By Martin Eastwood
A brace from Luke Parkin – including a stunning lob from near the halfway line – saw Emley AFC come from behind to beat Belper Town 3-1 and maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
The Pewits went behind at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground but goals from Parkin and Donae Lawrence saw them move into second in the NPL Division One East.
Belper were first out of the blocks with Nathaniel Crofts forcing an early save from Dec Lambton before Charlie Barks cleared off the line after Harry Draper lobbed Lambton.
Crofts put Belper in front in the 17th minute when the Emley defence failed to deal with a floated ball. Crofts got on the end of it and flicked an effort past Lambton from a tight angle.
Emley hit back through Lawrence and Parkin and then levelled in the 36th minute. Amir Berchil received the ball with work to do in transition, before turning and finding Parkin who fired past the oncoming keeper into an empty net.
Emley took the lead five minutes before the break when Berchil beat his man and curled a shot goalwards. Keeper Dan Martin could only parry the effort and Lawrence finished it off.
Emley really hit their stride in the second half and were only denied by some excellent goalkeeping by Martin with saves from Parkin and Nathan Curtis.
Belper pushed for an equaliser but great defensive work from Alex Metcalfe and Harry Sheppeard set the tone for the Emley rearguard.
Belper’s desperation to earn something from the game ultimately led to their demise.
In the dying moments, Parkin seized onto a wayward ball in the centre of the pitch, looked up to spot Martin off his line and instinctively unleashed a lobbed effort from inside the Belper half that crept under the bar to make it 3-1 and secure the three points.
Emley will seek to extend their unbeaten start to the season with a visit to Consett at 3pm on Saturday August 24.
Image by: MARK PARSONS
