Sheffield & Hallamshire Challenge Cup 2nd Round
AFC Emley 2-1 Worksop Town
Played at The Welfare Ground, Emley on Wednesday 11 November 2009
Tigers Bow Out of Challenge Cup
Report by Mike Tunningley
Worksop, like their UniBond Premier League counterparts Frickley Athletic, bowed out of the Sheffield and Hallamshire Senior Challenge Cup to lower league opposition. However AFC Emley who play in the Koolsport Northern Counties East Division One, are currently enjoying a good run of form as they lie in joint second place in their league and their success continued in this competition as they eventually ran out narrow 2-1 winners. Having switched the tie to Emley, Worksop soon found out that the opposition were going to be no pushovers as they played an excellent passing game and were always on the move and willing to take on their higher league opponents. Tigers' boss Peter Rinkcavage selected his strongest available side to face a team three tiers below in the Pyramid. In came Adam Green, Danny Anson (captain) (in the absence of Kevin Davies) and Kris Bowler, while Gary Townsend and Mick Galloway were given a place on the bench after Saturday's victory at Ossett.
The Tigers opened brightly with Danny Bacon hitting one high and wide after four minutes and Emley keeper Mick Clark was well positioned to cut out an Andy White cross meant for Chris Adam. After 15 minutes Worksop began to realise that Ian Banks's Emley were a passing side and were working well as a team to underline their current form. Kennedy was in the action in the 16th minute when he saved at the foot of the far post from a shot by the lively Steven Kenworthy. Andy White missed a glorious chance to put the Tigers ahead in the 22nd minute, when a measured pass by Bacon left him facing just Clark with the goal at his mercy, he then unfortunately hit a weak effort which the Emley keeper saved easily. A minute later Emley went down the field to the other end and opened the scoring when KENWORTHY took full advantage of a terrible mistake by Jon Kennedy and Kris Bowler who both went up for the same ball, but neither player got it and the Emley striker nipped in to put the ball into an empty net from ten yards out to give his team a 1-0 lead.
Kennedy had to make a fingertip save at full stretch after 31 minutes to deny his own player Green from putting the ball in the Tigers net after a cross by Mick Amos. Then the home side struck the Tigers upright when Craig Marsh headed against the post from a corner by Mark Stuart. Emley doubled their lead on 39 minutes when Kenworthy threaded a ball through the centre of the Tigers defence for MICK AMOS to coolly run onto and knock it past Kennedy to make it 2-0. Ryan Hindley almost pulled one back in the final minute of the half when his free-kick struck the Emley crossbar before being cleared, but it was the hosts who left the field at the break the happier team, after a good first half display had given them a deserved lead.
Townsend was introduced at half time with White going off and he was soon in the action with a curling right footer which looked destined for the top corner but for a headed clearance off the line by Lee Hill. On 67 minutes, Worksop reduced the arrears when substitute Townsend flicked a header straight into the path of MATT GLASS, who had earlier replaced the injured Chris Adam, and he made no mistake after putting the ball past Emley's keeper Mick Clark to make it 2-1. The goal lifted Worksop spirits and Townsend hit a powerful low drive straight at Clark as the visitors chased the equaliser. Mark Townsend (no relation) had a chance to seal it for Emley on 79 minutes, but the winger headed a fine chance wide at the far post from Kenworthy's left wing cross. Two minutes from time, Clark excelled himself when he made a superb save from Anson as the clocked ticked towards the final whistle, but it was not to be on the night and Emley had done just enough to go through to the next round despite Worksop's second half fight-back.
Teams:
AFC Emley: Mick Clark, Josh Ingham (Max Joice 81), Antony Leech, Josh Wright, Craig Marsh, Lee Hill, Mark Townsend, Mark Brady (Gavin Armitage (73), Steven Kenworthy (capt) (Alex Thomas 81), Mark Stuart, Mick Amos. Sub not used: Luke Firth.
Worksop Town: Jon Kennedy, Rob Austin, Scott Lowe, Kris Bowler, Adam Green, Steve Wankiewicz, Ryan Hindley (Mick Galloway 90), Danny Anson (capt), Andy White (Gary Townsend 45), Danny Bacon, Chris Adam (Matt Glass 40). Subs not used: Ross Stallworthy, Michael Chapman (GK).
Referee: Mr A Hull
Assistants: Mr D Burton, Mr K Bridges
Half Time: 2-0
Full Time: 2-1
Scorers: Kenworthy 23, Amos 39 (AFC Emley), Glass 67 (Worksop)
Attendance: 130
Webmasters MOM: Rob Austin
