Emley are well beaten by Guiseley in derby as their unbeaten run is ended
Emley’s encouraging five-match run without defeat came to an end when they came up against an impressive Guiseley side in a West Yorkshire derby at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground on Monday.
Richard Tracey’s men had proved to be hugely competitive following promotion to the NPL Premier, but found it tough going as they conceded twice in each half to opponents keen to react after suffering a second defeat of the season the previous Friday.
The sides were renewing old acquaintances after previously being regular opponents, but this was their first meeting at the Welfare Ground since a NPL League Cup tie in February, 2000 and a first league meeting at Emley since 1999.
A controversially awarded corner led to the opening goal as Guiseley took full advantage of their fortune to score and within four minutes they had doubled their advantage to give the Pewits a real mountain to climb.
The hosts were aggrieved again when a penalty shout fell on deaf ears after Gabriel Johnson appeared to be pushed in the back and they remained two down at the break.
The visitors added to their lead with a terrific shot from distance and benefited from a defensive mix-up to make it 4-0 on 72 minutes.
That was how it stayed until the final whistle with Emley suffering only their second league defeat on their return to this level after 21 years.
They were also action twice more in the past week, earning a hard earned point from a 0-0 draw at fellow promoted side Redcar Athletic in midweek and drawing again, 2-2, at Warrington Town.
Aaron Haswell fired them in front in Saturday’s game with a fine curling shot that beat the keeper in the 26th minute.
But Warrington were level within four minutes after a corner was not cleared and the Pewits were then almost instantly unlucky with Hayden Lindley rattling the crossbar with a thunderous shot from outside the area.
Despite more chances at both ends it remained 1-1 until 16 minutes from time when the hosts nudged ahead with a tap-in.
Emley heads did not drop, however, and they rescued a point as Laurence Sorhaindo scored another cracker, picking up the ball on the edge of area and smashing it into the far corner of the net.
They now turn their attentions back to the FA Cup with a first qualifying round tie at home to Bishop Auckland on Sunday (kick-off 1pm).
Emley, meanwhile, have lost the services of midfielder Chris Dawson who has suffered an ACL rupture and will be out for the rest of the season.
He will undergo surgery before beginning what is expected to be a six to 12 month recovery.