Sunny Stalemate
Yesterday Ely took on Walsham-le-Willows on a day when it was hotter in Ely than in Cairo. Not surprisingly the two teams who were more or less well balanced in terms of performances over the season cancelled each other out with the second half being probably dominated by tiredness and thirstiness, which ultimately saw the two teams cancelling each other out.
Ely started off brightly enough with Goodge, Chadwick and Impey creating a few chances, but it was Walsham who made the breakthrough on 21 minutes when an uncharacteristic slip by the person I have voted for as player of the season, Adam Murray let Walsham have a clear shot in the six yard box. The shot was miraculously saved by Lee Pacey, but Pacey brought the forward down as the ball rebounded back. The Walsham player sent a decent penalty in slightly to Pacey's left and they were one up. On 29 minutes Walsham had a chance to double their lead, but another fine save by Pacey denied them. However, Ely weren't out of it yet and 5 minutes later a cross from Goodge was met in space at the far post by Chadwick, but he failed to capitalise on the chance. Fortunately, Ely didn't have to wait long to get back in the game though as just 2 minutes later a cleverly worked ball from defence ended in Nick Impey scoring the equaliser for the Robins. The remaining 10 (or 15 according to the ref) of the first half were played out with both sides attacking and counter attacking, but with neither goalkeeper really having much to worry about.
Ely started off the second half brightly enough with early in the ascendancy early on, but Walsham also having a few speculative chances. The first meaningful chance came on 53 minutes when Ely's Ben Lawrence went on a rare forrage into the opposing half and nearly steered the ball into the Walsham net. On 67 Ely had another decent chance when Nick Impey cleverly saw the goalkeeper off his line and attempted to chip him, but unfortunately the ball went just wide of the Walsham keeper's right post.
The heat was obviously getting to the players at this point though and the referee called for a water break on 73 minutes. It seemed to revitalise Ely, who like Walsham were looking a bit jaded by now, but unfortunatley the Walsham goalkeeper was also revitalised. A brilliant shot by substitute Andy Pettit was spectacularly saved by Walsham's Duncan McNally. Just 2 minutes later the action was down in the other half and it was Lee Pacey's turn to make a spectacular save. For the next 10 minutes Ely continued to pressurise Walsham, but with just 4 minutes remaining Walsham nearly knicked, but a goalmouth clearance by Adam Murray made up for his earlier misdemeanor and the game ended 1-1.
Ely started off brightly enough with Goodge, Chadwick and Impey creating a few chances, but it was Walsham who made the breakthrough on 21 minutes when an uncharacteristic slip by the person I have voted for as player of the season, Adam Murray let Walsham have a clear shot in the six yard box. The shot was miraculously saved by Lee Pacey, but Pacey brought the forward down as the ball rebounded back. The Walsham player sent a decent penalty in slightly to Pacey's left and they were one up. On 29 minutes Walsham had a chance to double their lead, but another fine save by Pacey denied them. However, Ely weren't out of it yet and 5 minutes later a cross from Goodge was met in space at the far post by Chadwick, but he failed to capitalise on the chance. Fortunately, Ely didn't have to wait long to get back in the game though as just 2 minutes later a cleverly worked ball from defence ended in Nick Impey scoring the equaliser for the Robins. The remaining 10 (or 15 according to the ref) of the first half were played out with both sides attacking and counter attacking, but with neither goalkeeper really having much to worry about.
Ely started off the second half brightly enough with early in the ascendancy early on, but Walsham also having a few speculative chances. The first meaningful chance came on 53 minutes when Ely's Ben Lawrence went on a rare forrage into the opposing half and nearly steered the ball into the Walsham net. On 67 Ely had another decent chance when Nick Impey cleverly saw the goalkeeper off his line and attempted to chip him, but unfortunately the ball went just wide of the Walsham keeper's right post.
The heat was obviously getting to the players at this point though and the referee called for a water break on 73 minutes. It seemed to revitalise Ely, who like Walsham were looking a bit jaded by now, but unfortunatley the Walsham goalkeeper was also revitalised. A brilliant shot by substitute Andy Pettit was spectacularly saved by Walsham's Duncan McNally. Just 2 minutes later the action was down in the other half and it was Lee Pacey's turn to make a spectacular save. For the next 10 minutes Ely continued to pressurise Walsham, but with just 4 minutes remaining Walsham nearly knicked, but a goalmouth clearance by Adam Murray made up for his earlier misdemeanor and the game ended 1-1.
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