Emley can finally celebrate a home league win for only the second time this season and the first since August as a fighting performance saw off Lancaster at a soaked Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.

It was a tight, tenacious game, both teams and sets of fans giving their all in atrocious conditions, but Emley's resilience saw them through in the end, along with a home debut goal for Lewis Gould, who impressed yet again. There was little goalmouth action in the opening minutes but Emley were forced into a very early change when Jacob Hanson replaced a stricken Rinor Ejupi, Emley were once again playing a makeshift back line due to injures, with Harry Sheppeard partnering Niall Heaton at the back and there was also a welcome return form injury for Ellis Farrar having missed the last 8.

Hanson wasted no time in slotting in though, a superb and perfectly timed sliding challenge inside the box saw a dangerous Lancaster attack stopped, and the visitors had another sight of goal two minutes later but it was off target, Gould was giving the more experienced defenders a tough time and he saw a shot blocked as Emley then attacked, Hanson again was involved, a good effort to reach a ball in the inside right position but he couldn't get enough purchase on the ball to find a teammate and the keeper gathered.

Both teams were trying their best in the difficult conditions and credit to them, Lancaster then tested Emley keeper Bottomley but he was equal to it, tipping a deflected shot away and the corner was then cleared, Emley then had a corner themselves, won well by Gould, but again, the defence was on top as the Dolly Blues cleared their lines.

There was a good atmosphere with both sets of fans sheltering under the roof of the Richard Hirst stand, but it would be the Emley contingent that would be cheering with just 5 minutes to half time, a direct ball down the left caught out the visitors and Lewis Gould was on hand to round the keeper and slot home on his home debut!

The Emley fans then taunted the visitors about getting beaten by a bus stop in nowhere, following the Lancaster fans' description of Emley's rural location, all good natured banter of course, Emley then had a couple of free kicks as the Dolly Blues became frustrated but we couldn't trouble the keeper and we held on for a half time lead.

H/T- Emley 1-0 Lancaster City.

With the rain pouring down still and Emley holding a slender lead, the second half proved to be a battle, Lancaster were the first to chance their arm but a shot flew well over the bar, Emley fans huddled together in the shed then celebrated a second goal as Heaton glanced a header home from a free kick but the flag had gone up, curtailing those celebrations. Two minutes later and Lancaster also had the ball in the net but the flag again kept the status quo.

Another Emley attack then saw the ball worked to Aaron Haswell 20 yards out but he got under his shot and it blazed over the shed roof and then the Pewits enjoyed a good spell of pressure, urged on by their vocal fans, a corner was won when Gould, then Lindley and De Girolamo combined, the corner was only partially cleared and then a Heaton long throw came back out to Alex O'Connor but his shot was also off target.

A good chance for the visitors two minutes later almost restored parity, Emley were caught out down our left and the ball in was a good one but luckily the volley was well hit but just wide, Lancaster made changes and looked to change the course of the game but Emley remained defiant in the rain, Richard Tracey countered their subs with 2 of our own, Joe Clegg and a league debut for Nathan Stephenson after an impressive shift in midweek replaced De Girolamo and Haswell.

Bottomley was called into action again to make a good double save as the visitors desperately sought an equaliser, good defending again kept our clean sheet intact, a good block from the initial shot inside the area was then followed up by a terrific reflex save as Bottomley frustrated City once again, another change for Emley, Coban Bird gave way to the returning Farrar and Emley looked like they were prepared to make a final stand.

Or were they? The Pewits showed great attacking intent, despite only 2 minutes remaining, Gould again got himself into a great position, beating the offside trap but a slight delay as he tried to sort his feet out meant the chance was gone and his shot was straight at the keeper, a minute or so later, Joe Stacey also found himself bearing down on goal but eventually Lancaster got it away. It was now down to Emley's rearguard action to seal the points and despite a nervy 5 minutes of added time, Emley stood their ground, working hard in the conditions to close down, block and get a boot on the ball whenever possible to shut out the Dolly Blues.

The final whistle was met by relief by the Emley faithful and they further taunted their Lancashire rivals about being beaten by a bus stop! it was all in good humour again but finally Emley can celebrate a win at home for the first time since August, and more probably more pleasing for Richard Tracey and his staff, a first clean sheet in the league since a goalless draw at leaders Redcar Athletic 9 matches and 2 months ago!

We are back on the road next weekend with a trip to Alfreton Town looking to pick up more points.

F/T- Emley 1-0 Lancaster City.

Attendance- 357

Emley- Bottomley, Ejupi, Stacey, Lindley, Heaton, Sheppeard, Bird, O'Connor, Gould, Haswell, De Girolamo[c]
Subs used- Hanson, Clegg, Stephenson, Farrar
Unused- Devine

Goal- Gould (40')

WM Sykes Man of the Match- Ben Bottomley.