Match Reports - v Shirebrook Town. Home Date:05.11.11

AFC Emley v Shirebrook Town. NCEL 1. Saturday 05.11.11.

There were plenty of early fireworks at the Welfare Ground as Emley played out an explosive 4-4 draw with Shirebrook Town. Whilst the game was brilliant entertainment for the neutral Emley boss Darren Hepworth was left frustrated that his side had failed to take all 3 points.

Hepworth was missing key defenders Sean Hazelden, Judd Colley and Anthony Leech naming a 3-5-2 formation and whilst they dealt with the visitors threat in early stages they were punished for some defensive errors in the second half.

Emley dominated things in the opening stages of the game and had two decent chances in the first 10 minutes to take the lead. The first fell to Dean Wharam who raced onto a through ball by Nathan Tayo before chipping the Shirebrook keeper Jason White but his effort went over the bar. Mark Stuart also went close after being set up by Wharam but fired across the face of goal.

The home side were a goal up soon after as David Heagney notched his 20th of the season. Brad Dowling made a surging run down the left flank before delivering a dangerous ball into the 6 yard box, Mark Stuart miscued his attempt at goal but his effort fell kindly for Heagney who volleyed into the roof of the net.

It was mostly one way traffic as Emley played some impressive football with Heagney, Wharam and Scott Holt all carving out decent opportunities. At the other end of the field Adam Lavente was called upon to make a terrific reaction save from Luke Thomas who diverted a free kick on target.

Emley doubled their lead on 32 minutes as pressure from Heagney forced a defensive error with the ball running free to Brad Dowling who smashed the ball home from outside the box with an unstoppable drive.

Shirebrook grabbed an unlikely goal against the run of play as Julian Topliss dispossessed Nick Reid before controlling the ball and slotting it past Valente to make it 2-1 on 35 minutes.

Emley began the second half well and Wharam was again in the thick of things. He took the ball round White but found his angle just too tight and rolled the ball agonisingly across the face of goal.

The visitors responded positively and Emley had a let off as a dipping volley from Lewis Jackson dropped onto the bar with Valente beaten. Soon after the scores were level with Topliss breaking down the left wing and crossing to Brendan Sweeney who netted from close range.

Before the restart Wharam reacted angrily to a comment made by a Shirebrook player with both him and Nathan Tayo cautioned by referee Jane Simms. The incident clearly rattled Emley and Shirebrook sensed this pushing forward in search another goal.

Pete Stubley went close for Shirebrook but Valente was alert enough to come out and block his effort but the ball fell back to him with Max Joice on hand this time to block his second effort. A defensive error soon after allowed Topliss in to score his second of the afternoon to make it 3-2 to Shirebrook.

To their credit Emley responded to get back on level terms. A quick free kick set up Holt who crossed from the right flank into to Wharam who cracked home a stunning volley 15 yards out giving White no chance. The perfect way to respond to the abuse that he had received earlier.

Play was now swinging from end to end and with the clock running down it looked like Emley had scored a winner on 90 minutes. Heagney was in an unfamiliar position tracking back in defence to win the ball back before delivering a ball up the flank to Holt. The wideman squared for substitute debutant Adam Powell who laid the ball off for his cousin Chris Wdowczyk who drove home from the edge of the box.

Bouyed with momentum from regaining the lead Emley continued to press when with hindsight it might have been more prudent to defend their lead. Wharam almost wrapped up the game with driving run and well struck shot that was saved by White.

Instead they conceded a free kick in the dying seconds of injury time which was pumped into a packed penalty area and flicked in by Grant Hackett much to the delight of visiting bench who were more than happy to take a draw from a game that they looked out of 2-0 down after half an hour.

Whilst Darren Hepworth will be pleased with the quality of the goals scored and chances created he will need to sure up his backline ahead of the Sheffield Cup clash with Stocksbridge on Tuesday evening.

Emley:
Valente, Reid, Tayo, Joice, Dowling, Wdowczyk, Holt, Stuart (Powell 69), Heagney, Wharam, Armitage (74).
Subs not used: Horton, Brock, Ryan. Emley Man of the Match: Dean Wharam. Att: 106. Cautions: Wharam, Tayo, Wdowczyk