By Martin Eastwood
Alex Metcalfe struck the winner as Emley AFC came from a goal down to beat Guisborough Town 2-1 and book a place in the 2nd round of the FA Vase.
The pitch at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground survived the stormy weather and deluge on Friday with the Pewits keen to ensure there were no more postponements to add to their fixture backlog.
There were few chances in the first half though Nathan Curtis and Iyrwah Gooden tested the keeper, Jack Cowgill headed over from a free-kick and James Knowles clipped a shot over the top.
Four minutes before half-time, Guisborough took the lead. The ball was lost in midfield, Emley failed to deal with the threat and Ty O’Neill finished well past Dec Lambton to make it 1-0 at the break.
Emley started the second half well and within a minute of the restart, Ruben Jerome fired a shot wide and then a superb 25-yard effort crashed off the bar with the keeper beaten all ends up. Jerome blasted into the side netting from a corner routine before the Pewits levelled in the 55th minute.
Jerome rampaged through the Guisborough defence to tee up Gooden who swept the ball home from eight yards.
Lambton then kept Emley in the tie saving twice within a minute before Gooden was unlucky with a chip that hit the top of the bar.
Emley, however, grabbed the winner in the 74th minute when Gooden drove into the box and found Metcalfe in the crowded area. The midfielder twisted and turned and fired home, much to the delight of the home fans.
Gooden almost sealed it two minutes later but again he was denied by the woodwork.
Emley’s next game is against Pickering Town at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground on Saturday October 28 (3.00).
Image by: Mark Parsons
