Emley AFC keep up chase for second spot and must beat Frickley Athletic at home on Tuesday

By Martin Eastwood

Emley AFC clung onto their hopes of snatching second spot in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Knaresborough on Saturday.

The Pewits are 11 matches unbeaten in the league and have four matches remaining in their pursuit of a play-off berth.

Winterton Rangers are in pole position and 10 points clear of Emley but only have one game left. If they win that game Emley can’t catch them.

Emley went ahead in the 17^th minute when Iyrwah Gooden was played in on the right with Donae Lawrence making tracks down the middle.

Gooden played the ball in for Lawrence but the ball struck Sam Cook who diverted it past his own keeper. Oddly, Cook also scored an own goal in the same fixture last season.

Emley doubled the lead in the 38^th minute when Sam Pashley powered home a header from a beautifully-delivered corner from Ross Hardaker.

In the second half Emley rarely looked in danger but couldn’t find a third to kill off the game. An Alex Metcalfe free-kick was headed wide and Gooden beat the off-side trap but couldn’t find a finish.

Jake Kelly can count himself unfortunate not to be on the scoresheet while Junayd Cassius-Gill fired into the side netting.

Winterton’s 6-1 thumping of Albion Sports pushed them to closer to sealing second spot next Saturday (April 8) against Hallam but Emley can keep up the pressure by beating Frickley Athletic at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground on Tuesday April 4 (7.45).