AFC Emley return to winning ways with demolition of Grimsby Borough

AFC Emley 7-2 Grimsby Borough

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Match Photos are HERE

AFC Emley put a smile back on the faces of their supporters with a demolition of a dreadful Grimsby Borough side in the Toolstation NCEL Division One clash at the Welfare Ground – and reinstated manager Darren Hepworth praised new striker Adam Todd.

Todd was making his first start for Emley in Hepworth’s first home game since being given his job back last Sunday.

The forward, signed from Shaw Lane Aquaforce, scored the winner on debut at Teversal as a substitute two weeks ago and he followed that up with two goals in the first half.

Brighton Mugadza and highly-rated full-back Liam Schofield ensured that Emley were coasting at 4-1 at half-time.

A penalty from captain Paul Sykes and two injury-time goals from Mugadza to complete his hat-trick rounded off the rout.
The win moves Emley up to fifth in the Division One table and Hepworth told Sports Performer: “With the greatest respect to Grimsby, I don’t think they were at the races and we were so the scoreline didn’t really flatter – I know it’s a cliché.
“I’m disappointed we conceded the two goals, but we were good value for the win.”

Adam Todd

On Todd, he said: “Adam has brought experience and an eye for goal. His enthusiasm off-the-pitch aswell as off it is a massive plus for us.

“He’s a guy who I have a lot of respect for and he compliments us well. We have Mark Crossfield and Alex Hallam who has been revelation since he has come to us, along with Brighton Mugadza who has shown a lot of what he can do today.

“He was the difference in the first half and with his experience he knows which areas to get into and with the game we play we’ll always get good balls into the box.
“We work the ball into good areas and we’re always looking for good delivery. We had Ash Flynn last season and he got 42 goals so that is one thing we do at this football club is create chances. It is just a case of getting someone who can convert them.
“Toddy is definitely a good option in there. That was his first start and he’s now looking to push on.”
The focus was on Hepworth at the start of the game. The Emley manager shook hands with every supporter lined-up between the dressing room and home dugout.
It took 13 minutes for Todd to divert the attention from Hepworth. The striker was able to brush off Grimsby defender David Unsworth – not the former Premier League player – and fired the ball between the legs of goalkeeper James Swann from eight yards for the first goal.

Grimsby then simply collapsed. The mid-table side’s defence was continually all at sea, leaving Swann keeping goal like a sitting duck. Aaron Joseph had an effort palmed over before Todd broke clear.

The striker chose not to be greedy and squared for Mugadza, whose initial attempt was saved. Unfortunately for Swann, the ball rebounded off the striker’s knee and landed in the net.

By the half-hour mark the score stood at 3-1. Schofield had turned Ryan Brook’s cross into the bottom corner for Emley to increase the lead, but a spectacular Matthew Hall 30-yard strike reduced the deficit.
That was one of just three Grimsby shots on goal and it did not stop the Emley onslaught. Todd’s header went narrowly wide, but he didn’t fail to hit the target with an unchallenged turn and shot close to half-time for goal number four.

Even as injury-time finished, Swann had to tip Mugadza’s powerful strike over the crossbar.
It was clear more goals were on the way and Emley started the second half in the same manner as the first ended. Doran Jordan was denied a goal as the referee had already blown up for a handball against Stevie Wright and given the penalty.
Skipper Sykes and slammed his fourth penalty of the campaign home.
Grimsby enjoyed a brief respite and after Louis Grant’s shot was saved, Hall rounded goalkeeper Danny Armitage to score his second goal for Grimsby. That was Grimsby’s final say on the game.
The visitors were chasing shadows for most of the game and when Hepworth brought on Mark Crossfield, the striker went close to scoring twice within minutes of each attempts. Swann saved the first one before the striker saw his powerful header crash back off the crossbar.
Despite all the Emley dominance it looked like Grimsby would survive with conceding five goals. But, during second half injury-time, Emley got their deserved sixth and seventh goals.

Mugadza’s deflected shot from the edge of the box deceived Swann for the sixth goal and then within 60 seconds, the striker had completed his treble with a similar strike.

Emley captain Paul Sykes

It rounded off a memorable afternoon for Emley and put the tin lid on the recent events and captain Sykes added: “It’s nice to get the win and put some smiles on people’s faces.

“It was a very easy win. It was 7-2 and we have gifted them the two goals in that the game was a stroll. We could have scored more and we probably should have scored more.

“Their management said we had caught them on a bad day, but I don’t know. It almost had a pre-season feel to it. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but it was an easy win and you don’t get many of those.”

AFC Emley: Armitage, Brook, Schofield, Ingham, S Jerome, Sykes (captain), Joseph, Mugadza, Todd (Crossfield 71), Hallam (Tunnacliffe 67), Jordan (Townend 52). Subs unused: Leech, Senior.

Grimsby Borough: Swann, Wright, Wressell, Lobandahan, Baker (Deane 54), Unsworth (Stephens 80), Newby, Magalhaes, Davis, Grant, Hall. Subs unused: Taylor.

Referee: N Haycock

Attendance: 79

Man of the match: Liam Schofield and Adam Todd (AFC Emley)