AFC EMLEY set up a derby clash with Brighouse Town after dispatching Askern Villa 1-0 in the Northern Counties East League Cup second round.
A solitary Scott Holt strike was a rare moment of class in a scrappy affair, but Emley boss Darren Hepworth will be happy enough to take the away win.
However, Hepworth has been left with a major concern after an injury to leading striker David Heagney.
Former Town academy player Heagney had looked threatening for Emley and went close with curling free kick from 25 yards out, but with Villa keeper Jamie Hawksworth beaten, his effort went just wide of the target.
Ashley Towler had a chance for the home team after being allowed too much space, but pulled his shot wide.
A looping cross from Brad Dowling, intended for the head of Heagney, almost caught out Hawksworth who was relieved to prevent it from crossing the line.
Heagney then pulled up with 10 minutes of the half remaining following an innocuous looking challenge before limping off the field with suspected medial ligament damage. The 25-goal striker was replaced by Stephen Powell.
Emley came closest to opening the scoring towards the end of the half as John Cyrus rose well to connect with a Holt corner, but headed wide of the target with the home keeper committed.
The visitors started the second half once again with a good tempo and a fine passing move saw Mark Stuart play in Powell, but the striker could only slot the ball across the face of goal from a tight angle.Š
Holt then had a clear cut chance to score, racing on to a neat ball by Max Joice, then rounding Hawksworth with the goal at his mercy.Š
His touch let him down and he knocked the ball too wide leaving him with no option other than to square to Dowling who again shot wide across the face of goal.
Holt made amends soon after with a stunning strike, his 13th of the season in the 69th minute.Š
Picking the ball up wide on the left hand side of the field he spotted a gap and hit a superb curling strike into the far right hand corner of the goal leaving Hawksworth with no chance.
While Emley didn’t create much in the way of goalscoring opportunities Askern created even less and stand-in reserve team keeper Nathan Ryan had little to do in the Emley goal.Š
Brad Johnston did come close, making space before turning and shooting but his shot was wide of the target.Š
Moments later Johnston’s role in the game came to an abrupt end as has saw a straight red card for a lunge on Powell, leaving Askern with 10 men.
Referee Martin Chester had taken a tolerant approach to discipline within the match with no other players names going in his notebook – so many in the crowd were surprised to see this dismissal.
Emley sub Chris Wdowczyk nearly doubled his side’s lead towards the end of the game.
He chested down a cross from Stuart into the path of Powell who then laid the ball back into his path, but the former Brighouse man’s rising shot flew just wide of the upright.
Askern’s best effort of the game, and only serious effort on target came in injury time, but Ryan remained alert enough to make a save from a low 20 yard drive by Jay Rollins.
A home tie with Brighouse next week is the reward for the win, but Emley will no doubt find it a far tougher proposition.
Emley: Ryan, Banton (Brock 66), Tayo, Cyrus, Colley (Wdowczyk 82), Hazelden, Joice, Holt, Heagney (Powell 34), Stuart, Dowling. Sub (not used):ŠRoberts.
