By Martin Eastwood
A hat-trick from Amir Berchil helped Emley AFC to a thumping 4-0 victory at 10-man Bishop Auckland as they remain unbeaten at the top of the league.
It was a hugely impressive display from the Pewits in an entertaining game that included Berchil’s treble, a penalty save by Dec Lambton, a red card and several yellow cards.
Emley took the lead with barely two minutes on the clock when the Bishop keeper tried to play the ball out but Berchil intercepted the pass and calmly slotted home.
The Bishops were reduced to 10 men when John Howard was sent off for a nasty challenge on Isaac Baldwin which left him needing lengthy treatment.
Donae Lawrence and Berchil caused problems during the remainder of the first half and Berchil’s teasing ball flew across the face of goal without an Emley touch, then three successive Emley corners ended with Charlie Barks shooting narrowly wide.
Emley doubled their lead just five minutes after the restart when Baldwin broke down the left and played a ball into debutant Laurence Sorhaindo whose shot struck the post. The ball bounced back out to Baldwin who finished it off.
The home side could have pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute when Matty Tymon was brought down in the box and the Bishops were awarded a penalty. Cyril Giraud stepped up but Lambton pulled off a great save.
Alex Metcalfe and Sorhaindo went close before another save from Lambton.
By now Emley were playing some impressive stuff and it was no surprise when a third goal in the 73rd minute finally put the contest to bed, a tremendous run and shot from Berchil left the keeper grasping thin air.
Berchil completed his hat-trick 10 minutes from time and he created it all himself, ghosting inside and leaving floundering defenders in his wake before unleashing a fizzing shot to make it 4-0.
Emley are back in league action at Pontefract Collieries on Tuesday October 1 (7.45).
