[themaclad]

AFC BLACKPOOL 0  EMLEY AFC 3 Eyles 2 Claisse ATT 78
  V

A free Saturday due to North End's inability to win in the cup so it was off to Jepson Way to see AFC Blackpool play Emley AFC from Huddersfirld in a North West Counties game.
The visitors a re incarnation of the non league side which was quite succesful in the late 1990's getting through to the FA Cup 3rd Round were they lost to West Ham by the creditable score of 3-0, also one of the unluckiest sides ever once getting over a 100 points in a league season and still didn't win the league with Stalybridge getting 103 points to Emley's 102.
The visitors  reformed in 2005 joined the NWCFL this season, they are in a good position they were second going into this match and their victory today cemented their second place.
What is noticeable was the visitors had some experience playing for them especially Rob Boardman who has been banging in goals at this level for years.

The home side started well on a chilly January afternoon but it was the visitors that steuck first after 13 minutes good turn and shot which was curled past Blackpool youth keeper Kellett by Eyles

A series of corners by the home side brought no reward, but two spectacular Boardman efforts both from 40 plus yards nearly doubled the visitors lead, the second effort was only inches wide.
The home side could have been level but Thomas's effort went just the wrong side of the post, Kellett saved the home side by getting his hands to a goal bound shot and deflecting it for a corner.

Getting towards half time the referee was kept busy he booked Fishwick for kicking the ball away, it would come back to haunt him in the second half and also had a long discussion with the Emley skipper Price?
The home sides management were less than impressed with the official and told him so as they trudged off at half time.
Second half early Boardman free kick which went narrowly wide, Emley dominated couldn't score though and the home side stayed in the game then skipper Fishwick got his second yellow and departed to the red that was also shown.

With 10 the home side looked thye more likely to score and forced the visitors, but all hope was extinguished when Claisse got the second and when Eyles added a third about five minutes later game was over.
Emley could have had other goals but couldn't convert .