The sun was out for Non-League day in Lincoln however it would prove to be a difficult day for the Pewits.

Emley were looking to put 2 winless games behind them but they struggled to muster many big chances to trouble a strong Lincoln defence, in truth, little happened within the first 20 minutes with neither side able to get a strong foothold in the game.

An early chance in the opening exchanges looked like it may trouble the Emley defence as Lincoln worked themselves 1 on 1 with Roxburgh, however Sheppeard and Captain Hardaker recovered well to usher him away from goal. This was as good as it got in the early exchanges for both sides, with the only other opportunity falling to Joe Clegg outside the area, however his shot went high over the crossbar.

Tempers flared soon after when Kane Hutchinson-Wilkes left a late challenge on Ellis Farrar resulting in a yellow card for the Lincoln number 10., with the game becoming a bit livelier, a mistake in the Emley defence saw the ball fall to the Lincoln striker on the edge of the box, however, would be disappointed seeing himself scuff his shot over the bar in a dangerous area for ‘The Whites’.

Thompson would have Emley’s best chance of the chance of the half. A lofted ball would find Thompson goal side of the defender which would lay up nice for him to strike a dipping volley which was saved well by the Lincoln keeper at full stretch.

It was a quiet last 10 minutes of the half with few chances from either side, the only chance falling to Lincoln, however his shot in the area was blocked comfortably by The Pewits defence. That bringing the half to a close.

HT: Lincoln United 0-0 Emley

Emley started the half the strongest with the first chance of the second half falling to Ellis Farrar, a free kick from the wide right was swung in by Joe Stacey, it curled over the Lincoln defence before landing at the back post where Ellis Farrar beat his defender to the ball but was rushed into his shot and struck over.

It was Lincoln’s turn to go close next, Lincoln’s Andrew Janssen received the ball in the box and poked a volley through a few Emley defenders which narrowly went past Michael Roxburgh’s post, Lincoln looked to build on this opportunity however it was Emley who went up the other end and went close, good build up play from Gabriel Johnson found Kurtis Turner out wide, he beat his man with a sharp turn before playing a low ball in the direction of Bailey Thompson but Just before the striker could tap in, the Lincoln defender nipped in Infront of him to clear the ball.

With both teams going close within the second half, it was Lincoln’s Connor Brown who left the supporters in the ground wondering how they hadn't taken the lead, good play from left to right saw a ball worked into the box falling at the feet of Brown who blazed over from 6 yards out with the goal gaping, a big let off for Emley.

Richard Tracey would make Emley’s first substitution of the day seeing Joe Clegg come off for Jack Boyle who was making his Emley debut, Boyle was straight into the action for The Pewits, combining well with Bailey Thompson, Jack received the ball inside the box and struck a shot towards the Lincoln goal, but his shot was saved well by the Lincoln goalkeeper.

Another substitution for Emley saw Bailey Thompson replaced by Laurence Sorhaindo, late on, the Lincoln supporters were left wondering how they hadn't scored again, a corner was whipped in which caused a big scramble on the Emley goal line and with a mixture of the Emley defenders and Roxburgh somehow managing to keep the ball out of the goal.

With the game coming to a close and a seemingly 0-0 draw on the horizon it would be a controversial ending to the game. A long ball played forward left Gabriel Johnson and the Lincoln goalkeeper closing in on a bouncing ball, the goalkeeper and Johnson collided, leaving the keeper down after been unable to claim the ball, the ball fall to Laurence Sorhaindo who looked on to an empty net, but before he could shoot,the referee blew his whistle for a foul for on the keeper to the confusion of the Emley players and fans.

This would prove to be pivotal for the Pewits, as Lincoln broke down the right-hand side, a few slips from the Emley players created an opportunity for Haydn Havard to cut inside and shoot low into the bottom right-hand corner, a goal that would see Emley’s winless run increase to 3 games, with the referee blowing the full-time whistle seconds after the restart.

With a home game against Champions Redcar Athletic and a local derby at Ossett over the Easter weekend, Emley need to rediscover their form again and quickly as the race to join Redcar and get promoted hots up.

FT: Lincoln United 1-0 Emley.

Attendance- 493.

EMLEY- Roxburgh, Sheppeard, Farrar, Lindley, Barks, Hardaker [c], Turner, Clegg, Thompson, Johnson, Stacey;
Subs used- Boyle, Sorhaindo
Unused- Dawson, Meeres, Hurdiss

WM Sykes Man of the Match- Ellis Farrar