By Martin Eastwood
It was a magnificent seven for Emley AFC on Tuesday night as they thrashed Handsworth 7-0 at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground. Joe Jagger scored a hat-trick on the night in a brilliant display.
It was Emley’s biggest victory of the season and their first clean sheet this campaign – and it could have been more.
Emley scored their first goal in the 23rd minute. A lovely right wing cross was met by Jagger who headed against the bar and it was Joe Kenny who was in the right place to nod the rebound into the net.
The Pewits made it 2-0 three minutes later, another good spell of possession and movement, with Man of the Match Jagger finding room for a shot which was initially cleared but he followed up and smashed past the keeper to score his first of the evening.
Emley saw out the remainder of the half in relative comfort and went into the interval 2-0 up.
There were only eight minutes on the second half clock when Emley netted a third. Jagger worked an opening but the keeper blocked, only to see the ball fall to Max Tweddle who calmly lifted the ball over the keeper into the net.
Emley’s fourth goal was scored on the 62nd minute when Jagger struck from the penalty spot after Kenny was fouled in the box.
The Pewits grabbed their fifth on the 76th minute, the impressive Lewis Whitham cutting in from the left again, leaving defenders trailing in his wake before slotting home.
Emley fans were in dreamland now despite the rain and the chants continued when they celebrated a sixth goal. Jimmy Eyles and Whitham were involved in a well-worked move and Jagger rifled home from 12 yards out to seal his hat-trick.
The demolition job was completed in stoppage time when Eyles swept the ball into the top corner to make it 7-0.
Emley actually finished the game with only 10 men as Joe Kenny hobbled off towards the end, as all three subs had been made.
The win moves Emley five points clear of 3rd bottom in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League. On Saturday they make the tough trip to East Leeds to face 2nd placed Garforth Town.
