Emley beaten in South Yorkshire

AFC Emley were defeated by a goal to nil at Swallownest in a scrappy, game which put the Pewits firmly in the bottom half of the Northern Counties East league Division 1 table.
The hosts were on form from the start, causing the Emley backline problems and fired a warning shot past George Clarke's post, Clarke was then called upon to make a good save, a free kick was whipped in, the header well met and Clarke's fine save kept it out, the rebound was well wide to Emley's relief.
Emley were struggling to get out of their own half and Swallownest were pushing forward constantly, and it was no surprise to anyone when the home side took the lead after 5 minutes,a neat finish from Lill finished in the bottom corner.
It was no more than Swallownest deserved and Emley couldn't find any way through, and it was almost 2, Emley failed to clear another home attack and the shot ended up just wide.
But then, finally, Emley woke up, a header from James Stafford dropped just wide as they finally found a bit of form, a shout for a penalty was turned down after a penalty box scramble, that was all we saw from the Pewits as an attacking force, although the action wasn't over yet, right on half time a great cross was met by a firm header which beat Clarke and flew off the crossbar, Emley did finally manage to clear though.
H/T 1-0
The second half was a slight improvement from Emley, but they still couldn't find a breakthrough, although Shane Hamilton tried his luck with a snap shot not long after the restart.
Ben Burnett was brought on to replace the well shackled Arnold Ndiweni and to add an extra dimension to Emley's attack, which was still trying to connect, Shane Hamilton and Paul Pyke were causing a few problems down the right, but generally, Swallownest held firm.
They did have a 5 minute purple patch midway through the half though, and Patrick Sykes tried his luck with an overhead kick but the keeper collected it easy enough, then a free kick was awarded deep on the left and Pyke stepped up to whip it in, but the cross-shot only just cleared the crossbar.
The game became scrappy with neither side creating any chances of note, until Swallownest were awarded a penalty, a good through ball saw Mckenzie Borek make a good tackle the first time round but his second effort was clumsy and a spot kick was awarded, however, Swallownest let Emley off by blasting the penalty well wide.
There was relief in the Emley camp and they looked to go and get a late goal to earn a point, however, it was the home side who finished strongly with a couple of good chances going begging.
Emley didn't give up though and found space down the right a couple of times, but just couldn't find that final pass and Swallownest saw the remaining minutes out.
F/T 1-0
AFC Emley- Clarke, Hamilton, Starkey, Hart, Stafford, Hughes, Pyke, Porter, Sykes, Bottomley, Ndiweni; Subs used- Burnett, Borek, Stocker; Unused- Ingham
Hepworth Group Man of the Match- Gregg Porter.