Ruben Jerome reached 30 goals for the season as all three of Emley AFC’s prolific strikers were on target in a 5-0 victory over Goole AFC at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.
The Pewits moved three points clear at the top of the Northern Counties East League Premier Division and have two games in hand over nearest challengers Campion.
Jerome’s brace took him to the landmark 30 goals while James Walshaw scored his 25th of the campaign and Iyrwah Gooden made it 17. That’s an incredible 72 goals and counting between them…so far!
Sam Pashley, Alex Metcalfe and Nathan Curtis had chances in the first half before Gooden opened the scoring in the 21st minute.
Some impressive creative play in midfield led to the goal as Curtis did superbly well to swivel out of a tight space just inside Goole’s half, before flicking a pass on to Metcalfe, who found Gooden in space to cut inside and score with a curling effort.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic, however, and young keeper Aleksander Petrovic was called into action to protect the Emley lead, eventually coming away with a clean sheet and the Man of the Match award.
Metcalfe lashed a shot just over and Jerome was unlucky when his header was acrobatically tipped onto the bar before the rebound was stabbed wide.
It remained 1-0 at the break and straight after the re-start Goole were reduced to 10 men when defender Kieran Mortimer was sent off for a challenge on Walshaw.
Emley capitalised and made it 2-0 when Jerome backheeled Joe Clegg’s driven cross past the rooted keeper after 50 minutes.
The third goal came after a string of Emley corners taken by Metcalfe. Eventually, one was made to count by Walshaw, who leapt comfortably above his markers at the near post to head home to make it 3-0.
Jimmy Eyles, on from the bench, scored a cracking goal from outside the box after Jerome found him with ample time and space to work with. The substitute wasted no time in picking his spot low into the bottom corner for the fourth.
Jerome made it 5-0 courtesy of Metcalfe’s third assist of the night. Metcalfe won back possession in the box and set up a simple finish for the division’s top scorer.
Emley return to the Wembley trail on Saturday (February 10) when they take on Whickham in the FA Vase 5th round at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.
Image by: MARK PARSONS
