Toolstation NCEL Division One
AFC Emley 1-1 Eccleshill United
Former AFC Emley goalkeeper Joe Stead was unable to keep out Ash Flynn’s penalty. Picture: Mark Parsons
Ash Flynn held his nerve to score a dramatic 97th minute equalising penalty to keep AFC Emley’s faint hopes of landing second place alive.
Eccleshill took the lead with just eight minutes to go when Luke Harrop slotted his penalty home after he was brought down by Adam Lawlor but Andy Cooper handled Alex Slack’s throw in the area and Emley got their promotion charge back on track just in the nick of time.
Both sides began the game nervously and the first half was a cagey affair with few goalscoring opportunities. Both sides had one clear chance each. Flynn was played through one on one but his tame shot was turned behind while Harrop was denied by Lawlor who closed down well to smother the ball.
Emley began the second half the brighter side and played with a lot more urgency going forward. They created the better chances as Jordan Coduri turned Michael Tunnacliffe’s corner onto the post and minutes later Flynn, uncharacteristically, missed the target twice when put through on goal.
Eccleshill were doing well defensively and they proved to be a threat on the counter attack during the second half. They did well after an Emley corner on the 75th minute as Harrop exploded down the left hand side from his own half and managed to find Adam Turner with space in the area but the striker miss-hit his shot and the ball was cleared.
Emley weren’t to have the same luck as lightening struck twice. Harrop continue to threaten and burst towards Emley’s box down the left and Lawlor came rushing off his line. Lawlor did win the ball but in doing so brought down the Eccleshill frontman and the referee didn’t hesitate in pointing to the spot and giving Lawlor a yellow card. Harrop despatched the penalty well, placing the ball in the right hand corner, giving Lawlor no chance.
Darren Hepworth’s side had just eight minutes to try and salvage a point to keep their automatic promotion hopes alive. It looked like it was going to be a frustrating afternoon but after a delay in play for an injury to Eccleshill’s Jermaine Springer, play resumed and Slack’s throw in to the box caused havoc and Cooper clearly handled the ball and presented Emley with a lifeline.
Flynn smashed the ball home emphatically into the roof of the net and the referee blew his whistle for the final time.
AFC Emley: Lawlor, Heeley, Coduri, Graham, S Jerome, Sykes, Tunnacliffe, R Jerome, Flynn, Townend, Hallam. Subs: Billington, Noteman, Slack, Horsman, Spicer.
Eccleshill United: Stead, Storr, Harper, Cooper (captain), Springer, Smith, Shah, Trueman, Turner, Harrop, Flaherty. Subs: Catley, Patel, Preston.
Thanks to Paul Joannou for this report.