Red carded Hallam midfielder Danny Mullooly holds up the ball
Three second half red cards in quick succession marred the 1-1 draw between AFC Emley and Hallam at a wet and windy Welfare Ground.
Hallam striker Michael Blythen cancelled out Jordan Coduri’s first half strike before the explosion of red cards which saw Hallam reduced to nine man and Emley to ten.
Danny Mullooly was the first to go for raising his arm into Emley captain Michael Tunnacliffe’s face.
Hallam full-back Elliott Simpson and Emley’s Alex Hallam were dismissed after an off-the-ball incident.
Apart from two moments of madness, it was a fairly contested match. Only two yellow cards were shown.
Despite the red cards, both sides will be relatively happy as the draw preserves their respective unbeaten runs. Hallam are yet to lose on their travels in the league this season – a run that now stands at 12 games.
Emley, who remain in the play-offs zone, extended their unbeaten Toolstation NCEL Division One run to ten games.
Both Emley and Hallam had players missing – most notably 50-goal man Ash Flynn was on the home bench due to a recent asthma problem. Kieron Ryan was also suspended.
Ruben Jerome led Emley’s attack with Coduri, a constant nuisance for Hallam, sitting in behind him.
Hallam enjoyed some early dominance, but Coduri caught them out with a deflected long range strike.
Sam Jerome defends for AFC Emley
Hallam attacker Steve Brammer prepares to launch the ball upfield
Goal-scorer Jordan Coduri on the attack for Emley
Fair result: AFC Emley manager Darren Hepworth
Steve Brammer prepares to shoot
Hallam defender Elliott Simpson was sent off after an tangle with Emley’s Alex Hallam
Ryan Hindley was delighted with a point
The rest of the first half fizzled out with few chances created. Hallam came flying out of the blocks in the second half and quickly levelled the scores.
A piece of brilliance from Blythen saw Emley goalkeeper Adam Lawlor lured out of his six-yard-box. That created the space for Blythen to coolly lifted the ball over the committed Lawlor as the rest of the home defence stood and watched.
Then came the controversial moments. In front of the main stand, Mullooly held off Tunnacliffe with the ball at his feet before catching the Emley skipper with a swinging arm – sparking a mini-brawl.
Mullooly was soon sent packing to only a few complaints. What happened two minutes later really got the crowd gasping.
Simpson and Emley attacker Hallam became involved in a tangle by the cricket fence which ended when referee Gareth Thomas arrived on the scene. Thomas must have seen something untoward as both players were shown straight red cards.
As there was still 20 minutes remaining, the dismissals effectively killed the contest. Flynn entered the fray, but his only contribution was a header that flashed wide at the back-post.
Hallam had the better chances as Blythen fired over from close range and Jed Phillips forced a good save out of Lawlor.
Considering the conditions and the red cards, neither side can be too disappointed.
AFC Emley manager Darren Hepworth: “Although I know Hallam had a lot of possession in the first half, we got ahead and looked comfortable.
“We do pass the ball well but we did not quite hit the mark today so that is why I think a draw was a fair result.
“The sending-offs changed the game and both teams understandably lost a bit of shape. They evened the game up and took a bit of edge off it.”
Hallam manager Ryan Hindley: “Hand-on-heart when you look at the start of the season at the teams in the league like Mansfield, Hull, Hemsworth and Emley, you’d always take a point away from home.
“I think it was a good point for both sides. I think even with nine men we could have nicked it because we had the better of the chances.
“I think ill-discipline has possibly cost us three points, but I’m delighted with a point.
“Apart from the ill-discipline, my lads were outstanding. I don’t think we deserved to be a goal down, but then in the second half we got what we deserved from a stroke of genius from Michael Blythen.”
On the red cards: “I think the first one is always a 50/50 because if someone is holding your shirt and you swing your arm back, you’re always running the risk of catching them.
“Danny has done that so from a refereeing perspective I’m not going to say he got it wrong.
“For the other sending-off I was a long way from it to comment.”
AFC Emley: Lawlor, Horsman (Flynn 70), Brook, Graham, S Jerome, Brennan (Slack 77), Tunnacliffe (captain) (Scrivens 77), Townend, R Jerome, Coduri, Hallam. Subs unused: Spicer, Noteman.
Hallam: Dennison, Simpson, Pemberton, Mirfin (captain), Lowe, Whittaker, Brammer, Mullooly, Blythen (Modest 77), Slew (Flynn 62), Phillips. Subs unused: Ward, Hindley.
Referee: Gareth Thomas
Ref Rating: 7/10 (Had a decent game, but the red cards divided opinion)
Attendance: 135
Man of the match: Jordan Coduri (AFC Emley)