Emley AFC are heading into a highly anticipated Kirklees derby against Liversedge this Saturday with confidence riding high after their solid 2-0 victory over Dunston in the FA Trophy. The upcoming match promises to be a fierce local battle as Emley, currently unbeaten in their last four games, look to continue their impressive start to the season.

Reflecting on last weekend’s FA Trophy triumph, manager Richard Tracey was full of praise for his team’s performance, particularly their ability to overcome adversity. "Sometimes when there's times of adversity, it brings out the very best in people," he said. "I think we saw that on Friday. I thought to a man, everybody on the pitch was outstanding."

Tracey specifically highlighted the performances of Ross Hardaker and Donae Lawrence, the latter of whom played out of position but still impressed. "I thought Ross Hardaker at centre-back and Donae Lawrence, who had to play a bit deeper and out of position, were both outstanding," he added.

Debutant Will Calligan also earned high praise from the manager for his calm and assured display despite limited preparation. "I also must give credit to Will Calligan, who came in for his debut, having trained once with us," said Tracey. "Overall, I was delighted with the win and performance."

While Emley’s first-half goals from Amir Berchil and Sam Pashley set them up for victory, Dunston applied pressure in the latter stages of the game. Tracey acknowledged this but was pleased with how his team managed the match. "You could see in the game we tired quite a bit towards the end because there's a lot of lads there who haven't played a significant amount of football. All due respect to Dunston—they’ve got a couple of senior players that they put on the bench. They definitely looked stronger when they brought them on in the second half," he said. However, Tracey noted that Emley "hung on and did brilliantly," replicating tactics that had worked against them earlier in the season.

Emley now turn their attention to the next round of the FA Trophy, where they will face Newton Aycliffe, a team they’ve already drawn with in the league this season. "Newton are a good football side and it'll be a tough test, but it's another winnable fixture. Hopefully, we can get through to the next round if we beat them," Tracey said optimistically.

While the FA Trophy win was important, Emley’s main focus now shifts to Saturday’s Northern Premier League Division One East clash with local rivals Liversedge. The Kirklees derby is always a special occasion, but this weekend’s encounter has added significance with Emley sitting 3rd in the table, unbeaten in four, while Liversedge, recently relegated from the NPL Premier Division, are 16th and looking for consistency.

However, Tracey is keen not to let the league positions dictate their approach to the game. "The league table is irrelevant right now," he stated. "You could play the biggest three budgeted teams and end up with no points after three games and still be a playoff team at the end of the season."

Liversedge may be struggling in the league, but they come into the derby off the back of a morale-boosting 4-1 win over Bradford Park Avenue. Tracey acknowledged their recent form: "They had a great result recently, a 4-1 win against Bradford Park Avenue. Speaking to people who have watched them play this season, people say they've been unlucky in some games."

The rivalry between the two clubs runs deep, with several players on both sides having links to the opposition. "We know they've got some good players because John Rimmington, their manager, has been really supportive of us when we were in the lower league. He's allowed us to dual-register players and take players from them," Tracey explained. "The two clubs have got plenty of players that have played for both clubs. Jack Hardaker, Paul Walker, James Walshaw—they all come through that link with Liversedge, and it's nice to have achieved the point where we can go and be on a level playing field with them."

Despite the local connections, Tracey knows this will be a tough test for his team. "We know it's going to be a tough one," he admitted. "But if we can perform like we did Friday against Dunston, we can give anyone a game, certainly with the quality and the depth of the squad we've got."

Even with Emley’s recent form, Tracey is aware of the threat posed by a strengthened Liversedge side. "John’s brought in two or three players, I think, in the last couple of weeks to strengthen them too," he noted, highlighting that this derby could be more competitive than the table suggests.

After the derby, Emley have another important game on the horizon, facing Brighouse Town in a rearranged midweek fixture. Like Liversedge, Brighouse have made recent signings to bolster their squad, and Tracey expects another challenging encounter. "We know Brighouse they are a good team, and again, they have signed two or three players recently that have helped them strengthen since our last game was postponed," he said.

The prospect of playing under the lights at home is something Tracey is looking forward to. "It's great to have a home mid-week fixture to try and get three points under the lights like we did against Belper," he said. "It's a special atmosphere under the floodlights."

Tracey is also hopeful of welcoming back some players from injury in the coming weeks, adding valuable depth to an already strong squad. "Hopefully, we'll get a few extra players back from injury in the next few weeks. We are keeping our eye on a number of players and how their injuries develop."

With a solid start to the season and the squad beginning to gel, Tracey is keeping the bigger picture in mind. While early-season form can be misleading, Emley are firmly focused on their promotion ambitions. "You could play the biggest three budgeted teams and end up with no points after three games and still be a playoff team at the end of the season," he reiterated, emphasising that there’s still a long way to go in the campaign.

This weekend’s Kirklees derby represents a key moment in Emley’s season. With local bragging rights at stake and promotion ambitions in mind, Tracey knows the importance of continuing their good form. "We know it’s going to be tough, but if we perform like we did last Friday, we’ll be ready for anyone," he said confidently.

As Emley heads into the weekend, there’s a clear sense of optimism. A victory against Liversedge could further boost their promotion push and solidify their place among the league’s top teams. All eyes will be on the 3pm kick off this Saturday as Emley look to take control of their season in one of their most important matches yet.