Match Reports - v Frechville Home Date:04.10.11
AFC Emley 2-1 Frecheville CA.
Sheffield & Hallamshire Cup 1st Round
Emley progressed to the second round of the Sheffield Cup courtesy of two cracking strikes by leading scorer David Heagney. The in-form striker has now scored 13 goals in 12 consecutive games and fired his way to the top of the league scoring charts.
The win means Emley have now gone 8 games without a defeat and gets them back on track following the controversial end to Saturday's game at Eccleshill. Goalkeeper Mick Clark is now serving a suspension from the club and was replaced by Nathan Ryan whilst Judd Colley, Nathan Tayo, Marc Townsend and Josh Ingham were all rested by manager Darren Hepworth.
Sheffield County Senior side Frechville who were unbeaten going into the tie put up a decent fight against their higher level opponents but Emley showed that they had the strength and quality to overturn them without stepping up into top gear.
Emley started off in a dominant fashion with Chris Wydocyzk and Heagney both going close to opening the scoring. At the other end of the field Matthew Hunter looked the most dangerous for Frecheville with some intelligent runs into the box. A neat flick by Adam Tyler for the visitors set up Hunter who saw his well struck shot blocked by Ryan with a great reaction save.
Heagney meanwhile was Emley's main outlet and he showed some great skills jinking round 3 men before his final effort was deflected out for a corner. He did hit the target on 28 minutes with the opening goal scored directly from a free kick after Mick Amos had been hacked down. Heagney hit an unstoppable strike from all of 30 yards out which swerved into the top corner giving Rhys Hancock no chance.
Less than a minute later Heagney looked like he had grabbed another goal slotting past Hancock from close range but was flagged for offside. Mark Stuart had a couple of good efforts at goal at the end of some flowing passing movements but on both occasions his shots went just over.
Wydowczjk appeared to have doubled the lead towards the end of the first half as a cracking strike cannoned off the underside of the bar. Frecheville almost clawed a goal back on 45 minutes with their best chance of the half. A mistake in midfield let in Tom Burgin, who beat Emley's offside trap with only Ryan to beat but hit his shot straight at the Emley keeper.
At the start of the second half Emley found themselves under pressure as Frecheville forced a series of corners with Emley struggling to get the ball out of their own half. When they did find some fluidity John Cyrus rose high above the Frecheville defence to head the ball just over the bar from a Nick Reid cross. Stuart was also unfortunate to see a well struck drive deflect just off target.
Frecheville were beginning to look a little stretched and a few rash challenges started to creep into their play with Daren Robinson and Jack Heald both picking up yellow cards. They were handed a lifetime however on the 68th minute as a poorly hit back pass by Sean Hazelden failed to reach Ryan who was then left stranded as Hunter raced in and slotted the ball past him.
Emley responded well however and Hepworth introduced Curtis Roberts in place of Amos. Hancock was called upon to make a brave save for Frecheville blocking a header by Antony Leech from a Wydowcyzk cross.
The visitors were then reduced to 10 men in the 72nd minute as their captain Matthew Stagg tripped Heagney as he raced through the defence through on goal with just the keeper to beat. Heagney picked himself up and took the free kick from a similar distance as his first half effort and once again the result was a strike of the highest quality into the top corner for his 14th of the season.
Emley continued to press in search of a third goal to put the game out of site. Stuart tried his luck from range but his effort was saved at the near post by Hancock who also saved at point blank range from the keeper soon after. Cyrus saw a well struck effort rise just over the bar after being set up by Townsend.
Heagney tried his best to complete a hat trick seeing one shot go just over the bar and another flash across the face of goal. His best chance came when bearing down on a fine Dowling cross at the far post but his slight touch was not enough to divert the ball over the line.
This was a satisfying if not comprehensive win for Emley who now face a long trip to Grimsby Borough in the league on Saturday looking to get some more points under their belts. Darren Hepworth will be encouraged especially by the performances of the players who came in to stake a claim for a place in the squad.
Emley:
Ryan, Reid, Dowling, Cyrus, Hazelden, Leech, Wydowcyzk (Ingham 72), Horton (Townsend), Heagney, Stuart, Amos (Roberts).
Subs (not used): Irving, Tayo. Bookings: None Att: 79.
Man of the Match: David Heagney.