Emley produced a spirited second half fightback to nick a point in a hotly contested 2-2 draw at West Yorkshire and play off rivals Pontefract Collieries to more or less a play off place for the second season running.

For a large part of this game it looked like Emley would suffer a 4th defeat in the last 7 games but a remarkable turnaround saw The Pewits earn a point and it could have been all 3 in the end of a topsy turvy game, watched by Pontefract's 3rd ever biggest crowd for a competitive game and a record crowd for a league game, boosted by a very healthy travelling Emley support, who were downbeat as the game approached the hour mark.

With the huge crowd still trying to get into the ground, Colls earned a corner in the first minute which was cleared for a second corner which was then headed over the bar, Emley looked to get into gear and Gabby Johnson did well to create space for a shot which was saved by the Ponte keeper, Emley attacked again but Stacey's ball in to Thompson who couldn't get enough on the header. A corner for Emley sailed over everyone in the box and away to safety.

Pontefract then took command and forced Emley in plenty of rearguard action, after a header went wide, Colls were back on the front foot and they stunned the big crowd when Payne's shot from 20 yards flew past Roxburgh into the back of the net for an early lead, another shot from the hosts then flew wide.

Emley looked for a way back but the Colls defence were on top and stopped Emley from creating anything noteworthy, Emley did force a corner, but again, the delivery failed to find a Pewit and the ball was cleared, at the other end , Pontefract earned a corner themselves which was only partially cleared but the follow up shot was over.

Emley's best chance so far came 10 minutes before half time, a nice move saw Dawson's neat lay off find Johnson but his shot had too much on it and it flew over, two minutes later and an Emley free kick from the left found Heaton who didn't get enough on it and it went out for a goal kick off Johnson.

Colls almost doubled their lead heading towards half time but a good save low down from Mikey Roxburgh kept them out and then another effort was off target as we reached the halfway point.

H/T- Pontefract 1-0 Emley.

Emley knew a win would guarantee a play off spot and a draw would probably also do, but it was looking like it would be Pontefract who would be putting pressure on The Pewits if they had won, however an early free kick for Emley found Barks at the back post who couldn't get past the tight angle, it didn't work out this time.

And then a sucker punch, just as Emley looked like they were beginning to push for an equaliser, Ponte went and doubled their lead, they thought they had done minutes before but the celebrations were cut short by an offside flag, no issues this time around as Payne bagged a brace, his low shot beating Roxburgh.

The Emley supporters heads dropped but thankfully the players' didn't and Emley deserve huge credit for the way they responded to that second goal, instead of accepting defeat, they rolled their sleeves up and put everything in to the remaining 30 minutes. On our next attack, we won a corner after Johnson's shot was blocked and deflected wide, the ball was again aimed for the back post where this time Charlie Barks did make contact and headed the ball into the net despite a Pontefract defender's desperate attempt at clearing it.

One back then and Emley looked to have a spring in their step, Sorhaindo replaced Thompson and his lay off cleared the way for Stacey to whip a cross in but it was too near the keeper. Ponte then had a free kick go wide before Emley took control, Sorhaindo involved again, earning a corner, which again was met by Barks at the far post but he couldn't repeat his goalscoring exploits, the big centre back was there again from a free kick 2 minutes later but headed wide.

Emley now had the bit between their teeth, playing some lovely football at times, Pontefract had to resort to crude fouls to halt the momentum, which saw them pick up a couple of bookings but Emley kept on, switching the ball from flank to flank and neat passing in and out of midfield, Johnson was denied a chance on goal on a couple of occasions with and offside flag and a good defensive intercept, but with 15 minutes to go, the lively striker wasn't to be denied.

With the home defence claiming a handball, the ball in from Dawson sat up nicely inside the area for Gabriel Johnson to slot home the equaliser in front of Emley's jubilant travelling supporters who just 20 minutes earlier were downbeat, but their emotions were tested again as straight away, Ponte got behind The Pewits defence but the visitors stood firm and cleared the danger.

Emley were looking to now go on and win the game and pushed forward with the fans doing their bit to urge them on, after a half chance was cleared only as far as the edge of the area, it fell to Kurtis Turner who fizzed a shot the wrong side of the upright as the Emley fans were starting to cheer again.

Barks was again a menace from another Emley corner late on but again, couldn't hit the target and it sailed over, there was a nervy moment then at the other end as the game entered 5 minutes of added time, Ponte moved the ball quick to their left but Emley regrouped and saw off the danger, with the game now it's in last few seconds, Sorhaindo chased a ball into the Colls area but the keeper was quicker and got there before him.

But Emley earned a point from a losing position to stay 3rd on 74 points, and with Dunston and Pontefract playing each other on the final day next week, it means the point is almost certain to have booked Emley's play off place, a win next week at home to Newton Aycliffe could see us finish 3rd and book a home semi final, The Pewits also earned the applause of their supporters after a super turnaround, on another day, it could have been all 3.

F/T- Pontefract 2-2 Emley.

Attendance- 846

Emley- Roxburgh, Sheppeard, Heaton, Lindley, Farrar, Barks, Turner, Dawson [c], Thompson, Johnson, Stacey;
Sub used- Sorhaindo
Subs unused- Clegg, Hardaker, Boyle, Nzondo.

Goals- Barks (60') Johnson (75')

WM Sykes Man of the Match- Niall Heaton.