Match Reports - v Appleby Frodingham- Home Date:21.01.12

AFC Emley 2-1 Appleby Frodingham
NCEL Division One

Emley were made to work hard to take all 3 points against bottom club Appleby Frodingham at a windswept Welfare Ground. The gale force winds blowing down the slope made it difficult for either side to play decent football.

The home team were without Paul Banton and Captain Judd Colley so John Cyrus dropped back into the centre of defence allowing Josh Ingham to return from suspension in midfield. Emley manager Darren Hepworth handed Ingham the captain’s armband and was rewarded with an inspirational display.

Emley played down the slope with the wind at their backs, allowing for long periods of domination. The visitors attempts to clear their lines often resulted in the strong gusts blowing the ball straight back to them. The wind also made life difficult for Emley to stage attacks at goal as more often than not it sent through balls beyond the reach of the attacking players.

Scott Holt created Emley’s first chance floating in a free kick which found Sean Hazelden in space in the 6 yard box but Frodingham’s keeper Samir Owen was alert enough to save from close range.

Holt, Mark Stuart and Max Joice all tried their luck with shots from distance attempted to catch out Owen but all three fired wide of the target.

In a rare foray into the Emley half Frod’s centre forward Liam Johnson hit a tame shot which was comfortably dealt with by Luke Herriot.

Emley finally made the breakthrough on 38 minutes as Holt corner fell kindly for John Cyrus in the 6 yard box allowing him to chest the ball down and slot it into the net from close range. Darren Barrick might have added a second but headed just over from another corner

Frod’ responded to the goal and finished the half strongly. Luke Grimbleby almost grabbed an equaliser with an angled drive which went just over the bar. Then, soon after his strike partner Johnson found himself in space on the edge of the box, turned and hit a curling effort just wide.

The winds dropped a little in the second half which improved the game as a spectacle and at least allowed some passing football to be played. It was clear that Frod’s manager Simon Shorthose had issued his players with shoot on sight policy and Matthew Robinson attempted to catch Herriot out straight from the kick off but his effort fell comfortably into the keeper’s arms.

Barrick had the ball in the net for Emley soon after, opportunistically slotting past Owen after it appeared that a Frod’ defender had played a short ball from a free kick. Referee Craig Hainsworth ruled that the wind had moved the ball and the goal was ruled out.

A quick wind assisted break by Frod’ almost caught Emley out as Luke Anderson took advantage of a slip by Ian Brock to drill in an angled shot but Herriott made a fine two handed save to push the ball round the post. From the resultant corner Emley struggled to clear the ball in the high wind and it only fell as far as Robinson who powered it back in on the half volley – this time Max Joice was Emley’s saviour with a goal line clearance.

Whilst pinned back by the wind for periods Emley did manage some good spells going forward driven mainly driven by Ingham and Stuart. Cyrus made a good surge forward before laying the ball off to Ingham inside the box. Owen was alert to the danger and came out well to narrow his angle and blocked his Ingham’s drive with his feet.

Emley started to turn the screw as Stuart also made a tremendous run after winning the ball back in midfield again setting Ingham free one on one with Owen but he was ruled offside. Cyrus lofted a ball over the top of the Frod’ defence into the path of Barrick who used his strength to hold off the attentions of two defenders and burst into the box but his final touch let him down, shooting of target.

It was eventually a moment of class from Ingham that doubled Emley’s lead on 71 minutes, slotting a incisive ball through the visitors defence into the path of Holt who sprung the offside trap and drilled the ball Owen from just inside the box for his 15th of the season.

Following the goal Hepworth took of Cyrus who was suffering with sickness, introducing Chris Wdowczyk into the midfield with Max Joice filling in at centre half. Then soon after Danny Lyness and Curtis Roberts came on for Stuart and Dowling.

The visitors made the final quarter of an hour nervy for Emley as Ingham was unfortunate to concede a penalty just inside the penalty area. Robinson sent Herriott the wrong way with a well taken spot kick. They failed to add to this despite putting Emley under pressure and the home time looked most likely to add to the scoreline with the fresh legs of Lyness and Roberts stretching the defence.

Holt looked to have settled things after netting again from a Barrick through ball but he was ruled offside. He also turned creator for Roberts who raced round the defence to go one on one with Owen but the keeper once again alert to make a good block.

Emley:
Herriott, Brock, Tayo, Joice, Hazelden, Cyrus (Wdowczyk 71), Ingham, Holt, Barrick, Stuart (Lyness 76), Dowling (Roberts 76).
Subs (not used): S. Powell, Ryan. Att:96 Emley Man of the Match: Josh Ingham
Cautions: Barrick.

Match Photo's

Max Joice