AFC Emley boss Darren Hepworth excited by FA Cup Preliminary Round tie with Ossett Town

Darren Hepworth

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

AFC Emley manager Darren Hepworth believes the FA Cup Preliminary Round clash with local neighbours Ossett Town is a stand-out draw.

Emley sensationally booked the tie after scoring twice during injury-time to come from behind to beat Wigan Robin Park 3-2 yesterday.
Former Ossett assistant manager and captain Paul Sykes hit the winner with a 97th minute penalty and Hepworth is excited by the trip to Ingfield on August 31st.

“We had Ossett up here in pre-season and of course because it’s the cup, it is a different proposition,” he said.

“We’re going to go down there and give it a good go and I’m looking forward to seeing Craig (Elliott) and the guys there again.
“It is a brilliant draw because it is an all Yorkshire tie and I hope we get a decent crowd down there. I know Emley will take a few.

“I think it is one of the ties of the round and it’s a local derby which makes it exciting.”

The two sides met in pre-season when Ossett ran riot at the Welfare Ground by winning 7-1 and the defeat has given Hepworth food for thought.
“We did lose heavily in the friendly and I think we’ll put ten men in the defence and try and bring them back up here,” joked Hepworth.

“They have a very good side. The quality they had up front was the difference between the two of us. I thought we played something good stuff but they punished us in the final third and that’s something we have to be better at on the day as we can’t give them the space in the final third.”