By Martin Eastwood
A third straight defeat saw Emley AFC’s lead at the top of the Northern Counties East League Premier Division reduced to just three points.
The Pewits went down 1-0 in a six-pointer at title rivals Campion but they still have two games in hand and a superior goal difference.
Both teams tested each other early on with corners. Aleksander Petrovic saved for Emley and at the other end Sam Pashley sent a header over as the game struggled to get any kind of rhythm to it.
Emley were conceding free-kicks as Campion were going to ground easily and it was from a free-kick that the first real chance of the game came, but the shot by Campion went sailing over.
However, Campion scored what proved to be the only goal of the game in the 26th minute when a header from a corner from ex-Emley man Paddy Sykes appeared to have been stopped on the line by Petrovic but the goal was awarded.
Emley almost equalised through an own goal but the ball struck the bar and James Walshaw had a couple of efforts and Charlie Barks headed wide from a corner.
Into the second half and the game proved closely fought. Campion almost doubled their lead when a tremendous long range shot cannoned off an Emley defender and flew over Petrovic’s bar.
A Walshaw header was cleared off the line before Petrovic was needed again at the other end.
Campion were happy to protect their lead and slowed the game right down, much to Emley’s frustration.
The best chance for Emley came in the final minute as a corner was only cleared to Joe Clegg who fed Barks just outside the area but – with the defenders closing him down – he fired wide.
Campion could pull level on points on Friday (March 22) when they take on Garforth Town at home before Emley are back in action the following day at Barton Town.
