A second-half shocker costs sloppy Emley dear
EMLEY suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss at Pilkington having lead 2-0 at half-time.
The Pewitts started the North West Counties First Division North clash brightly and caused their hosts plenty of problems from the off.
And they took the lead after just two minutes when Rob Bordman crashed home a thunderous shot.
They could have doubled their lead on 10 minutes but Declan Dawson’s shot was parried and Danny Farrar fired wide.
But Emley did make it 2-0 when Farrar chipped ball into the area and James Stafford guided it into the bottom corner.
Declan Dawson planted a header just wide then, after a corner was only half cleared, he fired a shot just over.
But things went downhill just minutes into the second half when they conceded a clumsy penalty, which was clinically dispatched by Marsh.
That gave Pilkington a massive lift as they dominated the next 15 minutes, during which Clarke was called upon to make a great save from an equally good shot.
It was no surprise that Pilks found an equaliser and a good one at that as Sephton crashed a left-foot volley in off the post from 20 yards.
Bordman almost put Emley back in the lead a minute later with a neat shot from inside the area, but the keeper did well to turn it away for a corner.
But Pilkington found a winner in injury time as a cross from the right was headed home by Sephton.
Joint manager Mark Wilson told the club’s website: “It was a disappointing result after an excellent week in both games against higher opposition in Burscough.
“After going 2-0 up and not playing particular well, we seemed in full control, but again, it’s the mindset of our players against the ‘lesser teams’.
“The players thought the job was done with a relaxed and jovial dressing room.
“I said ‘how you are it will come back to bite us’ - which it did.
“It told us a lot about our players. There was no professionalism to see the job through.
“It was like two different teams in each half. We got what we deserved and have to quickly realise other teams have never give in attitudes.
“We kept the lads in for over half hour afterwards. They have to man up accept that it wasn’t good enough and learn from it.
“I bring that word up again – inconsistency – from game to game. We will work hard to right the wrongs.
“I’d like to apologise on behalf of the team to all the loyal travelling support. It’s a long season and we are building a new team. The players will repay you all with a more ruthless performance.”
Winterton Rangers are the visitors to the Fantastic Media Welfare
Ground on Friday (8pm) in the second qualifying round of the FA Vase.
Meanwhile, Golcar United lost 1-0 at Daisy Hill with Joe Mullarkey netting the winner in the ninth minute.