Emley kept up their record of having never lost to Curzon Ashton following an impressive 2-1 victory on Friday night under the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground lights.

After Tuesday's 1-2 defeat to Ilkeston in which Emley dominated but failed to take their chances, this time, Emley did take their chances, well two of them anyway, Curzon actually started the better of the sides, but failed to capitalise when an Emley backpass was underhit, luckily the attacker failed to control and Bottomley was able to snuff out the danger, Barks then showed coolness to send a sound defensive header back to his keeper after another attack by the visitors.

Emley's first major attack came on 8 minutes when Stacey locked on to a long diagonal ball and did well to win a corner but it came to nothing, it was then Emley's turn to defend as Curzon swept across the field, but a combination of headers and feet managed to keep them out, there was a controversial moment when Bailey Thompson chased onto a ball over the top, he appeared to have been brought down by the last man but the referee waved play on.

Just two minutes later though and we bagged the lead, and a cracker it was too! Emley won a throw on our left, Stacey's throw was flicked on into the area where Diego Di Girolamo met it on the volley to smash it inside the keepers' near post, we were on our way and Diego netted his first goal for Emley.

The game was flowing nicely from end to end and it was the Nash's turn to attack and force Emley back, but a superbly timed interception by Sheppeard saw off the danger, the corner also saw Emley defend well to turn a shot away, a couple of minutes later and Curzon were back, but this time the wayward shot posed no danger.

Emley looked to turn the screw and go for a second, a superb piece of play earned another throw on the left and Stacey's long throw dropped nicely for Barks at the front post, but a neat little overhead attempt was off target, however, seven minutes later the same two would combine again and Emley would get their second.

Again, Emley found space down Curzon's right and another throw was won, up stepped Stacey and his bomb was headed out only as far as Gabby Johnson who clipped it back in right into the path of Charlie Barks who powered a header home to the delight of his team mates and fans. Emley then controlled the rest of the first half and Cowgill floated a header over from a corner and then another Emley raid was halted as Sheppeard's deep ball to the back post was cleared and Curzon made haste up field, but again, Barks was composed as he calmly headed back Bottomley.

H/T- Emley 2-0 Curzon Ashton.

As with the first half, it was the Nash who were the better starters, a header was cleared off the line and they also had a penalty shout waved away, Emley were caught on the back foot but they defended well and a header from the men in pink flashed wide of Bottomley's upright.

Emley came down towards the shed and had a couple of decent chances, first, Stacey skinned his man and dug in a cross that was just too deep and evaded everyone, but the ball was then recycled and Di Girolamo again caught one on the volley but this time he pinged it over, the end to end nature continued in the second half and within a few minutes, Bottomley was having to get down to save a low, skidding shot.

Curzon then almost hit Emley with a classic counter attack strike, after defending well at the shed end, they were soon in striking range at the Warburton end, but a curling,dipping shot dipped and curled too much and flew out, the Emley fans then saw a great move involving Johnson, Stacey and Thompson but the final ball in led to an offside flag being raised.

A first change for Emley saw the hard working Thompson replaced by Alex Kiwomya, who was involved in Emley's next chance but Barks' deft flick was just beyond Di Girolamo and the chance was gone, again, defence turned into attack when a stray pass inside Emley's box almost caught the Pewits out, but we managed to clear and then launch an attack of our own, which resulted in a corner.

Bottomley was then forced off his line as Curzon played a dangerous ball over the top and he calmly headed it out for a throw, a trick he repeated ten minutes later, with the game entering the last 10, Emley made more changes, Ejupi replaced Stacey, Sorhaindo on for Di Girolamo and Farrar then replaced the stricken Sheppeard.

It was Ejupi who almost had Emley's third to seal the win, a strong surge into the box and a powerful shot but the Curzon keeper pulled off a fantastic save with his feet to just about keep his side in it, and with the game then going into 6 added on minutes, the Nash reduced the deficit with a well taken goal and Holmes headed in from close range from a ball from the right.

There was a nervy moment right at the end as another ball into the Emley box looked to cause problems, but Barks again proved too good and too strong for the visitors and the whistle blew to signal our first three points in the NPL Premier Division against a side who were 2 leagues above us last season.

The victorious Pewits were applauded off after another good performance and we now ready ourselves for a midweek trip to Leek Town on Tuesday.

F/T- Emley 2-1 Curzon Ashton.

Attendance- 567

Emley- Bottomley, Sheppeard, Hanson, Lindley, Cowgill (c), Barks, Thompson, Haswell, Di Girolamo, Johnson, Stacey;
Subs used- Kiwomya, Ejupi, Sorhaindo, Farrar;
Unused-Murray.

Goals- Di Girolamo (18') Barks (37')

WM Sykes Man of the Match- Charlie Barks.