Emley produced another accomplished performance to see off Dunston and maintain second place in the Northern Premier League Division One East at The Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.

It was by no means a fantastic performance from Emley but it's the result that matters and another win and yet another clean sheet against a play off rival is pleasing, if the game lacked excitement, it certainly didn't lack incident, 3 goals, 3 red cards and 9 yellow cards provided plenty of talking points.

There was very little action between the sides early doors, but that all changed 6 minutes in when Joe Clegg was sent tumbling inside the area and the referee awarded a penalty, Dunston protested furiously but it was all academic as Bailey Thompson stepped up and smashed past the keeper for an early lead at the Warburton End

Dunston then enjoyed a little purple patch in which they thought they'd snatched an equaliser, after a penalty appeal of their own was turned down, they had Emley on the back foot but a cross from their left saw a mistimed header before a defensive mix up saw them bundle the ball into the net but the alert assistant on the stand side already had her flag up and the visitors were unhappy again.

Both sides were struggling to get on top as defences stayed strong, one of Emley's defenders, Harry Sheppeard burst down the right and played in a neat ball but the keeper is down low to gather it, Hayden Lindley then showed strength and poise to drive into the area but the defence cleared, and more unhappiness for the visitors straight after.

A second yellow and then red was shown to Turnbull as he appeared to kick the ball away after a free kick was awarded to Emley, earning himself a very early bath indeed with less than half an hour played, it was advantage Emley and the promotion chasers took full advantage, Joe Stacey's free kick fizzed just over bar from 25 yards out and Emley then doubled their lead on the next attack.

Emley were awarded a corner on the left and Joe Stacey played in a smashing ball onto the head of Ellis Farrar who buried a header past the keeper and Emley were on their way to another victory over a play off rival, Emley went looking for a third before the break but Lindley's shot flew over the bar.

H/T-Emley 2-0 Dunston.

It was going swimmingly for Emley as the second half got underway, though the Welfare Ground was still fairly soggy after some torrential showers just before kick off, the pitch held up well though, and there was little action until the 50th minute when suddenly everything erupted.

Dunston were unhappy, again, with a challenge by Emley skipper Jack Cowgill and, not for the first time, surrounded the referee and amid ugly scenes, Djalo was shown a straight red for appearing to lay hands on the official, of course, Dunston weren't happy with it, but Djalo was then accompanied by Cowgill who was shown a second yellow and then a red.

So, 10 v 9, would that change the dynamics of the game? Slightly. Dunston actually enjoyed the better possession sand chances in the next 15-20 minutes without really causing many problems for the Emley rearguard as The Pewits made changes just past the hour, Chris Dawson is replaced by Carlos Rodrigues, and Thompson gave way to Laurence Sorhaindo.

Dunston tried to get something back, a couple of deflected shots were followed by an acrobatic attempt which went wide as their yellow card count racked up as they struggled to maintain their discipline at times, it was all good for Emley, who were marching towards a sixth straight victory and a fourth successive clean sheet at home.

Emley looked for a game-finishing third goal but Stacey's lovely ball to the far post was just too hot for Clegg to control and his header spluttered off target, Clegg was involved in the next attack, showing great determination to keep the ball in play on the right and his ball teed up Lindley who skied his shot into the car park.

A third substitute for Emley saw Hanson replace Stacey and within minutes, The Pewits put the game to bed with a luscious third. Emley are usually pretty good at putting teams away when attacking the Shed, Emley had not failed to score in front of The Richard Hirst Stand, in games where they have scored since a 3-3 draw with Consett back in September, that looked like it would happen but Carlos Rodrigues had other ideas.

A rampaging run down the left took him past a couple of defenders into the area, he could have possibly shot himself but instead, laid off for the supporting Ellis Farrar to stroke home his second via the keepers glove to seal the win, two final subs, Mampala and Hardaker replacing Man of the Match Clegg and Sheppeard.

A caveat to the win, it meant that Emley have mathematically secured safety for this season, however, Richard Tracey's Pewits are looking to move out of the NPL Division One East in an upward trajectory!

F/T- Emley 3-0 Dunston.

Attendance- 466

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

Goals- Thompson (8' pen) Farrar (35' 89')

Red Card- Cowgill (50')

WM Sykes Man of the Match- Joe Clegg.