BUSY AFC Emley will try to bounce back from a third defeat in as many matches when they head to Appleby Frodingham for the first of two games in three nights tomorrow.

The Northern Counties East League First Division clash is followed by an FA Cup extra preliminary round meeting with Hall Road Rangers, which has been brought forward to Friday because there is cricket at the Welfare Ground on Saturday.

Hull side Hall Road have won their opening three games in total contrast to Emley, whose latest defeat, 3-1 at Hemsworth MW, left them second-bottom of the table.

While the Wakefield side were good value for a 2-0 lead at half-time, Emley responded strongly in the second half and manager Darren Hepworth was again left rueing missed chances, just as in last Wednesday’s NCEL President’s Cup first-round defeat by Handsworth.

Hepworth handed a full debut to keeper Lewis Rhodes, the brother of Town striker Jordan.

And he was soon busy as Hemsworth forced a series of corners while Vinny Dawson had a shot blocked by Anthony Leech.

The home side made their superiority pay in the 17th minute through Robbie Crapper.

The right winger had his initial shot block but the rebound fell kindly and he tucked the ball away to Rhodes’ right.

Glyn Wright had two decent efforts as Hemsworth tried to extend their lead. The first, from long range, sailed over the bar while the second zipped across the face of goal.

Emley finally started to find their way into the game by playing the ball to feet on the ground, and Dale Walstow saved from Marc Townsend after he had been put through by a neat through ball by Mark Stuart.

John Cyrus again impressed for Emley in the centre of midfield and went close to scoring twice in quick succession, first from a Heagney cross, then with a header from a corner.

But Hemsworth hit back on the break and made Emley pay for not taking their chances five minutes before half-time.

The impressive Crapper hit a curling 50-yard ball into the path of Ryan Pleasants, who beat Judd Colley for pace and then slotted home.

Emley made two changes at the break, with Ian Brock making way for Nathan Tayo and Matt Kilner coming on for Mick Amos.

Pleasants had a close-range effort disallowed for offside early in the second half before Emley pulled a goal back on 48 minutes, when Heagney raced through onto a lofted pass to chip over Walstow.

Minutes later Heagney came close to levelling as Holt got round the back of the defence, but was unable to produce the same quality of finish and fired just wide.

Cyrus also went agonisingly close from a Heagney corner with Emley now looking the stronger side.

Emley gained a numerical advantage when Wright was red carded for lashing out at Townsend, who was cautioned.

And Kilner created a great chance of an equaliser when he made space to deliver a cross into the path of Sean Hazelden, who could only stab the ball at relieved keeper Walstow.

Emley were pushing men up, and got caught out four minutes into stoppage time when Andy Hayward raced through to score.

AFC Emley: Rhodes, Brock (Tayo, HT), Leech, Cyrus, Colley, Hazelden, Stuart (Roberts, 65mins), Townsend, Holt, Heagney, Amos (Kilner, HT). Subs not used:ŠClarke, Arundel.