Emley could not have had a tougher start in their second season in the FA Cup when they drew Northern Premier League Macclesfield Town in the First Qualifying Round.  Macclesfield were rebuilding at the time, having won the FA Trophy in 1970 they had brought several ex-Football League players in but were struggling in the league.

The crowd brough out an impressive crowd of 800, with around 350 making the trip over the Pennines from Cheshire.  Emley however got off to the worst possible start.  Within the first minute Wilson conceded a free kick on the right touch-line and with Emley slow to react, Collins was able to advance and put a perfect cross in for Alf Arrowsmith, formerly of Liverpool, to head home.

Emley didn’t panic however and Wilson, Greaves and Kettlewell got the home side moving with some slick passing.  Burke teed Greaves up for a shot, but it went well over.  Burke then set McHale away on the left and his shot brought a save out of Malley.

On the half-hour Emley were back in the game following a foul by Collins on McHale in a dangerous position. Gerry Brook took the free-kick from 25 yards out and it went through the wall and into the left-hand corner of the net.  But after all their efforts to get back on parity, Emley could only keep it that way for two minutes.  Hartle got away on the right and crossed for Fiddler to beat the advancing Brook.  Arrowsmith then missed a chance to make it 3, before Malley pulled off a great save from Emley’s Burke to end an exciting half.

The standard of play in the second half did not match the first as Macclesfield strove to manage the game and frustrate Emley in the midfield.  Greaves and Kettlewell tried to set front man Brookes up, but the solid pairing of Parry and Hartle cut out any clear chances.  The best chance for an Emley equaliser fell to Stuart Greaves whose attempted volley from a Wilson cross was easily cleared.

Late on Alex Brook in the Emley goal picked up a nasty gash from a challenge by Lyon and required stitching after the game.  In the end Emley put up an impressive performance against higher league opposition but Macclesfield’s experience was enough for them to see the game out.

Team: A. Brook, Cooper, Steele, R. Wood, G. Brook, Burke, Wilson, McHale, Brookes, Kettlewell, S. Greaves.  Sub: Cooney

Headlines and photographs courtesy of Huddersfield Examiner and the Huddersfield and District Chronicle