AFC EMLEY progressed to the quarter-finals of the Sheffield Cup with a 4-3 victory over Northern Counties East League Premier side Maltby.
The home team took the lead in the seventh minute as leading scorer Ash Flynn stole into the box to head home a cross from Levi Maturine.
Maltby responded with a goal on 27 minutes as Sean Greaves pushed a pass into the path of Robert Branaghan who held off Emley defender Paul Sykes before slotting the ball past Luke Herriott.
Emley restored their lead when Levi Maturine flicked on an Aaron Joseph cross and Anthony Leech volleyed in from the edge of the box.
Leech grabbed his second goal and Emley’s third on 42 minutes sliding in to divert home a cross from Flynn.
Emley should have extended their lead a minute into the second half as Steve Kenworthy set Flynn free, the striker crossed unselfishly to Brad Riley who scuffed a seemingly simple close range shot which was cleared off the line.
The home side did make it 4-1 on 51 minutes as Riley found Flynn and he smashed a terrific rising shot into the net to record his 16th goal of the season.
Maltby brought on all three substitutes on the hour mark and it was one of the replacements, Jack Booth, who delivered fantastic cross with his first touch on to the head of Branagan who flicked it on past Emley keeper Herriott into the net on 63 minutes.
Josh Cooke denied Branagan his hat trick soon after with a well-timed sliding tackle, but Emley were unable to clear the lines and former Emley man Mark Stuart curled home a brilliant strike from the edge of the box.
There was a thrilling finale to the game as the contest went into five minutes of injury time.
Emley cleared their lines to substitute Anthony Haigh, who appeared to be running the ball into corner to see the game out before spotting Bailey slip at the edge of his box and sensing the chance to finish the game off in style he squared to Riley who hit a good shot which was in turn cleared off the line.
Maltby broke and looked destined to grab an equaliser with three men in dangerous positions but a timely intervention by Kyle Cook saw the ball to safety and guarantee a home victory.
Emley: Herriott, Thornton, Schofield, Leech, Cooke, Sykes, Joseph, Maturine (Jordan 78), Flynn (Ingham 89), Kenworthy (Haigh 78), Riley. Subs (not used): Cyrus, Hazelden.
Maltby: Bailey, Greaves (Booth 62), Austin, Mason, Welsey, Plant, Gladwin, Foulds (Bridgeman 55), Branagan, Stuart, Cuckson (Langford 62). Sub (not used): Carney.
