The FA Cup Continues
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 put just wide. A couple of minutes later Chadders came close again, but he was looking a bit lonely up front on his own and it was clear that he was going to have his work cut out. On 23 minutes though Needham Market took the lead when a well-taken free kick by Deakan Napier flew into the top corner of the goal.
After scoring Needham Market looked like they were going to increase their lead and on 29 minutes Adam Dalby cleared what would have been a certain second goal off the line. Ely were still in the game threw and on 37 minutes Luke Parkinson steamed through the Needham defence but his final shot let him down. The first half then petered out and the idea of playing just one forward seemed to be something that needed reassessing.
Needham Market started the second half with a certain amount of intent and on 50 minutes it looked like they were 2-0 up, but the linesman's flag was up and it was ruled offside. After this though Ely turned in an excellent performance and matched if not bettered Needham for the rest of the second half. Murray came close on 65 minutes. Ely were then further helped on 73 when a Needham defender picked up a second yellow card for a horrendous tackle on Nick Impey. Ely finally got the goal they deserved 10 minutes later when they were awarded a penalty. Sam Parkinson took the role that his brother usually takes as penalty taker as Luke had already been substituted. It was a very self-assured shot that went right into the back of the onion bag. 2 minutes later Ely could have won the tie with the move of the match when Ben Lawrence put in a brilliant cross for substitute Austen Diaper whose powerful header was excellently saved by the Needham keeper. The game finished 1-1 and most of the sizeable Ely following went home happy enough, especially as we now have another game to look forward on Tuesday.
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 put just wide. A couple of minutes later Chadders came close again, but he was looking a bit lonely up front on his own and it was clear that he was going to have his work cut out. On 23 minutes though Needham Market took the lead when a well-taken free kick by Deakan Napier flew into the top corner of the goal.
After scoring Needham Market looked like they were going to increase their lead and on 29 minutes Adam Dalby cleared what would have been a certain second goal off the line. Ely were still in the game threw and on 37 minutes Luke Parkinson steamed through the Needham defence but his final shot let him down. The first half then petered out and the idea of playing just one forward seemed to be something that needed reassessing.
Needham Market started the second half with a certain amount of intent and on 50 minutes it looked like they were 2-0 up, but the linesman's flag was up and it was ruled offside. After this though Ely turned in an excellent performance and matched if not bettered Needham for the rest of the second half. Murray came close on 65 minutes. Ely were then further helped on 73 when a Needham defender picked up a second yellow card for a horrendous tackle on Nick Impey. Ely finally got the goal they deserved 10 minutes later when they were awarded a penalty. Sam Parkinson took the role that his brother usually takes as penalty taker as Luke had already been substituted. It was a very self-assured shot that went right into the back of the onion bag. 2 minutes later Ely could have won the tie with the move of the match when Ben Lawrence put in a brilliant cross for substitute Austen Diaper whose powerful header was excellently saved by the Needham keeper. The game finished 1-1 and most of the sizeable Ely following went home happy enough, especially as we now have another game to look forward on Tuesday.
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