Michael Tunnacliffe (right) celebrates with Ruben Jerome after the decisive second goal in AFC Emley’s 2-1 FA Cup win over Ashton Athletic
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Words and pictures by James Grayson (@jamesAgrayson, @NonLeagueNorth)
Darren Hepworth admitted that AFC Emley “rode their luck” in the 2-1 victory over Ashton Athletic in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie yesterday at the Welfare Ground.
Last year we got dramatic scenes against Wigan Robin Park. In 2014, the large crowd got a tense affair as lower league Emley desperately clung onto their slender lead in the final moments of a game heavily affected by the wind.
Ashton failed to take advantage of the conditions in the first half and paid the price after the interval as Max Leonard and Ruben Jerome scored two quick-fire goals for Emley.
The visitors looked dead and buried until a Sam Jerome own goal gave Ashton a lifeline.
North West Counties Premier Division outfit Ashton threw the kitchen sink at the home side, but, ultimately Emley survived to book a Preliminary Round tie at Northwich Victoria.
Hepworth told Non League Yorkshire: “You look at the result and see that we’re in the next round, that’s what counts.
“But, at 2-0 and with the way we were playing at that time, we did make it difficult for ourselves.
“The weather conditions played their part and spoiled the game.
“For the 15 minutes we had to do a lot of defending. They had five or six corners and i thought we defended them well.
“They didn’t really open us up and beyond a set-piece I couldn’t see us conceding.
“Coming in at half-time, clearly we knew the job was far from done, but our aim was to drive on in the second half and take the game to them.
“We did that brilliantly and got two goals in the first five minutes of the second half.
“We were in total control of the game and we were coasting and we thinking at that point, it could be three or four.
“I hate 2-0 and the next goal was going to be so important and they got it.
“It was a really sloppy one from our point of view and it invited them on.
“No pun intended, they threw caution to the wind with four up-top and why not?
“You’re in the Cup, you have one shot at it, I would have done the same.
“They had chances and we rode our luck in the second half.
“We had a good chat afterwards and it was simply because we stopped doing all the good things that we started to do at the start of the second half.”
Leader of the gang: AFC Emley manager Darren Hepworth (centre) and his coaching staff watch on during the tense final minutes
AFC Emley’s popular winger Doran Jordan makes a strong challenge
AFC Emley’s new hero Max Leonard, who scored their opening goal
AFC Emley substitute Nathan Perks holds up the ball
The wind was totally in Ashton’s favour during the first half, but the visitors only dominated in possession and failed to create many clear-cut chances.
Toolstation NCEL Division One side Emley survived a series of set-pieces and actually created the best opportunities.
New star player Leonard, who scored a hat-trick at Grimsby Borough, narrowly fired wide of the post, while Ryan Brook had a seemingly goal-bound attempt saved.
After successfully holding out against the wind, it was Emley’s turn to try and use the conditions to their advantage and within minutes they did.
The Welfare Ground was bouncing as Leonard’s well-hit strike took a huge deflection which sent it into the top corner for the opening goal.
Ashton were rocking and Emley were straight back at their opponents searching for a second goal.
The goalkeeper spilled a weak attempt and Jerome had the easy job with a simple close range tap-in.
That’s when Emley began to live dangerously. The other Jerome’s unfortunate own goal handed Ashton a way back and Emley really started to feel the pressure mounting.
Ashton took control back from the home side and Ryan Small, Michael Downing and Adam Storey all went close in a space space of time.
The latter would have scored if Emley goalkeeper Adam Lawlor hadn’t made an excellent save.
As injury-time arrived, some Emley supporters could not bear to watch – some even had their backs turned when Ashton were awarded a dangerous free kick in the fourth minute of added time.
Fortunately, substitute Sam Bailey fired the ball over and that was the final act of tight encounter.
Emley will visit Evo Stik Division One North side Northwich on August 30.
AFC Emley: Lawlor, Leech, Starkey, Tunnacliffe, S Jerome, Brook (captain), Townend (Ingham 73), Leonard, Kenworthy (Perks 77), R Jerome (Todd 86), Jordan. Subs unused: Hallam, Steers, Brown.
Ashton Athletic: Lever, Cringle, Casey, Edwards, Rowlands (captain) (Mawdesley 70), Harrison (Bailey 51), Storey (Callaway 73, Kay, Small, Downing, Midgley. Subs unused: Foulds, Mather, Wilson, Wood.
Referee: Jane Simms
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 165
Man of the match: Max Leonard (AFC Emley)