Emley prepare for promotion play-off final against Bradford after revenge win over Dunston

It will be the first time Emley have ever hosted a play-off final and they will face opponents who finished two places below tham in the NPL East, but who have come with a great late run of form, writes Martin Eastwood.

Emley were beaten at Dunston by a stoppage time winner at this stage last season but got revenge over their north east rivals with a strong performance but one that had the crowd biting their nails in the end.

It meant Emley have won their first play off game for 10 years when they beat Penistone Church in the NCE Division One.

This was about sheer determination and will to win for Emley, who went into the play-offs with the poorest form of all four contestants but this second straight win means it is now three games unbeaten for the first time since February.

The game was pretty even throughout and there was little between the sides. Both had early chances as an early Dunston was cleared and Emley could not finish off an attack either before Emley keeper Jordan Porter, on debut had to make a routine save.

Gabriel Johnson then saw an effort saved by the Dunston keeper and a couple of minutes later was in the thick of the action as the hosts took the lead, one they would hold onto for what seemed like an eternity by the end.

Johnson got on the end of a good throw to get a shot away, the keeper did well to save but the rebound fell nicely to Laurence Sorhaindo who fired home to the delight of the Emley fans.

It was the big striker's third goal in two games and he was delighted with it.

Emley thought they had doubled their lead when a towering Niall Heaton corner was bundled in by Johnson but the offside flag curtailed celebrations.

There was a bit of niggle creeping into the game, Heaton along with his opponent were both booked for a tussle at a corner which got a bit out of hand and then there was another yellow for Dunston for a clattering challenge on Ellis Farrar.

It should have been Dunston celebrating five minutes before half-time but for an astonishing miss. A neat move down their right caught Emley out and the ball was played across the mouth of the goal and with a gaping net and Porter scrambling, the attacker inexplicably hit the post.

With half-time approaching, Kurtis Turner found space for a shot which was saved low down, Stacey then found Sorhaindo inside the area but a Dunston defender got there just in time to clear and there were half chances for Lindley for Emley and one for the visitors which were blocked and cleared.

Dunston were out before Emley for the second half and they almost caught their hosts out early on, a chance was blocked with a big handball shout from the visitors but the ref was having none of it.

Sorhaindo had a half chance for Emley at the other end as Heaton played in a nice ball but he couldn't get it on target and then Johnson saw his shot blocked.

Dunston then enjoyed a spell of pressure that left Emley fans biting their nails, Porter had to be alert to smother a close range effort and then a flashing header went wide.

Johnson and substitute Bailey Thompson worked well together to create a chance but Johnson's shot was dragged wide.

Into the last 10 minutes the tension was tangible in the cool night air, would Emley hold on, would Dunston snatch a late equaliser?

The Emley fans were doing their bit, raising the noise levels even more. With time ticking away, the home team was looking for that one chance to put the tie to bed. Heaton's long throw was on the money but Johnson's shot was blocked.

Dunston then looked to threaten and charged down the other end, fingernails were getting chewed just a bit more as five minutes added time were shown.

It was all or nothing now for Dunston but they were met by a claret and blue wall who cleared just about everything.

Finally, the final whistle blew, there were joyous scenes and scenes of relief as another famous night under the Welfare Ground lights was added to Emley's historic and famous games. They now have another to come possibly, news of Bradford's win at Matlock meant that it's the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground, the ground on top of a hill in a small West Yorkshire village will host its biggest game for nearly 30 years as the West Yorkshire rivals fight it out for a place in next season's NPL Premier Division.

The attendance of 909 replaced the New Year's day attendance as Emley's biggest crowd for 27 years, apart from a band of Dunston fans, the vast majority of them will have gone home happy and started making arrangements for Saturday's huge clash.