Emley moved up to third in the Northern Premier League Division One East table with a resounding 3-0 win over Newton Aycliffe as the play off race enters the second half of the season and it was a fine way to shrug off the inactivity over the Christmas period.

It was a repeat of the scoreline when we last met, that game, in September it was Aycliffe who dumped Emley out of the FA Trophy, this win saw Emley's first clean sheet at home since a 4-0 hammering of Carlton Town in October, but we also saw the return of Amir Berchil on the scoresheet, the clubs' top scorer had been stuck on 12 goals for a frustrating 10 games after netting 12 in 16 earlier on in the season, his last, ironically, in that win over Carlton.

The game was one of only 3 to be played in the NPL D1 East and passed a pitch inspection early in the day, there seemed little sense of the Emley onslaught for most of the game, which was pretty even, even though neither keeper had much in the way of shot stopping.

Within a minute of the start, Mo Qasim tried a long range effort with the keeper off his line but it fell wide of the target, in Emley's first meaningful attack, Barks then saw a decent volley sail over, and Sheppeard was denied on the right as his run was ended by some good defending.

Newton Aycliffe were looking to counter and were almost through but Adam Clayton was strong in the tackle to deny them a chance, and an offside flag put paid to their next attack.

Emley were spending a lot of time down at the Warburton end in the first half but couldn't find a breakthrough, Berchil, mesmerised the defence before whipping a brilliant ball into the area but the keeper parried, then it was cleared, The Pewits kept the pressure up, a shot from Metcalfe was blocked and Berchil again whipped in another superb ball but no one in a claret and blue shirt could get to it.

Then, just before the half hour, two quick chances in succession, the first, saw another Berchil ball in turned out for a corner, Clayton was on the end of it but couldn't steer his volley past Orton in the Aycliffe goal, then, the best chance of the game, good play between Sorhaindo and Rodrigues saw the former with a powerful run into the area and his ball across goal was just out of the reach of Qasim who could only get a toe to it and went wide.

The game entered a bit of a lull for a few minutes, Newton Aycliffe trying to find a way past Emley's solid defence, but their best attack of the half saw a shot blazed over after good work on their right.

The half ended with Clayton picking up a yellow card for a handball but despite Emley having the best of the half, the score remained goalless.

H/T- Emley 0-0 Newton Aycliffe

There was a definite nip in the air as the teams retook the field, with the temperature dropping noticeably as the half went on, but Emley would soon warm the hearts of their supporters.

Newton Aycliffe found the brighter start though and had Emley somewhat on the backfoot for 15 minutes, Clayton was again on hand to stop an attack, getting his body in the way of a decent looking shot, and then Lambton was called into action to palm away a headed effort which went for a corner, which was eventually scrambled away by a resolute Emley rearguard.

So, it was somewhat against the run of play that Emley took the lead on the hour mark, and a most pleasing goal it was too, after Metcalfe did well to break up another Newton Aycliffe attack, the ball was sent into space just before the halfway line, where Amir Berchil latched onto it in the inside right position, he tied the defender in knots before cutting back onto his left foot and slotting home past the keeper who got something on it, the ball nestled in the shed end net and the Pewits were on their way, Berchil celebrated with the Emley fans massed at that end, relieved to have finally got back on the scoresheet again.

The goal seemed to inject Emley with an abundance of confidence, and within a minute they were on the attack again, but the wrong ball couldn't trouble the defence, Emley made their first change with Qasim being replaced by Chris Dawson, and then carved themselves another chance as Sorhaindo found himself in a good position, but he lifted the shot over the keeper and over the bar.

Emley were well on top now and playing the type of stuff we saw earlier in the season, runners off the ball, options for the passer and Newton Aycliffe were struggling to keep pace with the Pewits, it was to become 2-0 on 75 minutes, Berchil again, tormenting the defence and he was sent sprawling inside the area and Emley were awarded a penalty, with the shed willing him on, Luke Parkin stepped up and absolutely leathered his spot kick in the top corner, giving the keeper no chance at all.

Emley were now comfortable and enjoying themselves and no sooner had the cheering died down and the rampant Pewits were celebrating again, Aycliffe couldn't get out of their own half, another cracking break up by Metcalfe inside our half and the ball was played into the right channel again, this time, Laurence Sorhaindo was on the end of it, and after holding off the defender, he slotted low past the keeper into the far corner.

It was a goal that was celebrated by everyone in claret and blue, not least by Sorhaindo himself who has struggled with injuries, form and fitness, and it was his fourth Emley goal, his last one, like Berchil coming in October's 4-0 win over Carlton.

It was game over now and the visitors looked completely deflated as Sorhaindo was given a rousing reception as he gave way to Nathan Curtis, Emley made more changes as they saw the game out, Berchil was also given rapturous applause as he exited the field, much to the relief of the visiting defenders, his last act was to skip past 2 of them and slam a shot over the bar.

Berchil was replaced by Ross Hardaker and then a double substitution as Joe Kenny and the returning Adam Porritt came on for Metcalfe and Rodrigues respectively, who had both put in terrific shifts in midfield.

3 goals in 17 fabulous minutes won the game for Emley and the visitors, who kept on pushing for a consolation to be fair to them, really had no answer, Emley move up to third in the league table, putting 5 points behind themselves and Newton Aycliffe who occupy the final play off spot, and we face a tricky trip to the banks of the Humber to face North Ferriby next week.

But for the 454 fans in attendance, it was a welcome relief from the recent struggles at home, but this was the second consecutive win at home in the league and hopefully the start of a good run of form in front of the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground faithful.

F/T- Emley 3-0 Newton Aycliffe

Attendance- 454

Emley- Lambton, Sheppeard, Baldwin, Metcalfe [c], Barks, Clayton, Parkin, Rodrigues, Sorhaindo, Qasim, Berchil:
Subs all used- Curtis, Kenny, Porritt, Hardaker, Dawson.

Goals- Berchil (61') Parkin (75' pen) Sorhaindo (78')

WM Sykes Man of the Match- Luke Parkin