By Martin Eastwood
A first half strike from Nathan Curtis gave Emley AFC a winning start to life back in the Northern Premier League with a 1-0 victory at Grimsby Borough.
The Pewits were a dominant force for much of the game but came under late pressure and by the end were relieved to hear the final whistle.
Emley worked their way into the game with Isaac Baldwin and Alex Metcalfe trying their luck before Baldwin again flashed a wicked ball across the face of goal but no one in yellow could connect.
Amir Berchil then went close, skipping past a couple of lunging tackles but his curling shot was parried by Grimsby keeper Liam Higton and then cleared to safety.
The pressure eventually told on 27 minutes with Emley playing some neat football to make inroads again.
The ball was played left to Berchil who beat his man with ease before playing a ball into the box. Luke Parkin turned it back towards goal where Curtis found a side-foot finish.
Parkin almost made it 2-0 but his shot was saved and Berchil blasted out of the ground before Donae Lawrence had another effort on target.
Emley didn’t have it all their own way in the second half and after the Pewits lost centre-back Jack Cowgill to an injury the home side gradually wrested the initiative.
In the last quarter of the game Emley were under pressure as Grimsby looked for an equaliser. They almost got it through Brad Wood but somehow Charlie Barks cleared off the line.
Adam Drury went close for Grimsby before Emley sub James Walshaw was through one-on-one but he took a touch too many and the keeper smothered.
In stoppage time Tom Haigh was on hand to clear off the line from a corner and Emley survived a penalty appeal to take home maximum points.
Emley are back in action on Tuesday (August 13) when they travel to Newton Aycliffe.
