Emley AFC are solidifying their position at the top of the Northern Premier League Division 1 East, with a recent 4-0 victory over Carlton Town followed by a 0-0 draw against Bradford (Park Avenue). With upcoming matches set to test the league leaders, Manager Richard Tracey is reflective on their recent form and cautiously optimistic about the challenges ahead, despite facing injury concerns.

On October 19th, the Pewits put on an emphatic performance against Carlton Town, securing a 4-0 win and delighting the home crowd of 428. Goals from Amir Berchil, Nathan Curtis (penalty), and Laurence Sorhaindo, along with an own goal from Carlton’s keeper, sealed the win.

Carlton showed early promise, but Emley’s defence, led by Man of the Match Jack Cowgill, held firm and ultimately overwhelmed Carlton. The match was a physical one, with Carlton picking up multiple yellow cards and a red after aggressive fouls, especially targeting Berchil.

Reflecting on the win, Tracey praised his squad's clinical performance: “It was a fantastic win, I thought we were very good and made Carlton look very average in the grand scheme of things. We couldn't have asked for anymore really. I thought we were excellent in front of goal,” he said.

He commended his team’s ability to capitalise on opportunities by adding: “We took our chances and could have had a couple more I suppose at the end. However, we punished them in all the ways that we needed to as the game went on.”

Tracey also noted a slight lull in Emley’s intensity, allowing Carlton a few moments in the game, but praised his team’s resilience overall by saying: “I felt we started really well, we had a bit of a spell where I felt we probably thought we were too good for these and we'll win. We took our foot off the gas that they got in the game. That meant they had a couple of half chances. However, I thought we dominated the game overall which was pleasing.”

Just days later, Emley faced Bradford (Park Avenue) in a tight 0-0 draw at Horsfall Stadium on October 22nd. The West Yorkshire derby saw both teams fiercely defend their ground, with Emley managing early chances but meeting a formidable Bradford defence. Goalkeeper Dec Lambton played a key role, notably denying former teammate Paddy Sykes, keeping Emley’s fifth consecutive clean sheet intact.

Speaking about the game, Tracey acknowledged the challenges Avenue presented: “I think from our point of view we knew they were on a good run and they've brought in a really experienced manager. He's got them organised, they're not conceding goals, and it was a tough game,” he reflected.

“I think we probably canceled each other out on the night a little bit. The surface made it really difficult because it was a quick astroturf with a bit of dew on it. So it did make it a difficult day.”

Despite the lack of goals, Tracey emphasised the significance of the draw for his team’s ongoing success. “We just said in the end it's a good point away from home against a team who has come down recently. Like we said, there were two or three divisions separating us a few years ago. So we're glad to be going out and competing with those types of clubs,” he stated.

The hard-fought draw brought Emley’s total to 30 points, a milestone that Tracey believes will be critical in the race to the top of the league standings. “The draw takes us to 30 points, which we're really happy with. We just need to keep doing what we're doing and keep our council and keep ticking along and hopefully in the end we'll be where we want to and deserve to be, come end of the season.”

Looking forward, Emley will next host Dunston on October 26th. This will mark their first league clash with Dunston in the Northern Premier League Division 1 East, with Emley riding a five-game unbeaten streak and Dunston coming off a recent victory that lifted them to seventh.

Looking ahead to this matchup, Tracey spoke of the quality Dunston brings: “We know they're a good football team. They were playoff finalists last year and just missed out on promotion. When we played them earlier in the season we could both probably say we had to play the game not with our strongest teams. Obviously, it's going to be different this time around,” he noted.

Our busy schedule continues with a tough game against Cleethorpes on October 29th. Tracey is pragmatic about the week ahead, acknowledging the challenges posed by injuries and the caliber of upcoming opponents.

He said: “Hopefully we'll have a few more back from injury by then, and from there, we can reevaluate things. It's definitely going to be a tough week for us in terms of personnel, and it's going to be a tough week in terms of the opponents we are playing. We'll just have to be as competitive as we can be. I'm not anticipating an easy ride over the next couple of games, that's for sure,” he admitted.

Despite these challenges, he sees these fixtures as opportunities to prepare for the rest of the season. He said: “We're looking forward to the games because people are expecting these to be the teams that will be up there come the end of the season that we are facing. If we can be really competitive with them when we're not at full strength, then it's only going to bode well for later in the season when we are at full strength.”

Injuries have been a persistent concern for Tracey, especially in midfield, as he updates fans on several key players: “It's probably around the middle of the park that we feel we're really light at the moment. It's really difficult when you've got players not a million miles away coming back,” he explained.

Tracey provided specific updates: “Regarding Sam Pashley, we aren't quite sure on a return date for him yet. Tom Haigh's had an operation on his nose. He's still recovering from that. Joe Clegg is doing straight line running, but he's still on his recovery path. Joe Kenny's had a steroid injection so hopefully he won't be too far off being available. Elliot Harrison is still injured, and Donae is suspended.”

The team, Tracey admitted, is “really scratching around at the minute and not with any definitive return dates.”

With a strong record behind us, we head into this pivotal stretch with a resilient spirit and strong support from fans. The Dunston match, played at our Fantastic Media Welfare Ground, promises to be a crucial fixture as we aim to extend our unbeaten streak.