Emley AFC beat Frickley Athletic 3-0 at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground on Tuesday night with a double from Ross Hardaker keeping the Pewits in with a chance of a play-off spot.
Second-place in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division should mean a play-off spot and Emley need to win all their last three matches and hope Winterton Rangers slip up at home to Hallam in their final game on Saturday.
It was the third meeting of the season between the two sides and Emley have netted three times in all three games – and three points was vital to keep them in the play-off hunt.
The home crowd were treated to a beauty of an opening goal after just 15 minutes. An Emley corner wasn’t cleared and the ball was recycled, eventually dropping to the feet of left-back Hardaker who, from a tight angle just inside the box, smashed a thunderous effort into the far corner to give Emley the lead.
Hardaker grabbed his second just before half-time. It came after great work on the left by Donae Lawrence who twisted and teased the defence. He then played a neat little pass into the path of Hardaker who slotted home from another tight angle to make it 2-0.
It was 3-0 when Iyrwah Gooden scored in the 78th minute when he spun in the box to fire into the roof of the net.
Emley are at home to Barton Town on Saturday April 8 (3.00).
