By Martin Eastwood
Iyrwah Gooden scored twice as resurgent Emley AFC made it three wins and three clean sheets in a week.
The Pewits followed last Saturday’s 2-0 win at Garforth and a 7-0 home win over Nostell in the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Cup with a 2-0 victory over Bottesford Town at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.
Emley are looking to drag themselves back into play-off contention and took maximum points against second-bottom Bottesford despite a red card for Sam Pashley.
Pashley almost scored midway through the first half when he crashed a header onto the post but Emley went ahead in the 36th minute when Gooden slotted home from a tight angle.
Emley almost conceded an equaliser at the start of the second half but Gooden gave the home side a cushion in the 52nd minute when he steered home a header from Ross Hardaker’s pinpoint cross.
Pashley saw red with 20 minutes remaining but Emley saw the game out.
Gooden has taken on the goalscoring mantle of the injured Joe Jagger and his brace made it six goals in two games and took him to 17 for the season.
The Pewits are fourth in the table, 11 points behind second-placed Winterton Rangers. Next up for Emley is Handsworth at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground on Tuesday February 21 (7.45).
