Back to his best: Ash Flynn celebrates his first of four goals against Parkgate
‘Beautiful Sunday’ would have been a fitting anthem for AFC Emley to play over the PA system at the end of the 7-1 demolition of dreadful Parkgate in the Emirates FA Cup extra preliminary round tie.
The day couldn’t have got much better for Emley, whose win was wrapped-up by the half-hour mark as four-goal hero Ash Flynn had hit a seven minute hat-trick.
Following all the euphoria at going top of the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division table with the incredible win at Tadcaster, Parkgate came crashing back down to earth.
Steve Adams had seven key players from that starting eleven that were unavailable – Ben Brunt, Gary Hibbert, Reece Wesley, Scott Lowe, Sam Foulds, Scott Whittington and Piers Bond – for a variety of reasons such as work commitments.
Parkgate desperately needed all of them as defensively they were atrocious as Emley looked likely to score on every attack.
The floodgates opened in the 20th minute with fellow striker Kieron Ryan the provider with Flynn’s first goal – a straightforward low drive.
After two prolific campaigns – for Emley and Shaw Lane Aquaforce – Flynn endured a difficult campaign last season, but he now seems back to his best.
His next two strikes were similar goals and it was clear at this point that Parkgate were going to be on the receiving end of a hammering.
Flynn celebrates his second goal
Ash Flynn seals his hat-trick
Emley’s Max Leonard strikes for goal
Kieron Ryan strikes at goal
Kieron Ryan eventually got his goal
Steven Kenworth congratulates Kieron Ryan on his goal
Alex Hallam rounded off the win
There was brief respite from defending when Oliver Graham, the hat-trick hero at Tadcaster was brought down inside the penalty area.
Graham converted the spot kick, but that did little to inspire his side because ten minutes into the second half Flynn added his fourth of the afternoon.
That killed the game and it was a gentle stroll for Emley in the last half hour. All the problems were being created down the right wing with new signing Jordan Coduri being at the forefront.
He got his deserved goal with a fine strike as did Alex Hallam and Kieron Ryan – rounding off a heavy cup victory which sets up a trip to Burscough.
AFC Emley manager Darren Hepworth:
“Ash is very confident at the moment as he scored a brace in both games before today.
“He has a good partnership developing with Kieron Ryan, but it is not about the front two for me.
“It is about what is happening behind which is allowing to Flynny to get into places to finish teams off.
“We knew Parkgate would be pretty direct and we knew they had a few missing, but you have to deal with what is in front of you.
“We came into it as underdogs, but we executed the game-plan perfectly.”
Parkgate manager Steve Adams:
“It is fair to say we virtually had a full team missing, but I still expect us to put a performance in.
“There are no excuses, it was terrible, shocking. The senior players didn’t perform.
“The young players tried hard, but they needed help from the senior players and they didn’t get any.
“Emley looked capable of scoring every-time they went forward and that was proved in the second half.”
AFC Emley: Lawlor, Scrivens, D Ryan, Townend, Slack, Brennan (captain), Coduri, Leonard, Flynn, K Ryan, Hallam. Subs unused: Tunnacliffe, Leech, Jordan, McLoughlin.
Parkgate: Spink, Yates, Douglas (captain), Hickey, Wragg, Wood, Langford, Dawson, Graham, Fedorenko, Johnson. Subs: Williams, Ashton, Enzo, Poulter.
Referee: Jimmy Price
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 249
Man of the match: Ash Flynn (AFC Emley)