Nick Guest kisses the Hemsworth Miners Welfare’s badge after scoring their third in the 3-0 win at AFC Emley
Hemsworth Miners Welfare propelled themselves back into the Toolstation NCEL Division One promotion race with an outstanding 3-0 win at rivals AFC Emley.
It was a make-or-break morning for Hemsworth in the opening game of the final day of the NCEL Easter GroundHop weekend at the Welfare Ground.
In front of the big crowd, Hemsworth rose to the occasion with Nash Connelly’s header on the stroke of half-time setting them on their way.
Two quick-fire goals at the start of the second half from Dom Blair and Nick Guest put the game beyond Emley’s reach.
Guest also had a spot kick saved by Emley goalkeeper Adam Lawlor.
The home side’s defeat was compounded by Ruben Jerome’s red card and Ash Flynn’s bizarre late penalty miss.
Whilst holding two games in hand on leaders Pontefract Collieries, recent defeats to Louth Town and Knaresborough Town had set Hemsworth back in their promotion bid.
A defeat to second-placed Emley would have probably finished off their chances.
Hemsworth celebrate Nash Connolly’s opening goal
Dom Blair had a starring role for Hemsworth
Dom Blair slots home Hemsworth’s second goal
Hemsworth celebrate the goal
Lee Swift gives his verdict on the challenge by Ruben Jerome which led to the latter’s red card. Picture: Mark Parsons
Nick Guest watches as his header crashes into the net
Goal!
Guest also missed a penalty late on
The Welfare Ground was very busy because of the NCEL Easter GroundHop
Ash Flynn tried to chip his late penalty and it badly backfired on a bad morning for Emley
Hemsworth captain Jason Yates leads the celebrations at the end
Hemsworth soaked up a bit of early Emley pressure in a first half that had few clear-cut chances.
Until the opening goal, Adam Wilson probably had the best opportunity which he blazed over the crossbar.
The winger did provide the assist for Connolly’s opener. His corner was met by one of the smallest players on the pitch and whose majestic was too powerful for Lawlor.
The goal ripped up Darren Hepworth’s team-talk and Emley never recovered.
The writing was on the wall as Hemsworth stormed through at will in a fast and furious opening 15 minutes of the second half. Connolly tested the water with an effort which Lawlor held before the home defence fell asleep after conceding a free kick.
Hemsworth’s captain Jason Yates showed great initiative by taking the kick quickly and that sent the superb Dom Blair through and the experienced forward scored with ease.
Red mist then descended on Jerome as a reckless lunge on Sam Colbear earned him a straight red card.
Within a few more minutes, Blair’s cross was met by the head of Guest, whose deft header sailed past Lawlor. The club’s leading scorer, who has turned down a host of clubs this season, celebrated by kissing the badge.
Guest had the chance of doubling his tally late-on, but Lawlor managed to hold onto his lowly-driven penalty.
In the dying minutes, Emley enjoyed a spell of pressure. Flynn hit the post with a header before Steven Kenworthy was brought down for their penalty.
However, this moment is probably more memorable for the groundhoppers than Hemsworth’s magnificent display.
The striker tried to be clever with his attempt and chose to chip it. It badly backfired and Welfare goalkeeper Jack Bentley stood still and caught the ball as the crowd roared with laughter.
That summed up Emley’s day and they have to bounce back straightaway at Louth Town on Tuesday night.
Hemsworth have the momentum and a trip to Hallam awaits them on the same evening.
AFC Emley manager Darren Hepworth:
“First of all congratulations to Hemsworth because I thought they deserved the three points.
“We certainly helped them along the way. Our performance was nowhere near the level it should be and that’s just really disappointing, especially on such a big occasion.
“There was a big crowd and so much effort had gone in off-the-field to prepare for the game and relative to our league position and our performances this season, we just didn’t turn up.
“That’s what hurts the most. The team feel that they have let everyone down and they were quite rightly disappointed.”
Hemsworth Miners Welfare manager Wayne Benn:
“It is our biggest three points of the season, but I think we have played better.
“I was really pleased with our second half performance because I think we have showed a good crowd what we are about – full of pace, full of attacking intent and a good footballing side.
“I’m just so proud of them. Emley are a good side and up there for a reason, but I think the right team won today and it could have been five or six.
“We were magnificent. We did what we had to do in the first half when it was fast and furious.
“Second half we were magnificent. I don’t care that they had one sent off because we were far superior in every department.
“We have experienced the GroundHop day before when we were a receiving club when we played Knaresborough a couple of years ago.
“It is a brilliant day and it is great that these fans turn out and what I said to the lads before the game was ‘however many are here, go and show the true Hemsworth Miners Welfare and leave here with people talking about you’.
“I think we did that.”
AFC Emley: Lawlor, Ingham (Scrivens 84), Brook (Kenworthy 72), Leech, S Jerome, Sykes (captain), Tunnacliffe, Leonard, Flynn, Townend (Jordan 62), R Jerome. Subs unused: Waller, Porter.
Hemsworth Miners Welfare: Bentley, Hayward, Kemp, Swift (Crapper 81), Colbear, Steers, Connolly (Walker 78), Yates (captain) (Dixon 78), Guest, Blair, Wilson. Subs unused: Viggars, Pugh.
Referee: Ben Tomlinson
Ref Rating: 7/10
Attendance: 463
Man of the match: Dom Blair (Hemsworth Miners Welfare)