Paul Sykes’ header which took a deflection in AFC Emley’s 3-2 win at Penistone
AFC Emley are within touching distance of top spot in the Toolstation NCEL Division One thanks to a 3-2 win away at Penistone Church.
Goals from Ruben Jerome, Ashley Flynn and a Paul Sykes header were enough to see the visitors hold on despite an Alvin Riley brace.
A bumper crowd witnessed the hosts taking the lead when Riley managed to find himself beyond the Emley backline and delicately lobbing the ball over the advancing Adam Lawlor and into the bottom corner.
However, despite the slow start to the game, Emley managed to find themselves back level when Jerome bundled the ball home at the back post after Joe Green fumbled a well delivered corner.
Josh Ingham and Flynn linked up well, with Ingham slotting the forward through on goal, with Flynn taking a touch in the box before drilling the ball past the keeper and into the net.
The hosts got themselves back in the game at the beginning of the second half when Paul Sykes was deemed to have handled the ball in the penalty area, with Riley duly obliging in placing his spot kick past Lawlor.
Sykes was back in goal action midway through the second half as his back post header was header was deflected by Whitehead past the stranded Green.
Emley started the game well with Michael Tunnacliffe, Max Leonard and Jerome all flashing efforts over the bar before the hosts struck the first blow down the other end as Riley found a gap in the Emley defence and coolly lofted his effort over Lawlor.
Emley responded well with Tunnacliffe working hard to retrieve the ball in a dangerous area before clipping a good looking ball into the penalty area, only to see Jack Moore defend well as he headed the ball over the bar.
From the resulting corner, Emley managed to find the back of the net. A well flighted delivery into the box saw Green come through a group of players as he tried to claim the ball, the keeper could only get fingertips to the ball before it fell to the feet of Jerome as he bundled the ball in at the back post.
Minutes later, Ingham found the run of Flynn with a perfectly weighted pass, the forward took the ball into the box and although it looked as if he may have taken a touch too many, he still managed to fire the ball past Green.
Flynn nearly got his second of the game before the interval when Emley attacked on the counter. Tunnacliffe drove with the ball well into the Penistone half before releasing Flynn to run in on goal. However, the forward was unable to get his shot away before the Penistone defence recovered to clear to safety.
The hosts were awarded a dubious penalty decision, with Emley skipper Sykes deemed to have handled the ball in the penalty area. Riley stepped up to take the spot kick, sending Lawlor the wrong way and stroking it in.
Emley retook the lead when Sykes rose highest to redirect a corner at goal, his header was heading towards goal and a deflection off Whitehead took it past the wrong footed Green.
Penistone had a couple of chances to restore parity. Moore producing a point blank overhead kick, which forced Lawlor into a fine reaction save.
Riley came close to grabbing his hat trick as his chipped effort narrowly missed the back post, with no Penistone player being able to get a telling touch either.
Whilst Emley closed the game out, Jordan Townend and Steven Kenworthy both put attempts past the post.
However, the result was enough to see Emley retain second place ahead of a mouth-watering tie at home to table topping Pontefract Collieries next weekend.
Penistone Church: Green, Jones, Young, Elliss, Whitehead, Briggs, Richards, Moore, Ring, Dickinson, Riley. Subs: Almond, Cadzoe, Exley, Crossfield, Howes.
AFC Emley: Lawlor, Ingham, Starkey, Leech, Brook, Sykes, Townend, Leonard, Flynn, Tunnacliffe, R Jerome. Subs: Kenworthy, Podmore, Jordan, S Jerome, Egemore.
Referee: Andrew Price
Attendance: 203