Emley welcomed The Lions of Guiseley to the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground on Bank Holiday Monday. After a positive start to life in the NPL Premier Division, they surely were hoping for more, as The Pewits were so clearly more than a few yards off the pace, conceding four and offering little in the way of chances.

In front of a strong crowd of 804, with a sizeable travelling contingent from North-West Leeds, Guiseley never really gave Emley a sniff. Two goals in each half saw The Pewits off comfortably, and it could have been more but for some off-the-line heroics either side of half time.

Former Emley star, Amir Berchil, showed little mercy to his old club. He contributed positively throughout the match and gave Guiseley a lot of joy down the flank.

The first chance, though, came from a Thewlis run down the left. He cut it back to the edge of the box to Wilson, who found Staniland for the first effort on target of the game after 9 minutes. He had Bottomley beaten, but Barks was well placed to clear it off the line and keep it goalless for the moment.

The visitors kept up the pace throughout and had a spate of efforts towards the Emley goal in quick succession after the first chance. Hanson got a cheer from the Emley fans as he ushered a Guiseley attacker out at the byline and looked to have won a goal kick, but in an event that summed up the day for The Pewits, both the referee and linesman missed it and gave a corner.

The resulting corner gave Guiseley the opener in the 20th minute through a leaping Jordan Thewlis at the near post, who nodded home into the top corner. Emley felt hard done by and players swarmed the referee and interrogated the linesman, but truthfully, they were not at the races and a lead for Guiseley was fair, despite the alleged poor refereeing decision.

Emley continued to struggle to get going. Loose long balls were recovered with relative ease by Guiseley, and groans sounded round the ground from the home supporters.

It only took until the 26th minute for Guiseley to double their lead. A free kick from the right wing taken by Kyle White proved deceptive, and Barks’ attempt to divert the effort was not enough. The ball ricocheted into the goal with Bottomley stranded.

Emley could have done with half time there and then, but they endured the 20 remaining minutes of the first half and managed to keep the deficit to 2 goals. The frustration was tangible among the Emley players as the fouls totted up, with both Sheppeard and Lindley finding themselves in the book before the break.

H/T Emley 0-2 Guiseley

Richard Tracey had tried to breathe some life into The Pewits with a double change at half time as Kiwomya and Ejupi tried to reinvigorate the attack, but Guiseley were still superior in every department.

The second half was much the same for Emley. They seemed not to get into the final third until the game was well beyond reach, and it was Guiseley who came out for the second half looking threatening, as Owen forced Bottomley into a save within only a couple of minutes of the restart.

A stop-start lull gave Emley some momentary respite, but it did not last long, as just over 10 minutes into the second half, Cam Wilson hammered a fantastic curling effort into the top corner from 25 yards out. It really was a fitting example of the gulf in quality between the two sides.

Immediately, Emley looked more alive after Guiseley’s third, but there was an obvious consensus around the ground that it was too late to salvage any positive result.

Johnson had Emley’s first chance to score in the 58th minute, straight from the restart. He found himself stretching for a one-on-one, and he managed to stab the ball across goal and on target, but the Guiseley keeper got a foot to it. The ball found its way to the edge of the area and Haswell tried to drive one towards goal, but it was well off target in the end.

Kiwomya also went close for Emley moments later, but his shot from 20 yards was inches too high and wide.

Guiseley wanted more, and they pressed, out-thought and outran The Pewits right up to the final whistle. They almost had a moment of incredible fortune as Hall’s goal kick was taken by the wind and almost dropped into Bottomley’s goal for the fourth, but Emley and Bottomley breathed a sigh of relief as it dropped wide of the target.

Most could feel a fourth was coming for the away side, but it was proving elusive despite some near misses. In the 69th minute, Lindley recovered exceptionally well to clear Staniland’s effort off the line.

The fourth did eventually arrive, though. In the 74th minute, an unfortunate mix up at the back for Emley left the goal wide open for Harrison Hopper, who tapped it in unchallenged.

The remainder of the game was relatively smooth sailing for The Lions, who had taught Emley a lesson and put the brakes on after their fourth. Emley would have had a chance to get a consolation goal with what looked to be a clear penalty in the 82nd minute on Ejupi, whose leg was swept from underneath him only yards from the linesman and referee who waved play on. It was just one of those days for The Pewits.

The frustration was tangible as Emley’s discipline waned, and the foul count grew. There was an obvious gripe throughout the team and ground with the performance of the referee and his linesmen, but it would not have changed the outcome had decisions gone the other way.

The full time whistle sounded and Emley had been well beaten, but The Pewits are punching above their weight, and the start to this season has still been positive. Lessons have to be learned, and a response has to be shown in the coming games.

Emley go again at 1pm on Sunday as Bishop Auckland are welcomed to the village for the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round.

F/T: Emley 0-4 Guiseley

Attendance: 804

Emley: Bottomley, Sheppeard, Farrar, Lindley, Cowgill, Barks, Sorhaindo, Haswell, De Girolamo, Johnson, Hanson

Subs: Kiwomya, Ejupi, Thompson, Murray, Hardaker

WM Sykes Man of the Match: Charlie Barks