Burton buoyant, Emley are sunk

Jan 22 2008 by Linzi Nicholson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

EXCELLENT work by groundstaff ensured that AFC Emley and Kirkburton played on Saturday – but with contrasting fortunes.

Emley’s topsy-turvy season continued when they were beaten 4-0 by Rainworth MW in Division I of the Northern Counties East League.

But Kirkburton ran out 4-2 winners against Wakefield City to increase their lead at the top of Division I of the West Riding County Amateur League.

The previous week Emley produced a superb performance to stun high-flying Hall Road Rangers 4-0 at the Welfare Ground, but on Saturday they were forced to endure a reversal of the scoreline.

Goals by Robbie Clarke, Craig Wilson, Danny Naylor and Andy Jones saw Rainworth extend their winning run to eight as they moved up to sixth while Emley remain 12th.

Emley’s hopes of recording back-to-back wins was hindered when defender Danny Cliffe was sent off on 28 minutes for foul and abusive language directed at referee Russell Tarbatt, of Sheffield.

Rainworth led at the break by a single Clarke goal after Lee Wilkinson’s 24th minute penalty had come back off a post.

But after the break, Rainworth made their extra man count, playing the ball around intelligently to win.

Emley travel to Scarborough on Sunday and the match takes place at Bridlington Town’s Queensgate Stadium (1.00).

AFC Emley: Green, Neesam, Cliffe, Hazleden (N), Hazleden (S), Handley (Battye 53), Leech (Joyce 67), Townsend, Laud (Birmingham 67), Hill, Kenworthy.

Attendance: 176.

With the likes of Meltham and Golcar not playing it gave them chance to watch what sort of threat Kirkburton would be if they gained promotion to the Premier League next season.

And a large crowd was entertained with good flowing football, as Kirkburton won to open up a nine-point lead.

After an early scare Burton, who had beaten Wakefield 6-0 in their previous encounter, went ahead on 25 minutes through Adam Wilson before Steve Chandler scrambled the ball over the line 10 minutes later to give Dean Calcutt’s side a 2-0 lead.

Lee Bradley added a third before the break, sliding in to beat the keeper to the ball, while Wakefield pulled a goal back when their striker headed into the bottom corner.

Burton increased their lead on 70 minutes after some great football. Man-of-the-match Ben Hughill received the ball in his own half, carried it forward and laid it off to Ashley Flynn. He then put in a perfect cross for Bradley to bag his second of the match.

Wakefield got a second goal from a corner but Burton’s victory was never in doubt.