Emley AFC 1-4 Golcar United

The first ever Huddersfield derby game in the NWCFL D1 North was fun in the sun for Golcar but left Emley with the summertime blues.

But the 4-1 scoreline certainly doesn't reflect the game, as Emley had the majority of possession and chances, yet Golcar were far more clinical where it mattered, at the back and in front of goal ,and ultimately, that's what wins football games.
In blazing sunshine and in front of a bumper bank holiday crowd of over 500, there was little sign of what was to come and as the sides played out a tetchy first few minutes, Emley created the first chance, but Rob Bordman fired straight at Golcar keeper Harry Stead.
Golcar then hit back and what a hit! Alex Hallam, one of a number of ex Emley players in Golcar's ranks smashed a volley beyond Clarke into the top corner to open the scoring, and that was the only real attack Golcar had!
Emley soon got on the front foot though and tried to find the equaliser, Andy McManus saw a half chance cleared away, the ball rebounded to Alex Metcalfe, whose shot was easily saved by Stead.
Conor Glavin was closer, the ball cleared off the line but the ref had already blown up for a Golcar free kick, another Emley attack, this time a shot from Jamie Price went well over, Emley would soon be regretting these missed chances.
From a Price free kick, Eyles, turns and shoots, the ball somehow cleared by the defence as Emley piled a ridiculous amount of pressure on the Golcar backline, countless free kicks around the area were wasted or cleared by a Golcar defence who were happy to clear it and think later, Bordman was the next to try his luck, his shot from 20 yards sails over, and it got worse for Emley, when Jimmy Eyles was sin binned for his protests for a hack after the ball had gone, frustration all round for Emley.
And that frustration was only worsened when Golcar scored a second, on a rare attack, the initial ball wasn't dealt with, the ball came back in from the right and Nathan Tayo was on hand to turn it past Clarke.
After dominating possession and wasting countless chances, Emley went in at half time 2 goals down.
H/T 0-2
Unfortunately for the Pewits ,the second half took on much the same story as the first , with the home side again creating chances only to concede 2 more goals.
Josh Ingham saw a shot from a free kick go wide as Golcar sat back, very much prepared to defend, and why wouldn't they? they were doing it well and pretty much sitting comfortably on 2-0 lead.
Sadly, for Emley, that became a 3-0 lead moments later, a low ball in finds another ex Emley man in Gregg Porter who got enough of a connection on it to somehow beat Clarke, pretty much game over for Emley who couldn't be more wasteful if they had tried, Golcar were clinical and happy to soak up more pressure from Emley.
Substitute Mustapha Coker saw a shot go over the bar, Bordman also tried a shot which went wide, another free kick just outside the area which Glavin put straight into the keepers gloves, it was becoming tedious for Emley and their fans and frustrating for the management team too!
Alex Metcalfe wasted another good chance with a shot that went wide, and full back Declan Dawson cut inside and tried his luck, but Stead was able to save.
Then the visitors rubbed more salt into the gaping Emley wounds with a 4th goal and another good one, a swift counter attack saw them split the Emley defence, a neat square pass and a delicate finish into the corner from Frasier Beckett had the Golcar supporters in raptures.
For Emley, who continued to toil away, Danny Farrar's curling shot smashed back off the angle of bar and post, but eventually Emley would find the net, but it was nothing more than a mere consolation, Eyles was fouled in the area and Bordman fired the spot kick home.
Farrar saw another shot go wide as the amount of missed opportunities soared into double figures, Emley had a let off a minute or so later when Golcar missed a great chance themselves to go 5-1 up, again, another good move but it was put wide, possibly the only time Golcar missed the target! before Emley had the ball in the net again but an offside flag ruled it out.
And to sum up Emley's afternoon Andy McManus saw a header from a throw in hit the post roll out for a goal kick.
It was just one of those days for Emley, they didn't play badly, they were just wasteful and were far less clinical than Golcar, but missed chances are costly, Emley got away with it last Saturday at Garstang, but not today, today was Golcar's day and they claim the bragging rights in the first derby of the season between the 3 Huddersfield sides.
For Emley, plenty of target practice before the road to Wembley starts on Sunday when they host Burscough in the FA Vase (3.00pm)
F/T 1-4
EMLEY- Clarke, Dawson, Gibson, Price, Stafford, McManus, Metcalfe, Ingham, Bordman, Eyles, Glavin: Subs used- Coker, Farrar, Cooper; Unused- Wilson , Barton
Goal- Bordman (90 pen)
Attendance- 544
Hepworth Group Man of the Match- Conor Glavin