James Eyles scored with a delightful chip away at Penistone Church but a first half hat-trick from Nathan Keightley put the game out of Emley’s reach.

Keightley put Penistone ahead in the 16th minute when the home side broke through the Emley back line. A clever ball was put through to Keightley who slotted the ball past Emley keeper Sam Kelly to make it 1-0 to Penistone Church.

Eyles then equalised when he connected with a well timed flicked header by Joe Jagger. Eyles beat the last defender with a superb touch, before chipping home.

But another two goals from Keightley before the break left the visitors with a mountain to climb. 

The first of his goals came in the 44th minute. Emley didn’t deal with a Penistone corner and Keightley was left alone in the Pewits’ box to fire a shot across goal, which found the bottom corner to make it 2-1. 

Keightley’s hat-trick was completed a minute later when a ball over the top dropped to the home side’s No9 who slotted home to make it 3-1 and that’s how it stayed.

The defeat leaves Emley in 17th position in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division on 23 points after 22 games. Next up is a home tie on Saturday against AFC Mansfield.