Report

The reserves final game of the season at Dudley Hill will kick off at 1.00 pm due to the FA Cup final. Tremendous results in the last few games has resulted in 13 goals scored from Bram and Ray's team. Bay Athletic comprehensively beat salts 4 -1 in their last game. Leaving the future of which league the reserves will be playing in next season in their own hands. Bay Athletic have 3 games to play, but as the club already have a team in the Premier Division they would not be allowed to progress. Ventus /Yeadon Celtic have 2 games to play, but with 2 wins can only amass 51 points, the same tally as Emley as they approach their last game.

Emley will know what they have to do by Saturday to secure promotion, as Salts who sit 1 point behind Emley from the same number of games face Ventus / Yeadon Celtic on Wednesday evening at Dam Lane in Yeadon. Hopefully I can make that game so will let Rob have the updates for facebook.

Regardless of the Salts result, Emley will know that 3 points on Saturday will secure a second successive promotion. If you can make the game on Saturday I am sure that the team would welcome your support.

Max Joice is still struggling with a  groin strain but is likely to get a run out to assess his fitness ahead of the big FA Vase tie at Dunston on Saturday.  Captain Tom Bucknall returns to the side after impressing for the first XI in midweek and striker Mick Amos is also set to figure after breaking his hand a month ago.

The scoreline does not reflect the dominance that Emley enjoyed in this fixture Nathan Ryans first save came on 70 minutes when a cross drifted towards the top corner, which he easily collected. Emley although were nearly punished in the 96th minute when a deep cross went across the face of goal.

The game started with Joe Washington in midfield, I'm a big fan of Joe and the last time I saw him was suffering a further horrendous injury at Brighouse 2 seasons ago. Unfortunately the referee didn't share my delight and taking an instant dislike to him gave him absolutely nothing all game. I'd be very surprised if he didn't check his boots at the end of the game to make sure he wasn't taking any mud with him off the pitch.

Kieron Donaldson has done much to impress this season and his hard running brought the first chance of the game. His run, hold up and centre for Jake Sanderson's shot was comfortably held by the home keeper.

Emley continued to press, John Cyrus working hard in midfield was enabling the deep runs from both Donaldson and Sanderson.

Emley's goal came on 31 minutes. A left wing corner was flicked onto the back post by John Cyrus, where Danny Riley calmly side footed the ball into the net. The management team were looking forward to re-living the goal on the luxury coach back home.

Emley were at the end of a poor refereeing decision just prior to half time. A defensive slip, and then a challenge on the edge of the box saw the ball break to a Bronte player within the box. Totally unharrassed the attacker lifted the ball over the bar from a a good position. The official decided to bring the ball back for the freeKick for the challenge on the dege of the box - Bronte got everything - the advantage and then the freekick when they didn't score. The free kick didn't come to anything.

Following the break Emley continued to press Nicky Ried beat a number of defenders with a deep run and pull back from the deadball line. Donaldson lifted the ball over from a good position. Donaldson soon after showed great promise with a run whereby he beat 3 players with his pace and trickery. Unfortunately the final ball was just behind the onrushing atttackers.

Dowling and Sanderson then made way for Brothers and Lewis Sykes.

An Emley corner saw tow good headers that failed to bulge the net. John Cyrus rose well to meet the first. The ball was cleared and Riley put a lovely cross back into the same spot. This time Donaldson rose and his header was well saved by the home keeper.

Danny Riley when given time on the ball was spraying some excellent cross field passes with his left foot. Washington had a left foot shot go narrowly wide of teh right hand upright following a good hold up from Donaldson.

As the referee became liberal with his timings Bronte Wanderers could have spoilt the result. Into the last minutes a deep free kick floated into the 6 yard box was cleared off the line from Riley. Minutes later a ball to the back post was headed across the goal line which was only inches of evading a lunging dive at the back post.

Emley Mom: Donaldson

Emley Reserves made it 2 wins out of 2 in the West Riding County Amateur League Division 1. A Curtis Roberts second half goal in a hardworking performance overcame a dogged Ventus performance.

I know that we are spoiled at Emley with the playing surface prepared by Mr Chappell. But the pitch at Yeadon was poor by anyones standards.

Emley started the game brightly and despite the surface knocked the ball about very well. The pace of Roberts and Donaldson were excellent outlets for Bucknall in midfield.

Emley's first opportunity came within 10 minutes, Roberts with his back to goal held up the long ball well, turning his man he played Sanderson in with a lovely ball. His low shot beat the advancing keeper only to rebound off the right hand upright.

Yeadon did have their moments and throughout the game tested Ryan in the Emley goal. His first test came on 15 minutes getting across the goal to his left he parried a goal bound shot out for a corner. Shortly after Emley were caught defending too deep leaving a Ventus attacker the room to turn on the edge of the box and hit an half volley which should have tested Ryan rather than going wide of the post. Ryan again made a further good block from a poorly cleared corner at the feet of the attacker.

Playing up the slope in the second half Emley were able to find more space as Ventus pushed for the goal. Brad Dowling fresh from his debut with the first team, on the left wing was increasingly influencing the game with plenty of ball going through his position.

On 53 minutes it was a Dowling shot from a left wing run that had the keeper beaten at his far post. The ball hit the upright and came back into play. Roberts picked up the ball at the edge of the box, controlled the ball well and smashed a left foot shot into the top right corner of the net.

Ventus did lose a little discipline with their number 6 receieving the only caution of the game from the official who controlled the game very well. As the game reached its conclusion Ventus were really pushing for an equaliser, John Cyrus was excellent in the air and made a number of very important interceptions. Ryan again made the save of the day from Ventus number 10. From the edge of the box the ball was struck and heading for the top right hand corner. Ryan diving managed to get both hands to the ball to palm around the post.

The last meaningful action of the game camefrom Ventus which also resulted in an excellent low save from a skidding and bouncing shot by Ryan, following a good move involving 2 dummy runs at the edge of the box.