THE PROMOTION FATE FOR HEPWORTH’S MEN IN HANDS OF PONTE AND HALL ROAD

AFC Emley must wait until next Saturday to learn their Northern Counties East League First Division fate after finishing the season with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Glasshoughton Welfare.

The Pewits can only sit back and watch next week’s fixtures in the hope that either Pontefract or Hall Road lose to seal automatic promotion.

However, if the two sides at least draw, it will be another play-off campaign for Darren Hepworth’s side.

Yet whatever the final outcome, at least Emley’s were able to end their home League campaign on a very positive note, with the hosts coming from behind after Nathan Keightley’s early freak goal to extend their unbeaten league run to 10 games.

Jordan Coduri, Ashley Scully and Tom Brennan ensured Emley’s hopes of automatic promotion remained alive, with rivals Hall Road Rangers and Pontefract Collieries in action for the last time next Saturday.

Darren Hepworth will have rued the start his side made to a must-win game.

Keightley’s sliced cross looped over Graham McLachlan and into the back of the net via the post, the first goal conceded by Emley since March 14.

Emley’s possession dominance paid off in the 25th minute after Matthew Jackson was fouled 25 yards from goal.

Coduri curled a cracking free-kick into the top left corner of the goal, beating the best efforts of an outstretched Jordan Bradshaw.

The winger had the opportunity to grab his second of the game from the penalty spot when Ashley Flynn was brought down inside the area, but Bradshaw thwarted his effort from twelve yards with a strong hand.

An energetic Emley surprised Glasshoughton in the early stages of the second half.

It took half-time substitute Scully just one minute to find the back of the net to score his first ever Emley goal from the edge of the area.

Coduri squandered another chance to grab his brace, but couldn’t get enough purchase on his chip to beat Bradshaw.

Six minutes into the second half, Tom Brennan scored his third goal in five games following a goal-mouth scramble as the centre-back smashed home from close range.

The visitors wouldn’t settle for also-ran status, though, and threatened to snatch a second goal.

Miscommunication between McLachlan and Brennan almost presented Keightley with a double, but he couldn’t capitalise on a gaping goal.

Bradshaw’s man-of-the-match performance continued in the second half as the goalkeeper pulled off a superb double save to deny Coduri and Flynn from inside the box. Hungry for his brace, Coduri persisted in his efforts late on, a shot inside the box was blocked before he blasted wide just before the full-time whistle.

There’s no rest for Emley, though. They travel east to face Premier Division giants Bridlington Town in the NCEL League Cup on Tuesday night (7.45pm), with a place in the final at Bramall Lane at stake.