Shaw Lane Aquaforce manager Simon Houghton said that Ashley Flynn’s sending off was the turning point in his side’s 3-2 defeat at AFC Emley
Simon Houghton lamented top-goalscorer Ashley Flynn’s second half red card which was the catalyst for AFC Emley’s incredible comeback against promotion-chasing Shaw Lane Aquaforce.
Former Emley striker Flynn had scored twice to give Aquaforce a commanding 2-0 lead on his first return to the Welfare Ground since leaving last summer.
Emley looked dead and buried until Flynn sent off for a second bookable offence as referee had deemed he had dived in a bid to win a penalty.
Emley hit back and scored three times in the final 22 minutes to win 3-2 and knock Shaw Lane off the top of the Toolstation NCEL Division One table.
“The turning point was the sending-off,” Houghton told Sports Performer.
“We were 2-0 up and he was through on goal and the goalkeeper has taken him out. It was a clear penalty. If the penalty had been given and we had scored it, it would have been 3-0 and the game would have been over.
“Emley wouldn’t have got into it.
“It was probably Ash Flynn’s best game for us this season, he was absolutely superb.
“He had that bit between his teeth which is what we have been looking for from him.
“I think it was harsh on the lad. But, he’ll come back. He’s a great player and if he had stayed on that field we would have won that game.”
Emley’s comeback coincided with the weather becoming worse. The torrential rain began pour down and the wind became heavier and Shaw Lane suffered the most.
Although he admitted that his side could have defended better, Houghton said the elements played their part in Emley’s victory.
“Even 15 minutes after the sending-off Emley didn’t look like scoring,” he added.
“The wind and the rain got up then and look at it now (at 5.10pm) there’s no rain. It’s like someone has turned a switch.
“They started lumping it when it started. The first goal was very lucky and I thought it was a foul on our defender.
“For the second goal we should have cleared it. We never got our foot through the ball, but when we did it was coming straight back. There’s only so much pressure you can take.
“Fair play to Emley, they stuck at it because they could have let their heads drop at half-time. You just knew that with the conditions the game would change.
“Some of our players that have made all the right decisions all season made a couple of bad decisions today defensively. Things like clearing the ball down the channels instead of up-field because of the conditions.
“For the third goal the full-back had it and he tried whacking it in-field instead of playing it out for a throw-in.”