Emley shocked by clinical Rovers side

EMLEY were beaten for the first time in eight games by a clinical Atherton Laburnum Rovers side at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.

It probably appeared to be another routine defeat and a step to another win for Richard Tracey’s men when Emley took the lead within two minutes, a free kick from Rob Bordman was floated into the danger zone and Jack Steers planted a header into the bottom corner.

But Rovers kept on pushing Emley back and with their pacy frontline were causing plenty of problems.

Atherton were now on top and playing some really good football, with Emley were struggling to cope.

It was no surprise when another attack saw the defence split and a cross met by Comber to bury it past George Clarke.

Clarke was then forced into a good save as the relentless attacks kept coming.

Emley tried in vain to get back into the game and a free-kick wide from Bordman, who then tried with an overhead kick from a good cross.

Bordman hit another free-kick from a wide angle which flashed across the goalmouth, and then the hardworking Callum Charlton burst through on the right before firing a shot that was turned round for a corner. It was all square at 1-1 at half-time.

Emley started the second half shooting towards the Richard Hirst shed. Finn Donovan put a lovely

Comber grabbed Rovers’ third with a lovely lob on the run

from 18 yards

weighted ball into the centre for Charlton, who took too long to decide what to do and ‘keeper smothered the

the danger.

Then it was the visitors’ turn to dominate possession again – Clarke called into action to make a fine save from a nice chip.

With the game finely in the balance, Atherton were frustrating

Emley with niggly fouls and finally took the game away from the Pewits.

A corner wasn’t dealt with and Nathan Strong fired home – and just two minutes later, Emley’s frustrations got even worse as Comber grabbed his second and Rovers’ third with a lovely lob on the run from 18 yards.

Emley knew it wasn’t their day when following good work on the left, Charlton’s shot beat everyone except the left-back who somehow managed to get back and clear as the ball was heading into the net.

Emley then put the visitors under more pressure – Charlton’s shot was saved by the ‘keeper, and the Emley 11 then saw his header clear the crossbar as the referee blew for time.

■Emley’s next game is at home to Daisy Hill on Saturday, November 9, with a 3pm kick-off at the Fantastic Welfare Ground.