Cup offers Emley chance to regroup

from close range.

Retford’s bravery in attack seemed to take Emley boss Joe Howson’s men by surprise, the away sides numbers going forward created and exploited large gaps in the defence.

A Littlejohn cross found Button in space, and he drilled a powerful effort past Max Dearnley to put the visitors ahead.

Littlejohn found himself one and one with the keeper soon after, but an offside decision prevented Retford doubling their lead.

Emley managed to muster up a response, and a Lewis Dickinson delivery was met by Bullivant, who powered his header into the Retford goal to bring the scores level.

Retford captain Luke Pickering was shown red after a foul on Emley’s Martin Allison leaving the visitors with an uphill battle in the second half.

However, Littlejohn was giving the Emley defence a torrid time and he spearheaded the attack in the second half, and restored Retford’s lead when he sliced through the defence and slotted it home past Dearnley only moments after the restart.

Emley’s response came in the form of some flair from Matty Waller, he danced into the box and unleashed a strike into the roof of the net to equalise

Substitute Reece Treasure rewarded the Retford managers decision to give him his debut by finishing past Dearnley just 10 minutes after Emley’s goal, capping of an explosive start to the game’s second half.

Despite good play from Waller and Dickinson, Emley couldn’t break down a packed Retford defence and they slipped to 11th after two defeats on the bounce.