football rambles

Ely took on Norwich United in their last game of the season yesterday and were already guaranteed to finish the season as runners up in the Eastern Counties League, but it would have been nice for them to finish off with a win and they duly obliged. The weather however was more suitable for late Autumn than Spring, but the football definitely had an end of season feel about it, with both teams making mistakes that they probably wouldn't have if more had been at stake. Ely were also missing Josh Bridgeman and Ben Lawrence to injury and Austin Diaper to suspension. The first real chance of the game fell to Lewis McDonald who fluffed a brilliant lay off by Richard Chadwick on 8 minutes. The opening play was however pretty evenly balanced, although every Norwich attack was cut out by Adam Murray, which was probably just as well, as Lee Pacey in the Ely nets seemed to be struggling with an injury himself. On 19 minutes Richard Gammon had a real chance to put the Robins ahead after a c...

Sean with the surprisingly huge Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup that Ely won against Soham last week. The photo was taken in the clubhouse before the game against Norwich United yesterday.

The day started off as a nice Spring's day and I thought that it might be the first nice day of the year for football. However, by the time the game kicked off the storm clouds had gathered (although luckily they didn't break) and the temperature had dropped. Ely were taking on Norwich United and the storm clouds seemed to be a metaphor of what I expected to witness. Norwich United are the form team of the Ridgeons League recently and Ely have been eratic to say the least. I've missed the last couple of games, one away and one at home on Tuesday night, but have been told by the unbiased views of committee members, ex-players and hardcore fans that the Robins were unlucky to lose these games. It didn't look like their luck was going to change yesterday either. The forward line was dilapidated with Mason, Impey and Ebanks-Blake all missing and in defence Ben Lawrence had to withdraw, which left Ely with having to make call ups from the A-Team. For some churlish reason the...

Well, Ely City have had a few good results of late. I missed a couple of games, when I went to Cambridge United v Kettering and then the weekend after when I was in Poznan, but the Robins carried on with their good form on Saturday. Things got off to a flyer against Norwich United when Chadwick fired the ball home from inside a crowded box to put the Robins 1-0 up on 7 minutes. Ely could have and should have extended this lead with Grant Robbins and Chadders again coming close in the 10 minutes that followed. The Ely forwards looked a bit makeshift with Grant Robbins and Scott Fielding stepping in for a suspended Robbie Mason ( no surprises there we have a sweepstake on how many cards he will pick up this season) and an awol and not sorely missed Nick Impey, but after 40 minutes they realistically have had 4 goals. For once the midfield looked solid and with Big Ben Lawrence making his come back Ely looked a bit more solid in defence. However, as often happens Ely decided to implode. O...