A sharp display from Sam Tagg and a resolute back line saw Ely City open their season with a confident 2–0 victory over Harleston Town. Goals from Tagg and Jack Friend sealed all three points at the Demcom Stadium, setting the tone for a campaign filled with ambition.

After last season’s narrow playoff miss, Guy Habbin’s young side were clearly out to make a statement and despite several absentees due to holidays and injuries, they looked organised, disciplined, and dangerous throughout.

The match took place on Youth Takeover Day, part of the club’s summer merger celebrations, with a crowd of 217 in attendance braving the afternoon showers. And debutant Harley Murkin wasted no time announcing himself, pressing high and hard to put Harleston under early pressure.

Both teams started with urgency, and it was the visitors who carved out the first real chance, with Turner cutting inside and testing Jacob Partridge, who stood firm with a key block. Moments later, Durham pounced on a through ball from Gilmour but fired over from distance.

That warning shot sparked the Robins into life. A rapid counter from a Harleston corner saw Aaron Hamer switch play brilliantly to Jack Friend, whose driving run ended with a low cross from Harry Edwards that narrowly missed the arriving Tagg at the far post.

The breakthrough came just after the half-hour mark. Murkin found space down the right channel and delivered a clever ball between two defenders - Tagg ghosted in, took one touch, and fired low into the near corner to make it 1–0. City nearly doubled their lead before the break, with Murkin forcing a smart save from Sutton and later heading just wide from a corner.

HT: Ely City 1–0 Harleston Town

After the restart, Harleston began to enjoy more of the ball, but Ely’s defence - marshalled by Partridge, Alfie Rogers, and Joe Brannan, remained firm under pressure. The impressive Gilmour tried to spark creativity for the Magpies, but the Robins stayed compact and disciplined.

As gaps began to appear in Harleston’s shape, Ely pounced. Substitute Tobi Lawal made a lively impact, carrying the ball forward into the spaces. One surge up field led to a blocked shot from Friend, while another ended with Lawal narrowly dragging a shot wide after breaking away down the left.

A crucial interception from Charlie Root then stopped a dangerous Harleston move, and City countered again - Lawal was brought down on the edge of the box as the game began to stretch.

Ely’s persistence paid off late on. Root brought down a high ball in midfield and released Friend with a perfectly weighted pass. As Friend raced through, Ebbage hauled down the forward inside the area and was promptly shown red for denying a clear scoring opportunity. Friend dusted himself off and coolly sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-0 putting the result beyond doubt.

The final whistle followed soon after, wrapping up a well-earned clean sheet and a flying start to the season for the Robins.

Ely City XI: Newton, Partridge, Rogers, Brannan, Hamer, Edwards, Root, Tagg, Sutcliffe, Friend, Murkin
Subs: Sanderson, Biggs, Ruddy, Lawal, Urbonas

Player of the Match: Sam Tagg