Emley turned in their finest performance of the season so far as they spanked Bottesford Town 6-1 at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground and made it 2 wins on the trot, the big crowd were also treated to some fabulous goals and a 9 minute hat trick by Moxon and Co Man of the Match Matt Sykes.

Apart from conceding a 21st minute equaliser, Emley were never really troubled by their visitors, visitors who were sitting 4th in the table and had gone 4 league games without a defeat, it makes the victory even more impressive.

The rout was started in the 7th minute, Emley, playing towards the Warburton end, caused problems right from the off but couldn't find the net as a cross was flashed across a gaping goalmouth after good work by Charlton, Thomas Cadzow also saw a close ranger header smothered by the keeper.

It didn't deter the Pewits though and they were soon ahead, Callum Charlton's fine run down the left and squared ball found the feet of Jack Bennett, who slotted home from 12 yards.

Bottesford responded but a long range shot was fired well wide of Sam Kelly's upright, they wouldn't get too many chances during the remaining 80 or so minutes.

Emley continued to attack their visitors who were defending manfully against the marauders down the flanks, Matt Sykes and Charlton down the left in particular were causing them problems, Doyle and Bennett through the middle also giving the defenders a hard time.

But the Poachers did manage to find a way into the game after 21 minutes, a rare attack saw a well placed curled shot beat Kelly for the equaliser, they would also have a shot go over the bar a few minutes later as their attack fizzled out and they spent the rest of the game defending.

But they weren't level for long, Emley soon gained the advantage back and wasted no time in regaining the lead too and a fine finish it was too, a quick, slick raid down the right hand side saw Max Tweddle send over a lovely cross and found George Doyle who had shaken off the defender at the back post to head back past the keeper.

It was almost 3 a minute or so later but for a fine save from the Bottesford keeper from a Tweddle shot, Doyle also saw a shot deflected for a corner as Emley went in at the break a goal to the good.

H/T- EMLEY 2-1 BOTTESFORD

If the first half was good, then the second half was simply glorious, as Emley first toyed with, then dominated, and finally destroyed a side that by the end were well beaten by some slick football and superb finishing.

The half was only seconds old when Tweddle blasted over and Bennett also missed the target when after good control he couldn't direct the shot, but the Emley fans were cheering moments later when a great move involving Bennett and Matt Sykes saw Sykes slot home a beauty, but an offside flag had been raised although no one quite knew who against.

Emley were beginning to turn the screw, skipper Price and Coach Claisse bossed midfield and with little defending to do were only too happy to get involved in an attacking sense, unusually, Price found himself lurking outside the area as Emley poured forward but they couldn't quite make the breakthrough.

Bottesford made changes to try and get some sort of foothold in the game but it proved fruitless as Emley hit the rampant button!

It seemed almost inevitable that Emley's pressure and possession would pay and it proved right and how!

On 69 minutes, a surging run through midfield by Tweddle found top scorer George Doyle, who took a touch 18 yards out and smashed it into the bottom corner to the cheers of the Richard Hirst stand.

Doyle was almost celebrating a hat trick a minute later but his thumping header from a corner went inches wide.

However, Emley were soon celebrating again as a crude challenge on Sykes led to a penalty and a yellow card for a desperate defender, Sykes himself duly stepped up to fire the spot kick home for 4 and it was probably game over by that time
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But Emley, and Sykes in particular weren't settling for 4, Sykes was unplayable at times and he finished off the visitors in fine style with 2 terrific, almost identical goals.

After Bottesford had survived a goalmouth scramble and cleared 2 corners, they looked to attack, but only got as far as halfway as Price broke it up, the ball eventually found Sykes 35 yards out on the left, he skipped towards the edge of the box and let fly with a thunderous 20 yards strike that had the shed in raptures for the fifth.

With Emley fans trying to wrack their brains as to when the last time we scored 6 in a league game*, should there be a 6th goal, Sykes duly obliged, again, finding space on a counter attack, again, letting fly, this time from more central and in the bottom corner, again, the shed and the entire ground were now lapping it up.

Emley weren't done yet and went looking for a 7th, Bennett couldn't direct a shot on target and sub Nathan Woodward saw a well drilled shot cleared for a corner.

And so, as the game ticked down, it was a relaxed Fantastic Media Welfare Ground for a change as Emley played the ball around to 'ole's' of the shed, Bottesford were hoping the referee didn't bother with the additional 4 minutes, but Emley were seemingly content with just 6!

A fantastic team performance and some brilliant individual performances, not least from Man of the Match and hat trick hero Matt Sykes.
After the game Emley manager Richard Tracey described the win as "totally deserved" and "the best performance of the season by far" he will be hoping there can now be some consistency in order to try and maintain the climb up the table.

Emley are back in league action on Wednesday evening at Staveley - goalkeepers permitting- but for now Tracey and his team will enjoy a Saturday evening for once.

*- FC Bolsover away in October 2018 was the last time Emley scored 6 in a league game.

F/T-EMLEY 6-1 BOTTESFORD TOWN.

Emley - Kelly, Burke, Charlton, Price (c) Cadzow, Lowe, Tweddle, Claisse, Doyle, Bennett, Sykes; Subs used- Woodward, John, Blakey; Unused- Eyles, Smith

Attendance- 246

Goals- Bennett (7), Doyle ( 24,69) Sykes ( 76pen, 79, 85)

Moxon and Co. Man of the Match- Matt Sykes.