football rambles

Last night, as I have already said in the post below Ely City were at March Town United for the Preliminary Round of the Eastern Counties League Cup. Last week I said it was a bargain as we had a bounty of goals and extra time in the game in the FA Cup against Needham Market. We also had a bounty of goals and extra time last night (no surprise on the extra time front, eh?) but as the bloke in the paper shop said this morning it wasn't a good game. Nothing much happened in the first 20 minutes of the game with neither team seeming like they were particularly up for it. March had a shot stray just wide on 8 minutes and Nick Impey had a decent shot for the Robins on 11, but it all felt a little half-hearted. Ely did get a breakthrough on 20 minutes though when a long free kick from Ely keeper Lee Pacey took a bizarre deflection off a March defenders head sending the ball rocketing in the air and into the back of his own yet. If there had been a cameraman there it would have definitely

Last night I made my first trip to March Town United's GER Ground. Pictured above is their stand with a couple of players. I took my camera but the light was so bad I had to make do with grabbing this one. The ground was opened in 1923 and is certainly showing its age, although for someone who has visited numerous lower division East European grounds it held a certain amount of charm and the locals were friendly enough, although not that numerous and there seemed to be more people from Ely there. The stand was wooden and a bit worm eaten and obviously posed a bit of a fire hazard as there were signs advising against smoking within 40 feet of it. Sitting in the stand for a night game was a bit of a weird experience too, as the lighting in the stand seemed to be stronger than the amp-age of the floodlights, which gave you the feeling that you were watching the game on TV in the dark apart from in reverse. The facilities were also lacking for fans there was a little kiosk selling tea,

Tomorrow night we are going on the relatively short trip up to March to see Ely take on March Town United in the Ridgeons League Cup. It will be my first trip to the GER Sports Ground. I have thought about going there before, as it holds a bit of mystery as anyone you meet who has ever been there doesn't have a good thing to say about the place. The club who currently play in Division 1 of the League can trace their history back to two clubs who operated in March before World War 2; March GER United and March Town. The former of these clubs, United were founded in 1911 and moved to the present ground in 1923. March Town started life out in 1885 and had played at several different venues in the league before joining up with United after the War. In 1954 The Hares joined the Eastern Counties League and finished in one of their highest positions in that season, 3rd. In 1988 the won the league for the only time in their history up to now, by beating Chatteris Town in front of 2000 fans

Well, I have had to work a few Saturdays recently, but the Tuesday games have been coming thick and fast and next up is a trip to a ground I haven't been to before, as March Town United take on Ely at their GER Sports Ground.

On Tuesday night Ely played Needham Market in the replay of Saturday's FA Cup tie. The weather was atrocious with heavy rain falling throughout the whole game and as is always the case with a midweek Ely cup game the game went into extra-time. The game on Saturday had been pretty even despite the difference in league standings of the club and the greasy surface was definitely a leveller. The Market Men were the first to draw blood when they struck on 4 minutes. The lead was short-lived though as one minute later Ben Lawrence headed an equaliser. Ely continued to push forward and look for the lead and Josh Bridgeman came close twice in a minute one from a corner on 15 and another from a defensive error on 16. On 17 minutes a cracking shot from Adam Murray went into the back of the net and the Robins were 2-1 up. The pitch was getting greasier and greasier and mistakes were happening all over the pitch. On 26 minutes the visitors were back in it. There seemed to be a bit of miscommun

Today Ely City took on Needham Market at Needham Market's Bloomfields Ground. The signs before the game didn't really point in Ely's favour. Needham Market apart from being a league above Ely in the Ryman League North have been on fine form, unbeaten in 7 games this season and last week won 7-0; the second time that they have registered this score this season. Ely haven't been playing badly, but despite beating Newmarket on Tuesday the performance wasn't great, and to top it off as Needham wear red they were having to play in the cursed blue away kit. Ely started the game off well enough, but a quite defensive formation with Chadwick chasing shadows as he was up front on his own. The first chance that Ely had came on 12 minutes when Adam Murray, who was playing in midfield rather than in his usual defensive role, headed a ball on to Chadwick who just missed the target. Needham Market's first real chance came on 19 minutes when a beautifully weighted cross was pu

Today Ely City took on Needham Market in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup. It was a good day out and Ely had a good away following. Pictures and a report to follow.

.... or something like that. Last night saw the first local Derby in the Eastern Counties League take place when Newmarket were the visitors to Ely City's Unwin ground. I use the term 'El Clasico', as a bit of a tongue in cheek statement, but in some ways it was an apt description of a performance that probably typified what it's like following Ely City. The Robins started off in the ascendany against a Newmarket team who are pointless so far this season. Tom Beech had a header cleared off the line on 3 minutes and 6 minutes later Chadwick was clear through and he should have scored but scuffed his chance. Chadders turned to the hero on the 11th minute when he made the best of a defensive error to put the ball in the back of the net. It looked like it was going to be a walkover for Ely and at 1-0 they continued to press. That said though it also felt like some of the build up play was 'hit and hope' with the best chances coming from set pieces, with a Kenny Smit

Last time I went to a fixture between these two teams was in the Ridgeons League 1 Cup last season and it was a pretty bad tempered affair with friction between the two clubs occurring on the pitch, in the stands, in the club room and on the Internet. Therefore I was expecting a spicy affair yesterday, but this wasn't to be the case. The first half was a fairly drab affair, which was equally balanced. Thetford looked the stronger side but the best chance fell to Melford who hit the post just before half time. The highlight however was probably the cheap prices in the club house though, as although I've been to Thetford a few times before I haven't partaken of the cheap and good quality ale. They probably have the best and most reasonable priced beer in Thetford. The second half was a lot better thankfully with Thetford looking a lot more lively. Melford though still looked slugish. In the early encounters Thetford were unlucky not to get a penalty when Dan Grindrod handled

Not a bad picture of Thetford on the attack by Nadiya

Here's a picture of the main stand at Thetford from a weird angle and the badge that is in the centre of the stand just above where the players enter and leave the dressing room.

The kids took the photos at Thetford v Melford. Most of them are by Nadiya. The top one here is Sean's and the bottom by Nadiya.

Yesterday the FA Vase got underway with the first qualifying round. The competition has seen local side King's Lynn reach the semifinal last year and Ely's Eastern Counties League counterparts, Wroxham reach the final the year before. Onr thing is for certain Ely won't be walking out at Wembley as they went down away to Clacton. I was at Thetford though for their Vase match against Long Melford. Thetford are still in it, however with the team looking for promotion they might at one point decide to sacrifice the Vase. Match reports and photos to follow