Four star Emley thrash rivals Matlock Town to climb up to second place

It was a performance that had almost everything, from defensive resilience to superb finishing and a willingness to never stop working for each other, and one that any Emley fan who made the journey will remember for a long time, writes Martin Eastwood.

Matlock knocked on the door enough times, but in sight of the impressive Riber Castle Emley kept on pulling up the drawbridges and firing down the arrows.

After the hosts had pulled an early shot wide, the Pewits started their assault with an early goal as Joe Stacey’s inch perfect ball into the area was swept home by a jubilant Bailey Thompson for a lead Emley never really looked like losing.

Thompson was almost in again after a superb ball by Turner split the home defence, but the keeper was alert and beat him to the ball.

It was 2-0, however, when Thompson was onto a through ball and took a gorgeous touch to bring it under his spell before slipping a shot past the onrushing keeper.

Matlock, who included Northern Ireland international Conor Washington in their side, then looked to try and get something but Emley were having none of it, well marshalled at the back by captain Jack Cowgill and the immovable Charlie Barks.

Emley played with a swagger at times, confidently pushing the Gladiators back towards their own goal, but for a bit more composure on a couple of final balls, they could have caused more problems for the shellshocked home defence.

Washington stepped up confidently for a free kick for the hosts 20 yards out but it sailed well over to the ironic cheers of the Emley supporters.

Matlock made a change at half-time, recent signing from Sheffield United Alfie Atherton replaced by on loan Notts County man Yerim Zoko, but he could not help turn the tide against the determined Pewits.

Hayden Lindley, Kurtis Turner and Chris Dawson were immense in midfield and Turner was the instigator of Emley's third, scintillating goal. It was his run that caused chaos in the Matlock back line and when the ball was floated in from a free-kick from Emley's right, Barks towered above everyone to steer a header back past the keeper to send the Emley fans into raptures.

They could not believe what they were seeing as their team was outplaying a side that had not dropped to this level in almost 30 years and were favourites to win the league and go straight back up.

And a fourth goal was to follow as Laurence Sorhaindo smashed the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

More chances came and went, but it did not matter as Emley had a fine victory sorted.

They are due to play another away game at Ashington on Tuesday before hosting Dunston on Saturday.