered the final quarter, Lambton, down low, made another save as Spartans pushed and then Emley created another chance when Barks recycled the ball from out left but the hard working Bailey Thompson couldn't quite spin enough to get a good enough contact, his strike partner Johnson was then off target with a free kick.

Into the last 10 and Thompson created a chance, seeing a curling shot saved by the keeper, changes were made for Emley, Barks gave way to Carlos Rodrigues, Joe Clegg replaced Dawson and Laurence Sorhaindo replaced Thompson, Rodrigues was straight at it, his bolting, direct runs down the left were causing problems but it was from the right where Emley's next chance came from, a lovely ball in from Sheppeard found Rodrigues at the back post but who tried to cushion a header for Lindley who just failed to connect.

And so we headed into the 4+ minutes of added time as Emley toiled for a winner, Gabby Johnson thought he had found it when he turned superbly and drilled a curling shot past the keeper, as the shed got ready to celebrate, the ball sneaked agonisingly past the outside post, and the chance was gone, the sides earned a point each in a goalless draw on the Northumberland coast in October and it appeared the points would be shared again, but Emley had other ideas!

With the game now into that 4th minute of stoppage time, Emley launched one more attack, the ball was played into the inside left channel,the initial effort was partly cleared and then amid the chaos inside the Spartans box, a desperate defender used his hands to block the next shot and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Many people were already headed for the exit and to their cars as Gabriel Johnson stepped up and smashed the winner past the despairing hands of the Blyth keeper to roars of delight and no doubt relief from the Emley faithful, the referee blew up for time seconds after the restart.

It left the Spartans broken hearted on Valentine's Day and most Emley fans will probably feel that they deserved a point for their efforts but sport is cruel sometimes, it was the Emley fans who were feeling the love at the end though as we maintained 3rd place with a huge game next week away at second placed Matlock Town, for the Spartans, it means they are still rooted to the bottom, a point behind their town rivals, Blyth Town.

F/T- Emley 1-0 Blyth Spartans.

Attendance- 411

Emley- Lambton, Sheppeard, Farrar, Lindley, Cowgill [c], Barks, Turner, Dawson, Thompson, Johnson, Mampala:
Subs used- Hanson, Rodrigues, Clegg, Sorhaindo;
Unused- Hardaker

Goal- Johnson (90+4')

WM Sykes Man of the Match- Hayden Lindley.