football rambles

 The last time I went to Ely City a couple of weeks ago it was an entertaining game and this game didn't disappoint either - even if the result did. Like in the game against Lakenheath things didn't start too well for Ely with them going in at the break 2-0 down. When they had a chance at some retribution when rewarded a penalty a feeble Jack Friend shot was easily saved by the Harleston keeper. Ely came out as a different team in the second half and Luke Mansfield soon pulled a goal back. Towards the end Ely were awarded another penalty. This time Charlie Tunnel stepped up and he didn't miss. There were only a few minutes left on the clock and Ely pushed for a winner. However, they were caught out and Harleston got a winner on the break.

 This was a game that neither team wanted to lose and this was clear from the offset. After both teams getting off to good starts, reality has set in and both are in the lower part of mid-table. It was imperative that Cambridge got off to a good start to the season - which they did - as there are going to be several rough patches in the season for a team with such as small squad and this is probably one of them. The first-half was a nervous affair for both teams. Cambridge looked the stronger of the two but it was no surprise really when the first half finished goalless. Cambridge did however start the second half with more attacking intent and pushed for an opening goal. Substitutions around the hour mark when Jannah came on for Gordon and Adam May for an out of sorts Lankester further galvanised the team. The breakthrough came about though from an unlikely source on 69 minutes when Michael Morrison finished beautifully from distance after waltzing through the Shrewsbury defence. It w

 I must be some sort of lucky charm for Southport. I have been to two of their games this season and as it happens it's the two games that they won and scored 7 for and let 3 in, so they've also been fairly high scoring affairs. After my plans were thwarted to go to King's Lynn v Buxton were thwarted by National Rail, I decided to go to this game. I always enjoy a football trip to Bishop's Stortford, although usually I tend to see Enfield down there. The visitor's took an early lead when a save was parried in the path of Mikey O'Neill who scored on 3 minutes to make it 1-0. Both sides continued to create chances, but it was Stortford who managed to get an equaliser shortly after having a penalty appeal turned down. Andre Marie Godfrinne got the ball with his back to goal and turned and shot the ball into the bottom left corner. There were several more chances in the half, but it ended 1-1. Bishop's Stortford caught the visitors napping just after the break a

 I wasn't expecting much from my first visit to what is known at the moment as the Demcom Arena. Ely flirted with relegation last year, and would probably have been closer if it wasn't for some really lousy teams. This season hasn't got off to a much better start. They went into this game with a record of won 1, drawn 1 and lost 7. Their opponents, Lakenheath on the other hand were riding high at the top of the league and were unbeaten going into this game. It looked like it was going to be a long day when Lakenheath took the lead early on from a ball that took a nasty bobble to take it past the goalkeeper. However, Ely were soon on even terms and went on to convincingly beat Lakenheath in an entertaining 5-3 win. It was almost enough to convince me to go down there again even when there isn't a train strike on!