Amateur Football: AFC Emley boss Darren Bland seeks response in FA Vase tie

AFC EMLEY manager Darren Bland goes into tomorrow’s FA Vase first-round home clash with Runcorn Linnets (3.00) seeking a big improvement after Wednesday’s Northern Counties East League stalemate with Grimsby Borough at the Welfare Ground.

But he must do without recent signing Danny Toronczak, who scored his first goal for the club against Borough, and Marc Townsend, another influential performer.

Striker Toronczak is cup-tied after playing for Brighouse Town in the Vase while midfielder Townsend is unavailable to face the North West Counties League team.

It was a fourth successive NCEL First Division draw for Bland’s 18th-placed side, who have beaten Hemsworth MW and Rossington Main in the Vase.

After making a positive start with two good chances in the opening stages, they fell a goal behind as Borough hit them on the break.

Luke Mascall scored with a well-placed header after the Emley defence allowed him too much space.

The visitors dominated the rest of the first half without really delivering any end product.

It was only when Bland introduced three substitutes in the second half that Emley really started to exert some influence on the game.

Brad Dowling went agonisingly close with a terrific first-time shot from a Townsend cross.

And Toronczak finally made the breakthrough in the 82nd minute, forcing the ball home from close range after good work by Matt Thorpe and Townsend.

Emley pushed hard in the final stages but were kept at bay and are still seeking a first league win of the season.

While Toronczak and Townsend miss out tomorrow, Max Joice makes a welcome return after missing the opening stages of the season due to his cricket commitments.

The Drakes League title winner with Honley is likely to fill the wide-right berth left vacant by Townsend’s absence.

Josh Ingham is also named in the squad and Bland is considering bringing James Tevendale back in to partner Steven Kenworthy up front.

Runcorn, formed in 2006 from the ashes of the Cheshire town’s defunct one-time Conference club, are 16th in the NWCL Premier Division.