Words: Zoe Shackleton – Image: Mark Parsons
Ruben Jerome scored his third goal of the season as Emley AFC won their second cup tie in the space of four days.
The Pewits followed up a 5-1 win at Lower Breck FC in the FA Cup on Wednesday with a 3-0 FA Vase victory over Sandbach United at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground on Sunday.
Emley were dominant in the first half of their first qualifying round match against a team in the division below them and scored all three goals before half-time.
Emley’s positive start saw them rewarded with two goals inside the opening 20 minutes.
Jerome set Emley on their way when he fired home from a Steve Smith corner with just 11 minutes gone.
Ross Hardaker made it 2-0 when a cross from the right by Jacob Kelly found him in acres of space in the box. Hardaker had enough time to slot the ball home with his left foot.
The home side sealed victory in first half stoppage time when Joe Kenny fired into the bottom left corner.
After the break Kelly hit the post and Donae Lawrence went close. Joshua Klein-Davies had the best chance of the second half for the visitors but his chip came back off the bar.
Emley substitute James Knowles had the ball in the back of the net on 85 minutes but it was disallowed, referee Matthew Blaney judging that he’d taken the free kick too early.
Emley proved too strong in the end for the North West Counties side as they progress to the second qualifying round of the FA Vase and face an away trip to Brigg.
