AFC Emley under 19s celebrate winning the double!

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AFC Emley’s infrastructure is working according to under 19s manager Richard Spychalski, who paid tribute to his players after they completed the double at Dimple Wells, the home of Ossett Albion.
After recently winning the Northern Under 19s Alliance West Section, Emley added the Pat Rice Trophy to their collection by beating Gainsborough Trinity under 19s 3-1 with a side that contained five players that have appeared for Darren Hepworth’s Toolstation NCEL Division One side this year.
In the League Cup final, Sylbert Stewart gave Emley an early lead which Ruben Jerome later doubled. Gainsborough pulled a goal back, but Emley held on and Jerome sealed matters during injury-time.

Spychalski, in his first season at the helm, was delighted and said: “It is a fantastic day for the club in terms of what the players have achieved.
“I’m delighted that we have been able to cap a season that started really well and finished really well by doing the double. It couldn’t have gone any better this season and that’s down to the players.
“Their attitude has been fantastic. They have embraced the ideas of how we want to play and taken us to the levels we have achieved.
“I get fantastic pride from seeing some of the lads play in the first team, I love it. Four or five from them have played in the first team and five or six of them play in the Development Team.
“This is a squad that has progressed this season very rapidly. Players have developed fantastically. Daz (Hepworth) has been fantastic and he is a great supporter of the under 19s.
“He has encouraged them and shown them the door in terms of opportunities for the first team.
“From what we have seen, we have seen progression throughout the club and it is a good model for clubs.”

Jerome, captain Rob Wadsworth, Jordan Towned, Matty Crookes and the destroyer of Shaw Lane Aquaforce in January, Stewart have all made their mark this season with occasional appearances for the first team.
Stewart, who got two goals in the famous ‘earth, wind and fire’ victory over now promoted Aquaforce, latched onto Jerome’s header to put Emley in a great position after nine minutes.
Emley, backed by a large following, were comfortable as the first half ended and they just needed the second goal to ease the tension. The superb Jerome went close before scoring with a shot from the edge of the box on the hour.
Gainsborough quickly reduced the arrears from the penalty spot to set up a nervy final half hour.

The final ten minutes nearly descended into the farcical as referee Michael Leadbetter chose to only yellow card Gainsborough’s number six for clearly denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity after Jerome was hauled to the ground.
The decision was so contentious that Jerome was even cautioned for dissent.
Fortunately the controversial moment did not come back to haunt Leadbetter in the closing stages as Emley completed their trophy quest with the last kick of the game.
Stewart did all the hard work by making a fine run and despite having the chance to score his second, the striker unselfishly squared the ball for Jerome to easily score.
The referee quickly blew for full-time and Emley were able to celebrate a fine achievement and captain Rob Wadsworth lifted the trophy after being presented it from well-known football commentator John Helm, the president of the league.
AFC Emley: Stead, E Harrison, Tuff (Nicholls 64), Dunne (Healey72), McLoughlin, Wadsworth (captain), Crookes, Townend, Jerome, Stewart, B Harrison. Subs unused: Hanson, Oakley, Pollitt.
Referee: M Leadbetter
Man of the match: Ruben Jerome (AFC Emley)