Toolstation NCEL Division One
AFC Emley 0-0 Hall Road Rangers
Action from AFC Emley 0-0 Hall Road Rangers. Picture: Mark Parsons
Promotion-chasers AFC Emley and Hall Road Rangers had to settle for a share of the spoils in the eagerly-anticipated fixture at the Welfare Ground.
In a game where both sides had chances to take all three points, it was both defences which will take the credit for this extremely competitive stalemate.
Hall Road started the brighter of the two teams as they settled the quicker.
The hosts were thankful to centre back Sam Jerome when on just two minutes he cleared off the line from Chris Spinks saved effort.
Rangers came close again two minutes later when a Spinks free kick was nodded down by captain Ash Dexter into the path of Josh Batty who’s clever turn flicked the ball which struck the foot of the post from six yards.
The hosts grew into the game more as the first half went on and James Piercy had to block twice before keeper Phil Dobson saved well low down after a low drive by Coduri.
The major talking point of the first half however came on 42 minutes. Hall Road midfielder Joe Cooper was felled in the penalty area, under some close marking from an Emley defender as he appeared to be pulled down, referee Will Cavanagh saw things differently however and waved away vociferous protests from Cooper’s team-mates.
The second half started in familiar fashion to the first, with Hall Road settling the quicker once more.
Tom Bennett cut in from the left and his curling effort was palmed away by Emley keeper Graham McLachlan.
With record goalscorer Ashley Flynn not featuring for the hosts, the pressure fell on the shoulders of Kieran Ryan and he blazed a wonderful chance over the crossbar after some fine Emley wing play on the right.
Rangers leading scorer Spinks then missed a great chance shortly after the hour, side footing over when in space on the far post. Connor Harman then struck straight at McLachlan from distance, before substitute Jack Binns scooped his effort over in similar fashion to Spinks’ earlier chance in added time.
The Teams
AFC Emley: McLachlan, Carney, Schofield, Ingham, Jerome, Brennan, Coduri, Graham, Ryan, Scully, Robinson. Subs: Townend, Jackson, Wilson, Slack, Charlton.
Hall Road Rangers: Dobson, Belcher, Whittingham, Vernon, Dexter, Pierce, Bennett, Cooper, Norton, Spinks, Batty. Subs: Reeson, Owen, Binns, Harman, Granger.