Flynn scores four in Emley’s goal-fest

Toolstation NCEL Division One

AFC Emley 6-3 Westella VIP

• Ash Flynn scores four for AFC Emley to take his tally to 65 goals for the season.
• Westella peg Emley back twice in the first half, but a poor period in the second half costs them.

Go to the Welfare Ground and goals are definitely guaranteed. Ninety-six league goals have been scored there this season, 78 of them have been hit by Emley. Just over 30 belong to Ash Flynn, who scored a hat-trick for the second week running to take his total for the season to 65.

There is value for money every week at Emley and the latest offering would have had Alan Hansen tearing his hair out. Good defending was at premium, to say the least.

From the word go it was non-stop action. Westella were still ‘on the coach’ when Emley fired the first bullet inside three minutes. Their defence was nowhere to be seen as long kick downfield found a sprinting Flynn. Westella goalkeeper Ryan Musselwhite raced out, but Flynn simply the ball over the top of him.

Westella’s response was good and for a few moments Emley were rocking. Alex Wood converted Andy Coverdale’s cross for the equaliser before Westella almost stunned the home support when Neil Sheppard fired wide from a superb position. That miss was key as Emley soon regained the lead. It took three attempts to force the ball over-the-line. Ruben Jerome moved into a good position and went for glory. Musselwhite foiled him, but the ball ran loose to the danger man Flynn. The striker’s initial placed effort came back off the bar. Jerome got it back though and Flynn, with a similar effort, managed to found the net.

Westella though hit back straightaway with the unmarked Chris Spinks scoring with a low and hard effort from eight yards. The topsy-turfy ness of the match continued on the stroke of half-time as Flynn completed his treble with a deflected strike to edge Emley in front again.

The visitors began the second half in a positive fashion and the rest of the match would have gone in a different direction had Darren Fell scored in the opening gambit. The striker got away from Emley’s defence and lobbed goalkeeper Adam Lawlor from inside the penalty area. Unfortunately for Westella the ball flashed just wide.

The miss was costly as Emley took control to leave Westella lagging behind. A needless foul by captain Matt Fyvie on Flynn on the hour enabled the Emley striker to score his fourth of the afternoon, from the penalty spot. That was the killer blow.

The pressure on Westella’s back four was now relentless. A fifth was inevitable before Kieran Ryan pulled away from the visiting defence to score with a superb low strike. A goal that Darren Hepworth so excited that he ran 30 yards from his dugout to celebrate with his players.

If that got Hepworth running up and down, he should have waited for Jordan Coduri’s incredible strike. Coduri, arguably Emley’s best player behind Flynn this season, stormed into the box from deep and unleashed a shot with such venom that the goal-posts were rocking when the ball nestled itself in the top corner.

To Westella’s credit, they gave it a go in the last ten minutes. Wood reduced the deficit after Spinks had a close range shot saved by Lawlor. The former could have also netted his hat-trick as well as Lawlor saved a late Westella penalty.

Nine goals, two penalties, it was a breathless afternoon at Emley.

AFC Emley manager Darren Hepworth:

Westella VIP manager Leon Sewell:

AFC Emley: Lawlor, Slack, Coduri, Townend, S Jerome, Brennan, Tunnacliffe (captain) (Graham Graham 75), R Jerome, Flynn (Hallam 80), Ryan, Noteman (Scrivens 65). Subs unused: Brook, Starkey.
Westella VIP: Musselwhite, Oakshott (Atkinson 75), Stone, Sheppard, Fyvie (captain), Williamson, Wood, Short (McFadyen 75), Fell (Andrew 70), Spinks, Coverdale. Sub unused: Thomas.
Referee: Neil Munday
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 142
Man of the match: Ash Flynn (AFC Emley)