Promotion chasing Emley had to settle for a point on the road in an even contest in the east coast sunshine with a 2-2 draw at Bridlington Town in the Northern Premier League Division One East.

It was probably a classic game of two halves with The Pewits enjoying the better of the first half while The Seasiders were dominant in the second half and neither side could ultimately break the deadlock.

There was a healthy following backing Emley as the game kicked off in coastal sunshine although there was still a chill in the air and it was Emley who had the first real attack but a throw in didn't really trouble the keeper, Brid came back and earned a corner, but again, it didn't trouble Emley keeper Michael Roxburgh, returning for The Pewits following two loan spells in 2022 and 2024.

Harry Sheppeard got behind the Town defence and put a decent ball across the 6 yard box but no one in green and black could connect with it, then at the other end, Roxburgh watched as Bridlington blazed a shot wide of his post. Emley then produced the best passage of play as Johnson and Dawson combined but the offside flag had already spoilt the party.

20 minutes in and Emley found themselves 1 down, but the crowd were treated to a simply stunning strike by Ahmed Salam who picked the ball up 25 yards out, there appeared nothing on but he produced a wonderful shot that curled past the fully stretched Roxburgh, Emley had made most of the running until then and it could have been a hammer blow, instead, Richard Tracey's men hit straight back with a cracking leveller themselves.

Inroads were made from the kick off, Emley worked the ball to the right where Johnson beat the defender before squaring to Chris Dawson who fired an acrobatic equaliser into the net to the delight of the travelling supporters around the ground, the goal seemed to give Emley a lift and they looked to dominate the next 20 minutes or so.

Despite Emley having lots of possession, they failed to really capitalise on it, Brid looked to retake the lead but their shooting was off target twice in the space of a few minutes and Emley made them pay for it when a neat little touch by Johnson sent strike partner Bailey Thompson bearing down on goal, the chance looked to have run away from him, but Emley's number 9 got a toe to it and poked it beyond the keeper, Thompson was then serenaded by the visiting fans.

The half ended with Emley forcing successive corners but the Bridlington defence stood firm, the last action of the half saw Ellis Farrar just fail to make contact with the final corner.

H/T- Bridlington Town 1-2 Emley.

Emley finished the first half well but in all honesty couldn't really get going in the second half and in the end, had a linesman's flag to thank for a point, the half started in the worst possible fashion with an equaliser for The Seasiders, Emley gave the ball away in midfield and Brid were on to it and immediately soared downfield, Roxburgh was beaten by a neat finish inside the far post.

Bridlington then enjoyed the best part of possession and chances and Emley's defence had to be strong to prevent a third goal, scrambled clearances and wayward shots failed to bring their reward and Emley then saw a Joe Stacey free kick cleared at the second attempt as both sides fought for the ball.

Emley made changes with 20 to go, Stacey and Dawson were replaced by Sorhaindo and Clegg but neither could make much of an impact, despite them both getting involved and working hard, as were all the players on both sides, another glorious chance came and went for Brid, a rasping shot cannoned back off the bar and with the woodwork still trying the recover, the follow up saw a dangerous shot eventually cleared by Emley.

A couple of minutes later and there was a free header inside Emley's 6 yard box but Roxburgh gathered cleanly. Another change for Emley saw Brad Abbott on his full debut replaced by Ross Hardaker as The Pewits shuffled things around, Hayden Lindley pushed further up into the heart of midfield, and he tried to repeat his wonder goal from Silsden but this time he got his angles all wrong and only caused a passing seagull to take cover.

The game appeared to be petering out but Emley threw an attack together in the last minute and earned a corner, but the home defence couldn't clear which led to an Emley free kick which was cleared eventually, however as we entered into 5 minutes of added time there would be a couple of chances for either side.

First, good work by Sorhaindo won a corner which caused some confusion in the Brid defence but no one could get a final touch on it for Emley. In the away game at Bishop Auckland 2 weeks ago, Emley were undone by a heartbreaking stoppage time goal and the same appeared to have happened here, with the clock almost up, Brid launched one more final raid, the ball was played in from the right and stabbed home to cheers from the home fans, it would be the away fans who cheered next as they noticed the flag was already up, the goal was ruled out and Emley had earned a point.

With Matlock again slipping up, it meant Emley were able to move back up to second behind champions elect Redcar Athletic by a point! all 3 would have been nice, but we go to Lincoln Utd next week looking to push our promotion chances a bit further.

F/T- Bridlington Town 2-2 Emley.

Attendance- 337

Emley- Roxburgh, Sheppeard, Farrar, Abbott, Barks, Lindley, Turner, Dawson [c], Thompson, Johnson, Stacey:
Subs used- Sorhaindo, Clegg, Hardaker
Unused subs- Hanson, Walpole

Goals- Dawson (20') Thompson (33')

WM Sykes Man of the Match- Hayden Lindley.