Emley AFC boss Richard Tracey hailed his side’s “incredible” FA Cup run which has left them as the lowest ranked side still in this year’s competition.
The Pewits defeated higher league opponents Mossley 3-1 at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground on Tuesday night with two goals coming in extra-time.
Emley have now played SIX matches in the FA Cup having been reinstated after defeat in their first game against Avro, who were thrown out for fielding an ineligible player.
Emley, from level 9 of the football pyramid, are now just two wins from the first round proper. They next go to National League North side Alfreton Town in the third qualifying round.
Goals from Paul Walker, Sam Pashley and James Walshaw saw Emley through and Tracey said: “The FA Cup run has been incredible so far – and we’ve already played six games!
“It’s been a real rollercoaster of emotions but we can say we didn’t turn down the opportunity to do our best following our re-instatement in the competition.
“Everyone loves the FA Cup, not least the fans. To have over 400 turn out on a wet and windy night was excellent.
“Now we’ve got another really tough game away at Alfreton managed by Billy Heath who I have played under before so it’ll be great to see him again.”
Sam Pashley. Image by: MM10
Sam Pashley was the scourge of Mossley once more as he kept Emley in the competition with a late equaliser against the Lilywhites on Saturday and he was credited with the final touch in a goalmouth scramble to put Emley 2-1 up in the replay.
All the goals came in a dramatic last few minutes before Emley won it in extra-time.
It was a goalless first half thanks to the efforts of keeper Dec Lambton who pulled off a couple of saves before his best one, just four minutes before the break.
Mossley were awarded a penalty and Eden Bailey struck it well but Lambton dived low to his left and tipped the ball round the post.
In the second half Walshaw replaced Ruben Jerome as Emley looked to take control, and they almost broke the deadlock when a great move down the right saw the ball flashed across the area but Paul Walker was unable to control the ball cleanly and his shot went over.
Another Walker shot, this time from a free-kick was saved by the keeper and Iyrwah Gooden was inches away from nicking a through ball past the keeper who did well to smother.
Mossley were still pushing and a header from a corner was wide, and then the real drama started.
With less than two minutes left, Emley scored what looked like being a late winner. Sub Joe Clegg was involved, winning the ball and playing it out right. Gooden and Jacob Kelly then got involved before the ball was played across and Walker was there to tap home at the back post.
Gooden had a sight of goal to try and wrap the tie up but he blazed high and wide and within a minute, Emley’s hearts were broken. A good move down their right saw a cut back to the penalty spot and Oumar Camara was there to stroke home the equaliser.
Mossley almost snatched a winner with their next attack but they couldn’t convert from a corner, and with almost the last action of the 90 minutes, Lambton pulled off another great save.
The game could have gone either way in extra-time but Emley went ahead when Ross Hardaker whipped a beauty in from the right, the keeper fumbled and Pashley pounced.
Now, the tie was Emley’s to lose and with just 15 minutes of extra time to hold out, Mossley had to go for it and piled bodies forward.
Emley sealed it when Joe Kenny set an attack in motion, Gooden carried it on and a lovely dinked ball into the danger zone saw Walshaw nod home to book the trip to Derbyshire.
It’s the FA Vase again on Saturday (September 23) with a trip to Brigg Town.
Words by Martin Shaw and Martin Eastwood
