

Emley produced one of their finest displays of recent times to thrash big spending promotion rivals Matlock Town in Derbyshire and overtake them into second in the Northern Premier League Division One Table.
It was a performance that had almost everything, from defensive resilience to superb finishing and a willingness to never stop working for each other, and one that any Emley fan who made the journey will remember for a long time. Matlock knocked on the door enough times but in sight of the impressive Riber Castle overlooking the scenic ground, Emley kept on pulling up the drawbridges and firing down the arrows.
After the hosts had pulled an early shot wide, The Pewits started their assault with an early goal that lifted the spirits, Emley played through Matlock in the middle to release Stacey on the left and his inch perfect ball into the area was swept home by a jubilant Bailey Thompson for a lead we never really looked like losing.
Matlock looked dangerous down their left at times with Milambo pushing on and causing problems, it was his run that led to a free kick being put wide, Thompson was almost in again after a superb ball by Turner split the home defence, but the keeper was alert and beat Bailey to the ball, the rain was teeming down now as Matlock looked for an equaliser but an Emley body deflected their next shot, it was to become a feature of Emley's sheer will to win throughout the game.
After a penalty claim by the hosts was waved away, Emley then stunned the Proctors Cars Stadium with a sublime second goal with less than half an hour gone, another through ball dissected the Matlock defenders and that man Bailey Thompson was onto it, he took a gorgeous touch to bring it under his spell before slipping the shot past the onrushing keeper.
Matlock then looked to try and get something but Emley were having none of it, well marshalled at the back by captain Cowgill and the immovable Barks, Matlock couldn't find a way through and were limited to pot shots to try and get something, they almost had it following a spell of pressure in which Emley were forced to dig deep against a Matlock side which included Northern Ireland international Conor Washington, Ellis Farrar was in the right place at the right time to head a goalbound header clear and Stacey showed tremendous defensive work to stop another threat.
Emley played with a swagger at times, confidently pushing The Gladiators back towards their own goal, but for a bit more composure on a couple of final balls, they could have caused more problems for the shellshocked home defence.
Washington stepped up confidently for a free kick for the hosts 20 yards out but it sailed well over to the ironic cheers of the Emley supporters, Washington and team mates were finding Emley a far tougher opponent than their previous visitors. Matlock had only lost once in their previous 14 home games, but Emley made a mockery of that.
Matlock's best spell came just before half time with Emley pinned back, but were prepared to fight and scrap to defend their goal, any chance of an industrial clearance was taken as well as some calm and composed play to get us out of trouble, and took the applause of their supporters as the half time whistle blew.
H/T- Matlock Town 0-2 Emley.
Matlock made a change at half time, recent signing from Sheffield United, Alfie Atherton was replaced by on loan Notts County man Yerim Zoko, must be nice, but he couldn't help turn the tide against the determined Pewits in green, Matlock started the half strong as expected, but Emley's defence was stronger, Barks showing his credentials with some brilliant positioning to concede a corner and then to show strength and determination to head it clear.
It took Emley 10 minutes into the half to create their first chance, good work in midfield by Dawson saw the ball played into the outside right channel where a delightful ball in just ran past Joe Stacey.
Emley were dominating midfield, Hayden Lindley, Kurtis Turner and Dawson were immense all afternoon and Turner was the instigator of Emley's third, scintillating goal, it was his run that caused chaos in the Matlock back line and when the ball was floated in from a free kick from Emley's right, Charlie Barks towered above everyone to steer a header back past the keeper to send the Emley fans into raptures!
As usual, there was a good number of Emley supporters and they couldn't believe what they were watching, at times, Emley were completely outplaying a side that had not dropped to this level in almost 30 years and were favourites to win the league and go straight back up, Laurence Sorhaindo was working well with Thompson in the absence of Gabby Johnson but Emley didn't miss their top scorer at all, Sorhaindo saw a chance go begging after good play by Thompson as he couldn't direct a shot, to ironic cheers from Matlock fans, the irony would be on them within a minute!
Again, Emley outmuscled Matlock in the middle and they couldn't find a way through, Lambton's inch perfect goal kick found Laurence Sorhaindo who had Matlock defenders chasing him down, but he remained calm and composed and smashed the ball into the bottom corner to trigger more delight from the travelling support.
If the Gladiators weren't down before, they would be now, the thumbs down from the Emperor would have put them out of their misery no doubt, as the Emley fans celebrated, there was audible discontent from the home supporters, who were watching their team slump to a second defeat in three games, they might have been even more disgruntled had Emley taken one of their other good chances.
Joe Clegg came on just past the hour for Sorhaindo who was serenaded by the travelling fans on his departure, and Clegg was straight into the action with some crunching tackles in the middle of the field, the right side of the pitch looked like the coliseum floor with the sand down and Emley were well on their way to a fine victory, there was still some defending to do, which they did admirably, a header wide from a corner and another wayward shot were no trouble for Lambton and his back four, Matlock were now making mistakes all over the field, stray passes only added to their misery.
Jacob Hanson and Manny Mampala had replaced Dawson and Thompson respectively and one of Hanson's first acts almost led to a fifth Emley goal, again, strong defending from a corner from Cowgill before Stacey outmanoeuvred his marker to send Hanson racing clear, he possibly took a touch too many allowing the keeper to spread himself well to save with his legs, this was Stacey's last act as he was replaced by Carlos Rodrigues.
Unbelievably it was gone 80 minutes when Emley got their first corner, again, off the back of forcing a Matlock error on halfway, a good ball in was cleared by the hosts who then proceeded to play the ball straight out of play when a counter attack looked to be on.
One final change for The Pewits saw Ross Hardaker come on for Hayden Lindley as the game entered stoppage time, but Emley were comfortable and could happily see the game out and pick up a tremendous win to move above Matlock into second behind title favourites Redcar Athletic, it was Emley's first win at Matlock since November 1993 and what a way to do it!
We now face the long slog to Ashington on Tuesday night looking to maintain the promotion push and look for a third straight away win.
F/T- Matlock Town 0-4 Emley.
Attendance- 770
Emley- Lambton, Sheppeard, Farrar, Lindley, Cowgill [c], Barks, Turner, Dawson, Thompson, Sorhaindo, Stacey;
Subs all used- Clegg, Mampala, Hanson, Rodrigues, Hardaker.
Goals- Thompson (4', 29') Barks (58') Sorhaindo (60')
WM Sykes Man of the Match- Kurtis Turner.