Inconsistencies bite

Jan 8 2008 by Linzi Nicholson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

AFC EMLEY’s inconsistent form in the Northern Counties East League Division I continued with a 1-0 defeat against Dinnington Town at the Welfare Ground.

In a game where the hosts created few goalscoring opportunities, the result, and team performance, were a contrast to the 5-2 win over Borrowash in their last league outing.

Ray Dennis and Nicky Bramald’s side have now lost six of their 14 league games and remain 12th in the league table – six points away from the bottom three.

Dennis, after the defeat to Barton Town last month, said his side would soon be a force in the league and start a run of picking points up.

But worryingly, Emley have yet to win two consecutive league games all season.

After the defeat to Dinnington, Dennis said: “I’m disappointed with this result.

“We performed like a side that haven’t played for a few weeks and that is what has probably cost us.”

He added: “We didn’t play at all in the first half and there wasn’t much in it in the second.”

Dinnington striker Ant Lynam posed a threat to Emley throughout most of the game, teasing defenders with his dribbling and powerful shots.

And, after Michael Blythen was brought down for the visitors just outside the penalty box, ominously for the home side, Lynam stepped up to take the resulting free-kick.

The tall forward struck through the Emley wall and into the top corner of Jamie Green’s goal to put the visitors into the lead.

Green was again called into action on 40 minutes when, despite being the last man, was lucky not be sent off after a bad challenge outside the box on Blythen.

Steve Kenworthy almost equalised for Emley 10 minutes into the second half only for his shot to be cleared off the line by a Dinnington defender.

Kenworthy again went close shortly afterwards. The striker, who has scored on seven occasions for the club this season, ran around the goalkeeper but his strike hit a post.

Dennis said his team need to take their chances better if they are to progress up the league.

“If we had capitalised on our opportunities, it could have been one apiece which could have made for a different game,” he explained.

“Dinnington probably shaded it overall. They are a physical side with one or two players who have that little bit extra.”

Dennis, in contrast to his assessment of some Dinnington players, said: “We just don’t have anybody who seems to have that bit of magic.”

A minute’s applause was held before kick-off in memory of AFC Emley’s former president Adrian Wright, who died 12 months ago.

AFC Emley: Green, Handley, Cliffe, Hazelden (Nathan), Hazelden (Sean), Townsend, Leach, Hill, Laud, Birmingham, Kenworthy. Subs: Mugadza, Mann, Prasher.

Referee: Mr D Midgley (Huddersfield).

Attendance: 103.

Meltham’s second team, playing Swillington Saints Welfare from the Second Division of the West Yorkshire League, produced an impressive performance winning 4-0 to progress to the quarter-finals of the West Riding Challenge Trophy.

After just seven minutes Hat trick hero Craig Gant beat his man, took the ball into the penalty area and was brought down before confidently converting the penalty.

Meltham remained on top for much of the first half and their pressure saw Simon Taylor finish well following a slick passing move to make it 2-0 on 29 minutes.

But as Swillington pressed forward goalkeeper Sam Philpott dived at the feet of the striker and was kicked, which forced him to leave the field with concussion.

Hard-working Gant and Mark Rowlands caused the Swillington defence some problems during the second half while a double save from stand-in keeper Taylor maintained their lead.

Gant put Meltham 3-0 up with a delicate chip then he completed his hat trick when a shot by Rowlands was parried by the keeper straight into his path and he made no mistake.