Badgers progress to the third round with AFC Emley victory

It was the NCEL Division One hosts who started stronger, Alex Hallam setting up Michael Tunnacliffe who shot over.

Retford were given another warning, as Antony Brown who fired just wide of Ben Simpson’s upright.

On 14 minutes it was 1-0 to Emley as Brown slotted home.

Half chances came and went for both sides, Retford attacking right to the end of the half, as Ben Muirhead slid a great pass for Jake Stannard to run onto, but his cross was collected in the air by the keeper with Bobby Johnson challenging for the ball.

Emley went close to a second early in the second half, Steve Kenworthy going close with a shot only inches wide, .

Jack Cross put the ball in that James O’Neill met with his head, but the keeper was down to make the save.

Richard Medcalf should have levelled after he collected a pass from Reece Thompson, but his shot lacked power and was straight at the keeper.

Finally, an equalising goal came in the 80th minute, Thompson again the provider and this time it was O’Neill who fired the ball into the net.

With extra-time a possibility, Retford continued to pule on the pressure, and it paid off in the 86th minute, Thompson the scorer as his darting run on the right got him into the box and he drilled a shot into the bottom corner.

Emley had two great chances to level in stoppage time, the first striking the post and the second well blocked by Simpson.

The home fans were incensed as a penalty appeal was turned down, Retford relieved and into the next round.