Having reached the final the previous season, Emley got a bye to the second round of the competition and of course fate decreed that their opponents would be the team that beat them in that final – Colne Dynamoes. The game was played at the home of Colne against a very different team than Emley had faced the previous April.
Colne were the play-thing of millionaire Graham White, who not only bankrolled the club, but also managed them. They had gained promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One, whilst Emley missed out due to ground grading issues. White brought in an impressive line-up of players aiming to take Colne into the Football League. One of these players was Alan Kennedy who in 1981 scored the winning goal for Liverpool in the European Cup Final.
Colne were top of the Northern Premier league and Emley top of the Northern Counties East, both undefeated in the league, so another tough battle was in store.
The game lived up to its billing with a crowd of 1416, out of which Emley had sold 500 tickets, the atmosphere was electric. Colne started the brightest attacking down a considerable slope. McFadyen pulled a fine save out of Dennis with a low drive, and Dennis was again at full stretch from Lancaster. Emley also threatened, inspired by Mick Farrar, Mick Carmody and Nicky Bramald, feeding new striker Graham Broadbent. It was Broadbent who came closest for Emley in the first half with a bullet header from a Steve Hirst cross.
After the break, now playing with the slope, Emley dominated. Carmody crowded out Kennedy and Devine and Broadbent both had chances to score. But it was a bit of a freak goal which gave Emley the lead. Darren Lockwood swung a viciously curling corner straight into the net past a bemused former Town keeper, Mason.
The game now became frantic with several goalmouth melees. Carmody Farrar and Codd all took knocks but limped on with the aim of seeing the game out. Three minutes into injury time with Emley’s followers baying for the final whistle, Lancaster was able to turn and blast the ball in just under the bar.
Colne celebrated wildly as Emley fell to their knees. But it wasn’t over. A hopeful punt was floated into the Colne box, the ball broke free and a limping Mick Farrar poked the ball home to wild celebrations from the Emley fans. The referee ended the game from the kick off and Emley fans and players alike mobbed the hero, Farrar.
Emley went on to win the NCEL this season to finally gain promotion as the ground improvements, including the stand and dressing room complex we see today were completed. Sadly, another Lancashire club, Rossendale United ended Emley’s Wembley hopes for the season in the fourth round.
Colne comfortably won the NPL Division One, losing just one league game to be promoted to the Premier Division. They won that the following season but were refused entry to the Conference due to ground grading problems and a failure to agree a ground share with Burnley. White was unwilling to invest further whilst having to stay in the NPL and the club folded. They were reborn as Colne FC in 1996 at the Holt House ground and are now back in the Northern Premier League Division One West.
Team: Dennis, Hirst, Brook, Mellor, Codd, Farrar, Bramald, Broadbent, Devine, Carmody, Lockwood. Subs (not used): Morris, Burrows.
Headlines and some photographs courtesy of Huddersfield Examiner and the Huddersfield and District Chronicle
0 Comments