AFC Emley captain Paul Sykes walks off disappointed after his side’s promotion hopes came to an end. Picture: Mark Parsons
AFC Emley’s promotion hopes are over after a 2-1 defeat at home to Selby Town in Darren Hepworth’s 250th game in charge of the club.
Clipstone have a four point cushion and can secure a top two spot if they win at Worsbrough Bridge on Tuesday night.
Max Leonard netted from the penalty spot early on, with the visitors scoring twice in the second half through Tom Chamberlain and Jamie Forrester.
Emley took the lead in the early stages of the match, Doran Jordan broke down the right flank and had his run stopped in the box by the Selby defender. Leonard took up penalty taking duties and sent Adam Stevens the wrong way, placing his effort into the bottom corner.
The away side nearly hit back instantly when Forrester saw a free kick deflected, Matty Start pounced first, but saw his attempted saved by Adam Lawlor.
Selby did take a massive blow as Stevens went off injured which meant manager Dave Ricardo had to take over in goal.
At the other end Ashley Flynn had a couple of chances that came close to doubling Emley’s advantage, first he and Michael Tunnacliffe linked up well outside the area, with Flynn unleashing a volley on goal which went just over the crossbar.
His second attempt was a cross come shot that looped over Selby’s replacement goalkeeper Ricardo, but went wide of the back post.
On the stroke of half time Ashley Hope nearly got Selby their equaliser. Emley failed to clear the ball on multiple occasions as the ball bounced around in the box, Hope managed to prod the ball towards goal, however, it went the wrong side of the upright.
Adam Stevens can’t stop Max Leonard’s penalty from finding the net. Picture: Mark Parsons
Selby Town manager/stand-in goalkeeper Dave Ricardo stops Max Leonard in his tracks. Picture: Mark Parsons
Ash Flynn holds onto the ball for AFC Emley. Picture: Mark Parsons
The second half saw the visitors create the bulk of the chances as Emley struggled to string their passes together.
Craig Muirhead fired a warning shot to the Emley backline as his scuffed an effort over the crossbar.
Emley did not take heed of the warning as Jack Binns crossed from the left byline and found the run of Chamberlain at the front post who nudged the ball into the bottom corner.
Emley had a string of set pieces but could not convert any into an attempt on goal. However, in one of their few second half chances, Leonard found Steven Kenworthy in the box, but as the striker was crowded out he poked his effort wide of the Selby goal.
The visitors then struck the killer blow in the last minutes of the game. The ball somehow managed to find its way to the feet of Forrester outside of the Emley penalty area.
The winger took a touch before unleashing a strike on goal which soared past the hands of Lawlor and into the top corner of the goal, making Hepworth’s 250th game in charge of Emley one to forget.
AFC Emley: Lawlor, Ingham, Starkey, Tunnacliffe, S Jerome, Sykes (captain), Townend, Leonard, Flynn, Leonard, Waller. Subs: Kenworthy, Egemole, Scrivens, Leech.
Selby Town: Stevens, Horsman, Binns, Hope, Evans, Mortimer (captain), Forrester, Day, Start, Chamberlain, Muirhead
Referee: Jason Tyas
Attendance: 125
Thanks to James Holder for this report. If you want your club’s reports on Non League Yorkshire each week, send reports and team-lists to info@nonleagueyorkshire.com.