Match Reports - v Louth Town Away Date:18.10.11

Louth Town 2-3 AFC Emley. NCEL Division One

Emley bounced back from a run of two defeats with a hard fought 3-2 win at Louth Town.  Darren Hepworth was once again forced to call upon the depth in his squad naming a side missing 8 regulars with Nathan Tayo filling in at centre half.

The visitors started positively and David Heagney pulled off a good save from the Louth keeper Craig Wherrey a period of pressure and two corner kicks.  Wherrey also saved from Wharam as he slid in following a ball over the top from Heagney.

Louth responded hitting Emley on the break back down at the other end of the field and Adam Valente did well to block from Jason Flint.  Valente then made another good save resulting corner blocking a diving header from Carl Martin.

Chris Bonner hit a goalbound effort for Louth from just outside the box but Josh Ingham cleared well with a well timed header.  The home side did take the lead however on the 25 minute mark as Jamie Coulson dispossessed Tayo out on the left flank before crossing for Danny Kilmore who hooked the ball in from close range.

Kilmore almost doubled his sides lead minutes later with a driving run through the Emley defence but Valente was alert enough to come out and smother his shot.

Emley were back on level terms in the 37th minute catching the Louth defence off guard with a long ball out from defence that found Heagney.  A well weighted ball out the left wing from Heagney found Holt in space allowing him a clear run at goal and dinking the ball over the Wherry into the net.

As the half drew to a close Holt set Dean Wharam free and he attempted to chip Wherrey but his shot drifted just wide of the target.

The visitors started the second half as positively as they had started the first and went 2-1 up as Heagney’s 25 yard drive deflected into the net off the hands of a Louth defender. 

Emley looked more solid at the back in the second half and asserted a stronger grip on the game.  Going forward Holt switched flanks and was almost rewarded with a breathtaking second goal, dribbling through the Louth ranks from inside his own half only to drill his shot at Wherrey from the edge of the box.

Chris Wdowczyk tried his luck from long range but his effort went just wide of the target as Emley dominated the half without creating too many chances. 

They were rewarded for their efforts on 87 minutes as a tenacious Wharam challenge won the ball back from Danny Warvill allowing him space to chip home brilliantly over Wherrey to make the score 3-1. 

Louth got a lifeline 2 minutes into injury time as debutant Joe Sykes conceded a penalty.  Kilmore send Valente the wrong way from the spot but Emley held on for a further 4 minutes of injury time, playing possession football to secure their win and a secure a welcome 3 points.

This was a performance full of character and desire in complete contrast to their defeat at Handsworth on Saturday.  They now go into Saturday’s FA Vase tie at Glasshoughton on Saturday looking to build on this win.  

Emley:
Valente, Reid, Dowling (Sykes 86), Wdowczyk, Hazelden, Tayo, Holt (Horton 83), Townsend (Armitage 75), Heagney, Wharam, Ingham. 
Sub (not used): Roberts.

Emley man of the match: Scott Holt.             Cautions: Ingham.       Att: 74.