By Eddie Willis
A first half brace from Ruben Jerome helped Emley AFC become champions in style with a 5-0 victory at Goole AFC on Saturday.
The Pewits needed just a point to clinch the Northern Counties East League title and the outcome was never in doubt.
Goole’s Pleasure Grounds were just that for the travelling fans with Emley eager to get the job finished with three games to spare.
The opening goal came in the 18th minute when Jerome latched on to Iyrwah Gooden’s flick-on and held off his marker in the box, squeezing his shot underneath the keeper before wheeling away in delight.
Charlie Barks had a header disallowed before Jerome doubled the lead in the 34th minute after deftly taking the ball around the onrushing keeper, leaving an empty net at his mercy.
It remained 2-0 at the break and Goole’s frustrations boiled over as a coming together between Sam Pashley and Goole’s left-winger turned nasty when players from both sides, as well as some Goole coaches, clashed on the sidelines.
Goole manager Nathan Helliwell was sent off for dissent while Pashley and his adversary both received bookings.
Emley kept their cool and turned on the style in the last 20 minutes. Captain Alex Metcalfe slammed home Emley’s third from close range in the 74th minute.
Off the bench, Steve Smith almost scored what may have been goal of the season, as he picked up the ball around the halfway line before taking on everyone in his path and making his way into the area, but his shot was agonisingly wide from the substitute right-back.
A fitting fourth goalscorer came in the form of the Emley born and bred Joe Clegg in the 88th minute, who was in the right place at the right time to slot home after James Walshaw miscontrolled a low cross.
He coolly rifled his side-footed effort past the keeper at his near post, and Emley were now moments away from confirming their champion status.
A couple of minutes later, Emley were awarded a penalty as the prolific Walshaw was tackled late inside the area as he was shaping up to shoot.
Emley had a chance to give their other top scorer a hand in the promotion deciding victory, and the veteran centre-forward sent the keeper the wrong way in true Walshaw fashion. A poignant moment as the Emley fans began to party in the stands.
With the league won, Emley will be promoted to the Pitching In Northern Premier Division One East next season, mixing it with some prestigious non-league outfits back where the club spent much of the 1990s and 2000s.
The focus now will be on securing a league and cup double with a quarter-final of the NCEL League Cup on April 13.
