Goals from 2 defenders earned Emley a second win of the week and meant we have posted three successive home wins for the first time this season to move up to 12th in the NPL Premier Division, it's a 4th win from 5 league games as we look to have finally put the dismal run of form behind us.

After a splendid remembrance service and an impeccable two minutes silence, the near 500 crowd were treated to an entertaining game which hung in the balance right until the end, the visitors had the better of the opening exchanges with a shot as early as the second minute which flashed wide, another couple of half chances proved easy for Emley keeper Bottomley to handle.

Emley, unusually attacking the shed in the first half rather than second, saw their first chance after a ball from the right wasn't dealt with, it was played back in, De Girolamo saw a goalbound header partially clear, another recycled ball back in but the shot wasn't forthcoming, another chance for Whitby saw a shot deflected which was just about cleared by the Emley defence and then they created what they thought was a goalscoring opportunity but the flag was up.

Neither keeper was really busy but Bottomley was forced into a save low down when another deflected shot from Whitby was saved, Emley's next attack saw a bludgeoning run from Sheppeard down our right, eventually the ball fell to Alex O'Connor but he got his angles all wrong and blasted high and wide, but the next attack would hit the spot!

A good spell of pressure from Emley pinned Whitby into their own half, after a couple of probing runs, it was played to Danny Devine in the inside right position, his precision ball into the penalty area was met by a lovely touch from Niall Heaton who saw his effort dink over the keeper, a smart finish from a Devine ball in!

Despite the game being entertaining and fairly open and even, there was a low threshold for contact from the referee who seem to award a foul for any physical contact, or anyone going to ground, Whitby earned a free kick outside the area on their left but the effort was wide, Emley won a throw deep inside the Seasiders half and Heaton's throw was only half dealt with, as the ball came back in, De Girolamo was flagged offside.

Another good Emley chance saw Gould spin his man and the ball in found Gabby Johnson but he couldn't quite beat the keeper to it, Whitby stopper Popple also won the next duel as once again, he was strong and he gathered a good looking cross from Ellis Farrar with Johnson lurking, another half chance saw Gould again involved but Emley couldn't nick a second as we headed into the break.

H/T- Emley 1-0 Whitby Town.

A slender half time as we changed round with Emley now attacking the Warburton end and saw a good start for the Pewits, De Girolamo unlucky when his effort won a corner, from the corner, Diego delivered back into the danger area and a clearance off the line thwarted the hosts, but they would get their second just five minutes later.

Following a yellow card, to match one for Haswell in the first half, Danny Devine got Emley on the front foot, Emley won a throw which was partially cleared, it was sent back in and fell nicely for Ellis Farrar to bury at the back post to give the Pewits a bit of breathing space, which they would need!

Another decent performance from Lewis Gould who again worked hard saw his run cause problems for the Whitby back line and his final ball found De Girolamo who fired well over, but Whitby then fought back and eventually got their reward, after making a couple of changes, they seemed to get a bit of a lift, a good move down their right saw a nice ball into the danger area, Bottomley came off his line and upended the attack and a penalty was awarded.

With the Emley fans and Scissett Juniors doing their best to put him off, a fine penalty from Hewitt reduced the deficit and with 20 minutes to go, it was game on again. Emley countered Whitby's subs by introducing changes of their own, Alex Kiwomya had replaced Gould a minute before and then Clegg and Stephenson were brought on for De Girolamo and Matykiewicz respectively.

The game was on edge, the atmosphere was crackling as both sets of fans willed their teams on, and it was Emley who almost had a third, a cracking ball in from the left found Gabby Johnson but he couldn't steer his header on target, and so we headed into 4 minutes of added time with Whitby pushing for an equaliser and Emley holding out and looking for a third to finish the game.

Following another long throw, the ball came back to Emley and it was worked to Stephenson whose shot dipped and then saved by the keeper, and in the last couple of minutes Whitby were throwing everything at the Pewits but they stood firm, and most of the ground was relieved when they conjured up a last minute chance but the speculative effort flew wide, the full time whistle was blown and Emley could celebrate a third straight home win for the first time since April last year.

We have a week off next week due to Avro's involvement in the FA Trophy and are back in action on Saturday 21st November when Hyde United are the next visitors to "fortress" Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.

F/T- Emley 2-1 Whitby Town.

Attendance- 476

Emley- Bottomley, Sheppeard, Farrar, Devine, Heaton, Matykiewicz, Haswell, O'Connor, Gould, Johnson[c], De Girolamo;
Subs used- Kiwomya, Clegg, Stephenson;
Unused- Porritt, Hanson.

Goals- Heaton (20'), Farrar (58')

WM Sykes Man of the Match- Niall Heaton.