Main image courtesy of JLH Photography Yorkshire
Former Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Lloyd Allinson defied Emley AFC with a Man of the Match display on his debut.
Allinson, who started his career at Town as a youngster and was released in 2016, joined Goole on a short-term loan from Pontefract Collieries.
The Pewits dominated the game at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds and deserved the victory but the form of Allinson – and some resolute defending – meant Emley were left frustrated as Goole held out for a goalless draw.
The opening to the game was a cagey midfield affair but Emley started to crank up the pressure. Half chances came and 30-goal Joe Jagger had two chances he’d normally put away but Allinson gratefully collected.
Irywah Gooden was causing problems down the right but his best move was a cross that became a shot which Goole’s keeper was happy to pick out of the air at his near post.
There were also two one-on-ones – with Jagger and Joe Clegg – but the experienced No1 was alive to the danger and quick off his line to snuff out the trouble.
Goole had their best spell between those two moments but in truth rarely got near the visitors’ 18-yard box.
In the second half Emley had a penalty appeal waved away but from the corner that was given Emley ended up with a free kick and Ross Hardacre found James Knowles who headed onto the post and wide.
Knowles was next in line again but his header was straight at the keeper this time.
Gooden kept marauding down the right and his pull back was chested out for a corner. Although the setpiece was cleared, there was deja vu as the Goole keeper was first on the scene to a through ball.
Now down the left, Paul Walker, Clegg and Joe Kenny linked up well and it was the latter who crossed but saw the ball loop over the bar.
A golden chance was about to drop to Jagger but a Gooden touch took the ball away from him at the worst possible moment.
After Callum Charlton made his return to the club as a substitute for the industrious Clegg, the Pewits continued to push forward on both flanks. From a floated free kick, Emley had a chance cleared off the line and then hit the bar in a matter of seconds.
The day could have got worse as the hosts hit the bar and, from a resulting well taken corner, Dec Lambton had to scramble to palm away the ball and the rebound was spooned over.
In truth that was Goole’s best and possibly only real chance with Knowles and fellow central defender Sam Pashley largely untroubled for the afternoon.
At the other end, Emley’s dominance continued with Jagger and Gooden adding to the tally of miscues and just wides.
At the final whistle, Goole celebrated their hard-fought point while Emley’s Twitter feed summed up the game with the verdict: “We murdered them nil nil.”
