Doran Jordan scored the dramatic last minute winner for AFC Emley
Doran Jordan’s dramatic last gasp header ensured that AFC Emley remain top of the Toolstation NCEL Division One table with a a 3-2 win over Teversal at the Welfare Ground, (writes James Holder).
Emley started the game on top and should have registered an early goal, Steven Kenworthy worked his way to the right hand side of the box and teed up Sam Jerome at the back post. Jerome met the ball before any of the Teversal players could muster a challenge, however, the centre half could only guide his header onto the back post from close range.
Jerome had another chance to get on the score sheet moments later. A Jordan Townend free kick was whipped in and found its way to the feet of Jerome, who, without much time to react, prodded the ball over the bar.
Townend then went close himself. The midfielder striking an effort on goal first time, after a Michael Starkey free kick hit the wall. Townend’s effort had the keeper beaten, but went just past the upright.
Emley did manage to make the break through midway into the first half, Townend succeeding in finding the back of the net. Emley were awarded a free kick on the left edge of the box and Townend drilled the ball across the face of goal. Despite not getting a touch on the way through, the ball found its way into the net at the back post.
There was then some anxious moments for Emley, as goalkeeper Adam Lawlor had to leave the field due to a head injury following a collision with Ryan Brook, meaning skipper Paul Sykes had to don the gloves. Sykes was untroubled during his spell between the sticks and Lawlor returned to the action.
Emley then had a decent chance to double their advantage, Kenworthy once again being the architect as his cross found the head of Alex Hallam. Hallam’s header was straight at the keeper who managed to turn it away.
AFC Emley captain Paul Sykes had to go in goal for ten minutes while Adam Lawlor was patched up
The visitors then equalised through a rather fortuitous goal. Aiden Harris chased the ball along the backline and slid in to challenge Brook. The ball ricocheted from the challenge and looped over the stranded Lawlor and into the back of the net.
Parity didn’t last long as Emley retook the lead on the stroke of half time. Some neat passing work around the edge of the Teversal area from Townend and Jordan saw the latter slide it through to Hallam, who fired past Simon Dye.
The early proceedings of the second half were quiet, with the bulk of the play being in the middle of the park, as both midfields saw a lot of the ball.
It was the visitors who saw the first real chance of the second half, Bradley Cox seeing his effort well saved by the patched up Lawlor.
With their second chance of the half, the visitors found the back of the net. Greg Tobin managed to get his head on to a David Cockerill free kick and guided it past Lawlor.
Emley were lucky not to fall behind when Cockerill managed to get behind the back line. The big striker managed to lift the ball over the on rushing Lawlor, but also saw his attempt go over the bar.
That near miss appeared to wake Emley up, Antony Leech forced Dye into a good save, as the keeper parried his header past the post.
From the resulting corner, the ball found its way to the far edge of the area, where Josh Ingham sent the ball back into the mix. The delivery found its way to Jordan, who was lurking at the back post and managed to head the ball into the goal, giving Emley a hard fought victory.
AFC Emley: Lawlor, Brook, Starkey, Leech, S Jerome, Sykes (captain), Townend (Fish), Jordan, Kenworthy, Hallam (Ingham), Noble (Claridge). Subs unused: Tunnacliffe, Flynn.
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