Emley AFC's impressive unbeaten streak in the Northern Premier League Division 1 East came to an end with a 2-1 defeat against North Ferriby at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground. Despite taking an early lead through Amir Berchil in the 36th minute, Emley couldn't maintain their advantage, with Mason Johnson scoring twice for North Ferriby in the 75th and 77th minutes. This result, witnessed by 478 fans, marked a rare setback for Emley, who still top the league table.

Reflecting on the match, Emley manager Richard Tracey praised his team's initial performance but acknowledged their struggles in the latter stages: “I thought our first half was very good. We played on the front foot and kept the ball well. We got our goal, but didn't really create too many more opportunities and certainly not for the amount of possession we had,” Tracey said. He noted the shift in momentum after halftime, adding: “I was worried that we weren't playing at our best and so I was hoping we'd just get through the second half.”

Tracey highlighted the impact of North Ferriby's adjustments, particularly the introduction of players capable of changing the game's dynamics. “Their manager made three changes. It did change the sway of the game in their favour. One of the substitutes who came on has got a 50-yard throw. That's where the equaliser came from,” he explained.

Emley’s pursuit of an equalizer was ultimately unsuccessful, and a disallowed goal further compounded their frustrations: “Their winner came from a free kick, after it went to 2-1 we were chasing the game. We thought we'd equalised late on but it was disallowed.”

In addition to the defeat, Emley faced further challenges with injuries. Tracey revealed a serious injury to Adam Clayton, who required medical attention after an unfortunate incident in the final moments: “Somebody landed on his foot and split his foot open meaning he needed seven stitches and a trip to hospital,” he shared. Despite the setback, Tracey emphasised Emley’s defensive strength, saying, “We've been very good defensively for much of this season but on Saturday we weren't good enough.”

Just days after the loss, Emley responded with a resilient 1-0 victory over Sherwood Colliery on October 8, 2024. The match saw Emley go down to 10 men following Donae Lawrence’s red card in the 49th minute. However, a late penalty from Luke Parkin secured the three points, allowing Emley to maintain their place at the top of the league.

Tracey commended his team’s ability to adapt after the sending-off, saying: “I did fear for us at that point in the sense that we've been on top and whether that would turn the tide of the game. The work rate that the midfield got through to stop them playing around us defensively. I thought we were outstanding.”

He also highlighted the contribution of Ross Hardaker, who stepped up in defense amid Emley’s injury challenges: “Ross Hardaker was absolutely outstanding at centre back. To have a player like Ross that I can rely upon to do a job and do it well is just great.”

With the North Ferriby loss behind them, Emley is now turning its attention to the upcoming derby against Ossett United today.

The match at Ossett's Ingfield Stadium, is a local to Emley travelling just 7.5 miles to face their opponents. Despite Ossett’s struggles this season, Tracey expects a tough encounter: “I'm looking forward to it, it's a really close derby. I know they've not had a great start, but they've got some very good players,” he noted. “They are certainly not going to be a walkover and it's on their territory. It’s a smaller pitch than ours, so it'll be an interesting game.”

Tracey also emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum following the Sherwood win, especially after their setback against North Ferriby. “I think it'll be challenging and tough and we'll have to try and assert ourselves on the game and try and make sure that we come out on the right side of the three points again,” he stated.

Following the derby, Emley will face Wombwell Main in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Cup on Tuesday 15th October. This cup match offers a different challenge for the team, balancing the desire for progress in the competition with managing player fitness. Tracey outlined his approach: “We want to win the game, it's a competition that we're still in. We want to go as far as we can whilst managing player workload, but also hopefully using these as opportunities for people to come and get involved as well.”

With a challenging stretch of matches ahead, Emley AFC is determined to build on their strong start to the season, looking to bounce back and continue their pursuit of success in both league and cup competitions.