Match Reports - v Worksop Parramore Home Date:07.01.11

AFC Emley 0 – 2 Worksop Parramore. NCEL 1 Saturday 7th January 2010.

Emley welcomed the North Nottinghamshire side to the Welfare Ground on a blustery and bitterly cold afternoon. Worksop had given Emley a footballing lesson on the opening day of the season and since have strengthened both their squad and management team. Emley’s manager Darren Hepworth fielded both new signings, Darren Barrick who lead the line up front, whilst Luke Herriot replaced another recent signing of Neal May in goal.

Emley playing with the wind towards the Warburton Road end shared a cagey opening 5 minutes with Worksop, neither team getting into any meaningful rhythm. Paul Banton on a run from his right back position sent a deep cross to the far post. Worksop’s Hernandez in goal did well to touch the swinging cross away from the advancing head of David Heagney.

Heagney playing on the wing with Barrick leading the line up front was often bypassed with balls being played centrally. It was Emley’s top scorer although with a rare foray into the penalty area that almost opened the scoring. A Scott Holt left wing free kick was dropped over the heads of the defenders into the 6 yard box. The ball struck the ankle of Heagney and spun agonisingly wide of the left hand upright with the keeper stranded.

Referee Mr Holroyd made the first of a number of confusing decisions just before the half hour mark. Max Joice and Worksop’s Adam Fretwell demonstrated equal determination to win a 50 / 50 ball in midfield. Both men clattered into each other, with the referee adjudging that Fretwell had gone over the top, showing him a yellow card for the tackle. Fretwell and his team mates took the decision poorly, Joice from then on the centre of their frustrations. Fretwell came off the worse from the clash and shortly after half time the injury would force him from the game.

Emley had contained Worksop and were unlucky when a Holt corner struck the crossbar directly from a left sided corner.

The game changed 5 minutes from half time, a hopeful punt into the Emley defensive third was cleared poorly. Holmes picked up the ball at the edge of the box and his shot forced a full length save from Herriott. Unable to hold the ball and Herriots parry only going a matter of feet, Hazelden was unable to prevent Tom Nolan from slotting home.

Just minutes later the Worksop lead was doubled. Nathan Tayo was guilty of a poor pass across the face of his own box. A waist high bouncing ball forced him to challenge Holmes at the edge of the penalty area. Both men went high with feet for the ball and connected with each other. This 50 / 50 challenge went the way of the visitors, Tayo was booked whilst Nolan confidently stroked the penalty home.

On the cusp of half time Emley did have the ball in the net, Holt drifted a free kick into the box, Heagney in his more favoured central position met the ball in the 6 yard box to bundle home, unfortunately the goal was judged offside. Emley left the field having created very little chances in open play and in the most contained the visitors, but crucially having conceded two poor goals.

Into the second half Emley demonstrated how well Worksop had coped with the wind in the first half. Clearances from goal got nowhere near half way, long punts going nowhere near the intended target. Barrick was having to come into his own defensive half to get anywhere near the ball. Heagney who is a fantastic crosser of the ball was still out on the wing. With Barrick so deep, when Heagney did finally get the ball he had no one to pass to. His only option was a solo run which the Worksop defence easily quashed. Holt on the left wing was getting his fair share of the ball and into some decent positions, unfortunately the Emley frontline was so out of position most of the time, it all came to nothing.

Worksop in contrast continually looked dangerous, the Emley midfield were woeful at keeping the ball or finding another player in the same coloured shirt. Max Joice stood out, but as the game went on, the continued attention of the Worksop players, their players waving imaginary cards at the referee after every challenge he made. Meant it was only a matter of time before he entered the referee’s book.

Barrick found himself in the 6 yard box with the ball at his feet, avoiding 2 challenges his weak shot was casually collected by the Worksop keeper.

Herriot in the Emley goal was having a mixed day, his attempt to dummy the ball out for dead with an attacker bearing down his neck was fortunate not to end with another goal or a sending off. He did although save well from Preece who struck a sweet ball from 22 yards.

On 71 minutes Joice was replaced having been booked along with Worksops Preece following another innocuous challenge. I’m not sure why Preece was booked for Worksop, I’m not sure if anyone else the ground knew the reason either.

Both Stephen Powell and Brad Dowling came onto the pitch replacing Mark Stuart and Scott Holt respectively. As Emley looked to push players forward in the search of something from the game, Worksop prospered on the break. Wdowczyk having replaced Joice squandered the ball in midfield, chasing the lost ball he brought down the Worksop attacker at the very edge of the Emley penalty area. Holmes took the resulting free kick that saw Herriot rooted as the ball kissed the crossbar and went over.

Tayo was the next to give the ball away in his own half, Holmes seizing the ball surged forward and his perfectly struck right foot shot had Herriot beaten only to rebound off the right hand post and safe. Holmes again was denied by Herriot, his stinging shot was well blocked. Dowling was then booked for a shocking show of dissent to the referees assistant.

Into last minutes of added time Heagney had a rare outing to the centre of the field. He seized on a defensive mistake and found himself one on one with the keeper, his low shot was well blocked by the advancing keeper. Barrick’s snap shot from 30 yards was fumbled by Hernedez, but he redeemed himself with an excellent block from Heagney who had followed up on the loose ball.

Emley were fortunate that the same team that defeated them on opening day didn’t turn up at the Welfare today. Parramore didn’t do anything sparkling today, but what they did do, they did very competently. With no reserve game and only two notable absences from Emley’s burgeoning squad today the Emley manager had that competition for places he has talked about. This was a performance that won't live long in the memory.

Emley now travel to Askern Villa on Tuesday evening in the League Cup, with a game against Brighouse Town awaiting the winners.

Team: Herriot, Banton, Tayo, Cyrus, Colley ©, Hazelden, Joice, Holt, Heagney, Barrick, Stuart. Subs: Dowling (77 minutes for Stuart), Wdowczyk (66 mins for Joice), Powell (77 minutes for Holt). Roberts, Brock.

Bookings Joice, Tayo, Dowling Attendence 105. Man of the Match - Max Joice.