Former AFC Emley captain Paul Sykes played in goal for Shirebrook Town. Picture: Mark Parsons
AFC Emley rescued a point in blustery conditions at the Welfare Ground in the 2-2 draw with Shirebrook Town.
Ruben Jerome opened the scoring for the hosts, before goals in either half from Liam Greenfield and Luke Johnson turned the game around. Sam Jerome nodded in at the far post from Michael Tunnacliffe’s corner to level the scores late on.
It’s a result that means Emley are unbeaten in their last eleven in all competitions, a run which stretches back to mid-October.
Shirebrook were the first to really threaten a goal, when Luke Johnson’s long range effort was fumbled by Adam Lawlor in the Emley goal, but the keeper made up for it by smartly saving the rebound.
Captain Craig Getliff dragged an effort wide following Ryan Johnson’s ball into the middle as Shirebrook continued to put on some pressure in the windy conditions.
It was however Emley who got on the scoresheet first, with Ruben Jerome showing some nice footwork on the edge of the area to make some space for a shot, which he dispatched into the top corner with Shirebrook goalkeeper Paul Sykes unmoved.
The two sides then traded opportunities, with Kieran Ryan having a goalbound effort blocked just inside the area, before Luke Johnson couldn’t find the target after the ball fell to him inside the box from a free kick.
They did score shortly after though, when a ball over the top caused some confusion in the Emley back-line, as Alex Slack got a slight touch, before Lawlor came out to try and clear, only for Liam Greenfield to steal in and tuck the ball into the empty net.
Ashley Flynn sent a free kick just over as he searched for his 51st goal of the season, which saw him gain national acclaim this week.
Sam Jerome hit the top of the bar with a header from Robbie Graham’s free kick, and Ryan, Ruben Jerome and Flynn all had efforts either across goal or wide late on in the first half.
Luke Johnson made it 2-1 to Shirebrook early on in the second period, as his long range strike somehow found its way past Lawlor and into the net.
Ryan Johnson and Jake Currie then had shots at goal for the away side, with Johnson firing over and Lawlor easily gathered a tame Currie strike.
Emley then pushed for a leveller, with Flynn curling one just wide of the far post, and Paul Sykes tipping over Tunnacliffe’s wind-assisted free kick.
It was from the resulting corner that Emley struck, with Tunnacliffe’s centre finding Sam Jerome’s head at the far post to make it 2-2.
AFC Emley: Lawlor, Coduri, Brook, Slack, S Jerome, R Jerome, Hallam, Graham, Tunnacliffe (captain), Ryan, Flynn. Subs: Brennan, Horsman, Spicer, Townend, Noteman.
Thanks to Josh Lindley for this report.