Irywah Gooden is off the mark for the season but Emley AFC had to settle for another point in their second Northern Counties East League Premier Division fixture after Garforth Town came from behind at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.
It was Emley’s first home game of the new campaign against another side likely to be challenging at the top end of the table.
Despite Gooden’s opening goal in the 12th minute, the match ended 1-1 when Matthew Antcliff scored a 74th minute equaliser.
While prolific striker Gooden is back on the goal trail he’s set to step out of the side as he faces a ban for his red card on the opening day.
In a game of few first half chances it was Emley who nearly scored an early contender for goal of the season when Will Norcross picked up a loose ball just inside Garforth’s half and spotted the keeper off his line. His delicate lob just had too much on it and it sailed narrowly over.
Emley fans didn’t have long to wait to cheer their first goal of the season when Norcross whipped a lovely ball in from a corner on the left. The ball found its way to Gooden who blasted it into the bottom corner.
Emley couldn’t press home the advantage and the visitors grabbed a share of the spoils after a break down the right resulted in Antcliff smashing home.
Both sides could have won it late on but there wasn’t to be a winner. Emley’s attention now turns to the FA Cup Extra Preliminary round home fixture against Avro on Saturday August 5 at 3pm.
