By Martin Eastwood
Callum Charlton was the man of the moment for Emley as they picked up a vital point away at AFC Mansfield.
Although earning a hard fought 1-1 draw, Emley had chances to have taken all three points.
The draw keeps the Pewits just above the relegation places and they still seek a first league win of the season.
Emley started well, carving out a number of half chances but the final ball, or the bounce of the ball, didn’t go their way.
Mansfield took the lead on 15 minutes, as a cross from the left was finished well by Jermaine Jatau.
Emley fought back, though, and levelled just past the half hour when Jimmy Eyles found a lovely defence-splitting pass which Charlton was onto in a flash to lift over the keeper.
READ MORE: Emley under 18s take to the field competitively for the first time.
In the second half both teams were looking to play in behind using width and pace. Charlton was enjoying himself, probing and teasing the Mansfield defence. He whipped in a great cross from the left but George Doyle’s header was off target.
Charlton, however, couldn’t see the game out and had to come off with a muscle problem – though his contribution still earned him the Man of the Match award.
Emley’s defence made sure they kept things tight. Mansfield were dangerous on the attack but Jamie Price and Sam Pashley did everything they could to keep the scores level, aided by Sam Kelly in goal who raced off his line to sweep up on a couple of occasions.
The Pewits then enjoyed their best spell of the game as they pressured the Bulls’ defence with numerous corners. After that Doyle headed narrowly over and Matt Sykes and Dom Riordan also went close.
In a frantic end to the game there were penalty shouts at both ends and even after the final whistle the drama wasn’t over as a Mansfield player was shown the red card as frustrations boiled over.
