Bay close gap on leaders Brighouse

AFC EMLEY valiantly fought back from a goal deficit on two occasions to grab a well-earned point in the 2-2 draw against tough Lincoln Moorlands at the Welfare Ground.

Lincoln boast one of the best away records in the Northern Counties East League Division I and Emley worked hard to combat not only a good footballing side but the loss of goalkeeper Jamie Green on 70 minutes.

Ryan Dennis, son of Emley legend Ray, went in goal when Green was forced off with an injured hand late in the second half.

Ray's legacy was to show with Ryan as he made several fine saves and catches to deny Moorlands and even set up many attacks with fine throws.

The first half was full of good flowing football from both sides but neither could create clear chances.

Moorlands player-manager, Rick Rawson, was proving to be a handful to the home defence, drawing a number of fouls.

And it was Rawson who opened the scoring after 43 minutes when he beat Green low to his left.

However, Moorlands' joy was shortlived when a minute later Joe Washington took possession in the visitor's area and coolly slotted home the equaliser.

The second period began at the same pace as the first and it was Moorlands who went in front again when Hodds shot home after a corner from the right was not cleared by the home defence.

Then, with 20 minutes remaining, Green was injured and it looked as though Moorlands would go on to complete a victory.

But Emley, and in particular Dennis, had other ideas.

Emley went in search of an equaliser and with two minutes of normal time remaining John Wood broke down the left then cut inside a defender to square a ball into the path of Nathan Hazelden, who scored to salvage a point.

There were eight minutes of added time to play and in that time chances were made but neither side could come up with a winner.

Emley are back in action tomorrow night (7.45) at the Welfare Ground against second-placed Winterton Rangers.

AFC Emley - Green (Carmody 75), Dennis, Wallace, Robinson, Hazelden, Taylor, Washington, James, Laud, Manousios (Mann 70), Clarke (Wood 60).

In the West Riding County Amateur League defending champions Bay Athletic climbed to within five points of leaders Brighouse after a comfortable 4-1 win against Ardsley Celtic.

Goals by Paul Pyke, John Buckley, Kitson Gayle and Charlie Bradshaw moved Bay up to second and the Syngenta-based outfit have two games in hand.

Pyke scored in the first half after good play from Buckley and Steve Perrin, selling a dummy to two would-be defenders before blasting in from 14 yards.

Buckley added a second on 55 minutes when he smashed in from close range from a corner before Bradshaw got in on the goalscoring act. From another accurate corner delivered by Perrin, Bradshaw rose the highest to score from eight yards.

Ardsley pulled a goal back through Ryan Hill but Gayle nodded in the fourth.

Elsewhere in the Premier Division Golcar United were pinned back to a 2-2 draw by basement club Eastmoor at Longfield Avenue.

Wayne Dyson and Andrew Allison were on target for United, who are ninth in the Premier Division but have games in hand.