The Pewits sit second in the Northern Premier League Division One East standings as we enter the final third of the season. Manager Richard Tracey looks back on the past week and ahead to tomorrow’s fixture with Bradford (Park Avenue).

Emley extended their excellent away league form with a controlled 2-0 win at Sherwood Colliery last weekend. Tracey reflected on another good day on the road for the Pewits.

“I thought we started the game really brightly. I felt that after scoring we went into a bit of a lull for ten minutes rather than trying to get a second. Sherwood grew into the game a little bit, but I thought we managed them really, really well. We fizzled out a bit in terms of our threat during that period.

“Once we got in at half time and we talked about the importance of getting that second goal, I thought we had quite a few good chances. We hit the bar twice, both from set plays, and we worked other chances and we kept them to limited chances. It was a really professional away performance in difficult circumstances in terms of the pitch and the atmosphere.

“Ross Duggan was a new signing for them, and he caused us all sorts of problems in the cup final last year for Parkgate. I thought Charlie Barks and Jack Cowgill were excellent at marshalling him and restricting him to very little. We were really pleased to keep another clean sheet away from home and keep up that phenomenal record is incredible.”

The Pewits then faced Stocksbridge Park Steels on Tuesday evening at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground. Tracey was pleased with his side’s work as they eased to a 3-0 win.

“We started well, we had the breeze behind our backs and got the goal from the corner, but we’d have liked a second before half time. They had glimpses of being a threat on the break but I thought we managed them really well.

“The second half was one of our best 45 minutes at home for a while, I thought we played really, really well. Amir getting the goal to put us 2-0 up made it comfortable. Belchior Rodrigues’ assist was a phenomenal ball for Amir Berchil to get his second goal and that killed the game off at 3-0.”

Tracey was also keen to praise our opponents “All credit to Stocksbridge, they started the season brilliantly after having to rebuild in the summer, and then lost their front three in a week, and they’re having to almost rebuild again in the middle of the season. They’re going through a tough time but apart from when we play them over Easter we wish ‘Richo’ and ‘Ringy’ all the best because they’re good blokes and it is a good club.”

Tuesday night saw Hayden Lindley make his home debut for the Pewits, and an assured performance in the middle saw him named WM Sykes Man of the Match. Tracey is delighted that he has been able to bring Lindley in, and lauded his pedigree.

“He came through Manchester City’s Academy before winning the FA Youth Cup with Aston Villa, played a handful of games for the first team in the FA Cup and EFL Cup and then found himself out on loan at Newport County and then playing at Darlington. For a young lad he’s got some excellent experience. He’s a different player to what we’ve got. Hayden is much more of a sitting midfielder, it gives us a different option. It came out of the blue but something we couldn’t turn down, especially with him being a Huddersfield player as well.

“He’s got a good range of passing, he’s got stuck into tackles and he’s been tidy in possession, so we are really pleased with the acquisition and we think it adds to the squad we’ve got.”

There are a couple of injury concerns after Tuesday’s game. Captain Alex Metcalfe was replaced at half time after receiving receiving treatment during the first half.

“Alex Metcalfe is getting some treatment on his hamstring, and Adam Clayton, who was absolutely fine throughout the game, has got some tightness in his back, we will just have to see how those guys are through the week. Isaac Baldwin is now back available.”

Tracey also gave an update on Mo Qasim and Joe Clegg, who are out on loan as they look to build their fitness as the Pewits look towards the business end of the season.
“Mo Qasim has struggled for fitness this year, he’s got a bit of a problem that is restricting his movement and his efforts to get fit, in-between games he’s really struggling.

“We have sent him out on loan to Albion Sports for 28 days. We’re delighted he played 90 minutes on Wednesday, and scored one and set one up. We’re just seeing if we can get some fitness into his legs without all the additional training by getting some games into him. It seems like it was a really positive start so we’re really pleased for Mo, and hopefully that can have a big impact for us in our run in this year."

“Joe Clegg has stepped up his comeback, he has jumped up a division now from Shelley and gone on dual registration with Golcar. He’s had a substitute appearance where he went on and scored and started during the week in their win against Pickering. We’re glad that Joe is getting closer to being competitively available for us.

Tracey explained that Tom Haigh is set to begin training again but it is going to be a while before we see him in claret and blue.

“Tom Haigh is looking to start training again towards the end of February. He’s obviously been out for a long time so we don’t know where he’s at.

“He’s not been able to do a great deal so I think he’ll be a bit of a work in progress.

“There is a possibility he could have a second follow up on his operation just to make sure everything is sorted.

“We spoke a couple of weeks ago just about the intention to get back and involved training with us in the next few weeks.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s clash, Tracey said “It’s a really exciting game for us, playing Bradford Park Avenue. It’s a club that eighteen months ago were two or three divisions ahead of us and now we are competing. The team we played early in the season were an evolving team, Craig has done a good job. They’re investing in the playing side and trying to push for the playoffs, so it’s going to be a really really tough game."

“The league table will be irrelevant on Saturday; we’re doing well but the quality and calibre of player that they are bringing in is recruiting from above this level and it’s going to be a real challenge for us but hopefully one we can come out the right side of.”

This game sees Iyrwah Gooden return to the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground, and Tracey is looking forward to seeing the former Emley man; “It will be a warm welcome back for Iyrwah, but probably frosty during the 90 minutes! It is always good to see someone who has contributed so much to our recent successes come back to Emley. After the game we will wish him all the best again.”