New year and a win
After a real hiatus of getting down to the Unwin due to bad weather and then being away on the two days when they actually managed to get a game on I finally made it down to the Unwin for Ely's game against Newmarket Town yesterday. The first disappointment was no programmes, but let's be honest the printers were probably on holiday like everybody else and apart from anything else the club has probably had to pulp a few over the last few cancellation heavy weeks.
Anyway, the game got under way and there were a few changes to the Ely team with Adam Murray and Robbie Mason being suspended and a couple of faces from the reserves were present as well as an Ebanks-Blake up front who had previously played for Histon A. Ely got off to a bright start and the first 10 minutes saw the Robins peppering the Newmarket goal. The best chance falling to Chadwick, who only just misconnected with a cross from Ebanks-Blake. After 10 minutes of dominance Newmarket came close when ex-Ely player Grant Robbins somehow skyed an effort over the bar. Ely continued to dominate, but on 18 minutes anothe ex-Ely player, Bell for Newmarket managed to beat the offside trap but couldn't find the back of the net. Ely seemed to have a better control of the offside trap today, although the linesman in the first half did seem sympathetic to the defence on a couple of occassions.
On 20n minutes Ely went ahead with a brilliant goal from Dave Smith, whether the free kick that led to the goal was a free kick was a free kick though was a bit debatable, but Ely deserved the lead. In fact Ely continued to press forward and were unlucky not to be further ahead by the break.
Ely finally got the two goal lead that they deserved in the second half when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area. I think that the defender was lucky to get away with a yellow, but the resulting free kick was hammered into the back of the net by, I think Sam Parkin, I'm not sure as it was a way from where I was standing and the lighting was beginning to fail and the local media obviously hasn't got anything up yet, so apologies if it wasn't Parkin who scored on 54 minutes.
Two goals up and it seemed like Ely were cruising, but things are never as simple as that after coming close on 63 minutes ex-Robin Bell scored for the Jockeys on 65 minutes to set up a nailbiting finish for the last 25 minutes or so. Things got worse on 69 minutes when Chadwick was sent off for the Robins. Newmarket continued to pressurise Ely, and Ely continued to clear the ball, unfortunately as Ebanks-Blake had also been substituted all clearances up fieled were easily cleared by the Newmarket defence. Kentoh Gray was introduced for Ely and he harried the Newmarket defence enough to keep the two sides equal until the end of the game.
Ely deserved the win and let's hope that their new year's resolution is to stop throwing leads away.
Anyway, the game got under way and there were a few changes to the Ely team with Adam Murray and Robbie Mason being suspended and a couple of faces from the reserves were present as well as an Ebanks-Blake up front who had previously played for Histon A. Ely got off to a bright start and the first 10 minutes saw the Robins peppering the Newmarket goal. The best chance falling to Chadwick, who only just misconnected with a cross from Ebanks-Blake. After 10 minutes of dominance Newmarket came close when ex-Ely player Grant Robbins somehow skyed an effort over the bar. Ely continued to dominate, but on 18 minutes anothe ex-Ely player, Bell for Newmarket managed to beat the offside trap but couldn't find the back of the net. Ely seemed to have a better control of the offside trap today, although the linesman in the first half did seem sympathetic to the defence on a couple of occassions.
On 20n minutes Ely went ahead with a brilliant goal from Dave Smith, whether the free kick that led to the goal was a free kick was a free kick though was a bit debatable, but Ely deserved the lead. In fact Ely continued to press forward and were unlucky not to be further ahead by the break.
Ely finally got the two goal lead that they deserved in the second half when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area. I think that the defender was lucky to get away with a yellow, but the resulting free kick was hammered into the back of the net by, I think Sam Parkin, I'm not sure as it was a way from where I was standing and the lighting was beginning to fail and the local media obviously hasn't got anything up yet, so apologies if it wasn't Parkin who scored on 54 minutes.
Two goals up and it seemed like Ely were cruising, but things are never as simple as that after coming close on 63 minutes ex-Robin Bell scored for the Jockeys on 65 minutes to set up a nailbiting finish for the last 25 minutes or so. Things got worse on 69 minutes when Chadwick was sent off for the Robins. Newmarket continued to pressurise Ely, and Ely continued to clear the ball, unfortunately as Ebanks-Blake had also been substituted all clearances up fieled were easily cleared by the Newmarket defence. Kentoh Gray was introduced for Ely and he harried the Newmarket defence enough to keep the two sides equal until the end of the game.
Ely deserved the win and let's hope that their new year's resolution is to stop throwing leads away.
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