Before 7.45pm on the last day of November 2021, Emley hadn’t previously beaten or indeed scored against Handsworth, by 9.45pm that record was well and truly smashed as the Rampant Pewits thrashed the Ambers 7-0 on a wet and windy night at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.

Handsworth will have probably wanted to avoid another 4-2 defeat, their last 3 games have ended this way, they probably wouldn’t have wanted it to end this way though as Emley were as their ground sponsor suggests.

In truth, 7-0 probably flattered the visitors as Emley had another disallowed and missed a few more good chances, Emley were well worth the win and a much needed win it was too, Joe Jagger grabbing a hat trick and some fine performances from the rest of the men in claret and blue.

Handsworth came into the game 5th in the table but were left, defeated, deflated, demoralised, and dishevelled as Emley handed out a beating akin to the 6-1 thrashing they gave Bottesford Town earlier.

Handsworth actually started the brighter, posting a couple of attacks which Sam Kelly dealt with before Emley got going, Jagger tried his luck with a 20 yard free kick which was gathered by the keeper before another similar free kick was fired at the wall.

Joe Kenny made his Emley debut in the Vase game at Newcastle a couple of weeks ago and he had a shot saved after some good movement, it wasn’t long before Emley’s first goal came, a lovely right wing cross was met by Jagger who headed against the bar and it was Joe Kenny who was in the right place to nod the rebound into the Warburton end net.

Donae Lawrence was also an influential figure in Emley’s midfield, his energy and work rate had the Handsworth defenders on the backfoot, he beat 2 defenders before getting a shot away which as saved.

Emley made it 2 not long later, another good spell of possession and movement, Man of the Match Joe Jagger finding room for a shot which was initially cleared but he followed up and smashed past the keeper who got hands to it but couldn’t stop it.

Emley saw out the remainder of the half in relative comfort, Handsworth offering very little in attack, which gave them confidence for the second half.

H/T EMLEY 2-0 HANDSWORTH

If the first half was good, from an Emley perspective then the second half was unbelievable, Emley completely bossed the game from here on in, Handsworth again offered very little, even a last minute shot couldn’t trouble Sam Kelly.

There was only 8 minutes on the second half clock when Emley netted a third, great work by Jagger who worked an opening, but the keeper blocked, only to see the ball fall to Max Tweddle who calmly lifted the ball over the keeper into the Shed end net, there was a feeling that that could be the matchwinner such was Emley’s dominance.

Emley were now getting right into the groove and finding spaces out wide and through the middle, which Jagger, Lawrence, Tweddle and Witham were only too happy to exploit, Emley’s 4th goal came from a lovely ball into Jagger who let fly with a 20 yard screamer, Kenny was again on hand to nod home, however a desperate Handsworth nudge sent him sprawling before he could connect, Joe Jagger stepped up to the penalty spot to bag his second and the Pewits’ 4th.

He almost made it a hat trick a few minutes later, James Ngoe with great work down the right but Jagger couldn’t find the finish to match.

Witham was having fun on the left, and on the right, he teased the Ambers defenders before sending an angled shot wide, Joe Kenny also saw a shot saved as the Handsworth keeper Bacon desperately tried to keep the score down, it was to little avail though as Emley were now tearing the visitors apart at will.

Emley rang the changes and brought on experienced duo Tom Claisse and Alex Metcalfe for some vital match fitness, replacing the hard working Doyle and Tweddle and it was only a matter of minutes before Emley scored again, the impressive Lewis Whitham cutting In from the left again, leaving defenders trailing in his wake before slotting home in front of the now delighted ultras in the shed, he seemed to enjoy it too!
Handsworth were now thoroughly beaten and looked like they needed the final whistle, but there was still 12 minutes to go and Emley weren’t done yet.

It was mentioned in the preview how the original game was rescheduled to allow Handsworth to prepare for an important FA Cup tie, that debt has probably been repaid now!

Emley made a 3rd sub, Donae Lawrence going off to be replaced by Jimmy Eyles, who as usual, was a thorn in the defensive side, finding space with ease, he couldn’t quite get on the end of a great ball in by Jagger.

Emley fans were enjoying themselves now despite the rain and the chants continued when they celebrated a 6th Emley goal, another well worked moved involving Eyles and Witham found Joe Jagger 12 yards out who rifled past Bacon to earn his hat trick.

Emley were pulling Handsworth apart in every direction, the visitors powerless to prevent the attacks, Bacon pulled off a decent save to deny Emley again, but within 4 minutes the fans were cheering again.

The 'ole’s' were already ringing round from the shed as Emley moved the ball one way then another, working their way up the field, the ball was played in from the right after the defence had been dismantled again and there was nothing Bacon could do to stop Jimmy Eyles from sweeping the ball into the top corner for 7!

Emley were denied an 8th a minute or so later, Jagger was through again, this time Bacon thwarted him, Eyles eventually tapped home but the referee had blown for a foul on the keeper in the tangle beforehand, possibly harsh, but Emley won’t care.

The referee had already indicated 2 minutes stoppage time by the time Handsworth managed a shot on goal, but it was pulled well wide to ironic cheers from the Emley faithful.

Emley actually finished the game with only 10 men as Joe Kenny hobbled off towards the end, but all 3 subs had been made, but job done!

No more goals, but Emley can be more than happy with the job they did tonight, the 7 goals, restored their goal difference to parity and moved them 5 points clear of 3rd bottom Albion Sports, Emley also have 2/3 games in hand on the bottom 3 to give them some breathing space before Saturday’s tough trip to East Leeds to face 2nd placed Garforth Town.

F/T EMLEY 7(seven)-0 HANDSWORTH

EMLEY- Kelly, Ngoe, Smith, Price © Pashley, Lawrence, Tweddle, Kenny, Jagger, Doyle, Witham
Subs used- Claisse, Metcalfe, Eyles
Unused- Bennett, Thomas

Goals- Kenny (22) Jagger (25, 62, 82) Tweddle (53) Witham (78) Eyles (85)

Attendance- 133

Moxon and Co. Man of the Match- Joe Jagger