Six Quid Well Spent
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 miscommunication between Pacey and Adam Dalby and the unfortunate defender beat his own keeper with a back pass. That wasn't it for the first 15 though because on 28 minutes a Ben Lawrence special long throw, which Needham Market had been fearful of, fell at the far post for Luke Parkinson to tap in and make it 3-2 with less than half an hour gone. There weren't any more goals in the first half and Ely had slightly more possession, but Needham Market had the better chances.
The second half started with Needham Market attacking and desperate to get back in the game. Ely were being more cautious with Chadwick playing on his own up front as he had in the first half on Saturday. On 57 minutes Needham Market came close, but Pacey pulled of a good save . This seemed to wake Ely up a bit and on 61 they hit the crossbar from a crowded shot in the box. The mini revival was short-lived though, and Needham got an equaliser a minute later when Pacey made a pig's ear of a save and the ball spilled through his arms. Needham Market clearly weren't keen on extra time and who could blame them with the rain continuing to pelt down and for the next 10 minutes the Robins were under the cosh. Ely then came back in to the game and Luke Parkinson came close on 82 and a blast from Austen Diaper one minute later was also close. In stoppage time both sides had chances to kill the tie, but neither of them did and the game went into extra time.
The first half of extra time was a bit of a damp squib after the excitement of normal time, but both sets of players were clearly tired. Ely had the ball in the back of the net, but it was clearly offside and nothing much happened. On 113 minutes Napier who had been the star on Saturday for Needham Market got the goal that put ely out of the cup. Ely weren't far off taking the game to penalties as both Murray and Beech hit the bar before the game was over. So near, but yet so far, but what a game!
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 miscommunication between Pacey and Adam Dalby and the unfortunate defender beat his own keeper with a back pass. That wasn't it for the first 15 though because on 28 minutes a Ben Lawrence special long throw, which Needham Market had been fearful of, fell at the far post for Luke Parkinson to tap in and make it 3-2 with less than half an hour gone. There weren't any more goals in the first half and Ely had slightly more possession, but Needham Market had the better chances.
The second half started with Needham Market attacking and desperate to get back in the game. Ely were being more cautious with Chadwick playing on his own up front as he had in the first half on Saturday. On 57 minutes Needham Market came close, but Pacey pulled of a good save . This seemed to wake Ely up a bit and on 61 they hit the crossbar from a crowded shot in the box. The mini revival was short-lived though, and Needham got an equaliser a minute later when Pacey made a pig's ear of a save and the ball spilled through his arms. Needham Market clearly weren't keen on extra time and who could blame them with the rain continuing to pelt down and for the next 10 minutes the Robins were under the cosh. Ely then came back in to the game and Luke Parkinson came close on 82 and a blast from Austen Diaper one minute later was also close. In stoppage time both sides had chances to kill the tie, but neither of them did and the game went into extra time.
The first half of extra time was a bit of a damp squib after the excitement of normal time, but both sets of players were clearly tired. Ely had the ball in the back of the net, but it was clearly offside and nothing much happened. On 113 minutes Napier who had been the star on Saturday for Needham Market got the goal that put ely out of the cup. Ely weren't far off taking the game to penalties as both Murray and Beech hit the bar before the game was over. So near, but yet so far, but what a game!
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