Steven Kenworthy scoring the second of his three goals in AFC Emley’s 3-0 win over Knaresborough Town. Picture: Mark Parson
AFC Emley cemented their place at the top of the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Division One, thanks to a Steven Kenworthy hat-trick against Knaresborough Town yesterday, ending a four game winless run.
Emley are now four points clear at the top of the table, but they could be still overtaken by Hemsworth Miners Welfare, Pontefract Collieries and Clipstone.
The visitors were the first to test the water. It took Hilliard Serrao a matter of minutes to come close. He broke the Emley defence but was denied by the woodwork, while Mitchell Hamilton couldn’t quite convert the follow-up – much to Emley goalkeeper Adam Lawlor’s relief.
Emley responded with confidence as Paul Sykes took responsibility leading the march from the back. Midway through the first half, Max Leonard received a pass from Sykes, and his sublime through-ball to Kenworthy split the Knaresborough defence in half. Goalkeeper Paul Hagreen parried Kenworthy’s first shot, but the ball fell straight to his feet to slide the ball home.
Moments later Leonard was this time through on goal, but his shot was put narrowly wide as Emley thought they were going into half-time two goals up.
The home side wasted no time in the second half. Kenworthy was on hand again, with Leonard setting him up again with the simplest of tasks to tap the ball in an empty net after the winger’s superb pass across the face of goal.
Knaresborough went all-out attack in search for a goal, and almost got what would have been a well-deserved goal. Liam Tuck found a hole in the Emley defence his effort was blocked by Sam Jerome. The rebound fell to Liam Gray whose shot looked goal-bound, only for Emley skipper Sykes to head over his own crossbar out for a corner.
But Knaresborough’s efforts came to nothing, and their chances of a comeback were as good as over when Will Lenehan was sent-off for a second bookable offence for dissent.
Emley rubbed salt in the wound with Kenworthy sealing the win and grabbing a hat-trick. Hagreen flapped at a cross from substitute Alex Hallam, leaving Kenworthy with a chance to rush in and head the ball into the back of the net.
Emley host Lincoln Moorlands Railway next Saturday, while Knaresborough are at home to bottom-placed Grimsby Borough.
AFC Emley: Lawlor, Ingham, Starkey, Leech, S. Jerome, Sykes (captain), Townend, Leonard, Kenworthy, Tunnacliffe, Noble. Subs: Hallam, Podmore, R Jerome, Brook, Corduri.
Knaresborough Town: Hagreen, McCrum, Radcliffe, Lenehan, Gray, Tuck, Parkes, Bradley, Hamilton, Serrao, Littlefair. Subs: Lancaster, D. Wilson, A Wilson.
Referee: Jamie Waters
Attendance: 112