Bacup Borough 2-2 Emley

Emley had Rob Bordman to thank for earning a point in a scrappy, physical 2-2 draw at Bacup Borough.
In a game that had originally being scheduled for August, the weather had twice put paid to this fixture, and it wasn't one for the purists, in all honesty, Emley were probably more grateful for the draw than Bacup were after being outplayed for large parts of it.
There wasn't a lot in the first half, Emley with 3 debutants failed to get going but Callum Charlton did cause the Bacup defence problems, his run and shot was put wide and he also saw a few good runs that saw him get into the box.
But it was a familiar sight when Emley were awarded a free kick just outside the area, and up stepped Bordman to smash the ball beyond the keeper.
Conor Glavin then put a header straight at the keeper.
But then the home side gradually took control and put the Pewits on the back foot for the remainder of the half, and it was no surprise that they found and equaliser, a penalty was awarded by the ref for what looked like minimal contact and Bryan stepped up to put the spot kick to Clarke's left.
The rest of the half belonged to Bacup and they almost doubled their lead within minutes, a great shot on the volley was just over after a lovely cross from the right.
Then Emley were caught in possession near halfway, Bacup broke down field and a close range shot looked to have given them the lead only for George Clarke to pull off a superb one handed save, to keep the honours even at the break.
H/T 1-1
The second half started more positively for Emley, but they couldn't find a 2nd goal,Bordman smashed the crossbar after a strange error from the keeper, who somehow tried scooping the ball over Charltons head ,Porritt saw a shot go wide and Conor Glavin had a couple of decent chances, first, he only just missed connecting with a header from a good corner with the goal gaping and then he put a snap shot from close range wide although under pressure.
Bacup were finding it easier than Emley to make headway on a heavy pitch and Emley's defence was called into action numerous times as the home side won the midfield battle.
Time and again they raided Emley's edges, meaning the full backs couldn't push on as they usually do.
Bacup then found what they thought was a winner, a ball in the Emley box wasn't cleared and Siddle smashed home from close range to the delight of the home support.
Emley tried everything they could to get back into the game but the Bacup defence stood firm as the game became scrappy and fractious.
But with time ticking down and the chill well and truly set in, Emley were given a lifeline, as Bacup were reduced to 10 men, a foul just outside the area was deemed to have been by the last man and off he went, Bordman duly stepped up and fizzed another free kick past the despairing keeper for an equaliser to the cheers of the food travelling Emley contingent.
With the game descending into a bit of a scrap, it was no surprise when Bacup's captain was sent to the sin bin for dissent, both teams had grievances with the referee but the Bacup centre half took it too far.
There were no more clear cut chances for either teams and the game was finally brought to an end, with the majority of Emley supporters happy to have come away with a point that a lot of them think they didn't quite deserve, but with a sharpshooter like Bordman anything is possible.
Emley's next match is at home to Atherton LR on Saturday 3pm.
F/T 2-2
EMLEY- Clarke, Dawson, Gibson, Claisse, Riordan (c) Steers, Metcalfe, Glavin, Bordman, Porritt, Charlton; Subs used- Donovan, Rose; Unused- Knight, Coker, McManus.
Goals- Bordman (22,89)
Attendance-70
Hepworth group man of the match- George Clarke