A crowd of over 430 enjoyed the good weather at Downham on Saturday as the Robins played their first ever play off match.
Ely had a record of 2 wins and 1 defeat to Downham during this season but that counts for nothing where the playoffs are concerned. A good contingent of Robins fans made the short trip in a hopeful mood.
However, once we were underway it was obvious that the home side were fired up for this encounter.
The Robins spent a lot of the first period chasing shawdows as the Downham team kept pressing down the flanks.
On 16 Minutes Downham took the lead via a shot which deflected in off the Ely keeper and into the net.
Ely had a quite changed lineup from recent games with Tobi Lawal returning and Finley Logan stepping in from the reserves but Louis Jenkins was again unavailable and Ely also missed long term injured Dom Hunt and Tatum Cartner.
All the pressure was coming from the hosts until near half time when some pressure was put on Downham via some dangerous long throws and then a decent cross by Tobi Salmon. The cross leading to Ely's best change of the half when Charlie Root acrobatically hit an overhead kick from close range but the keeper was equal to it.
Ht 1-0
Things got better for City in the opening 15 minutes of the 2nd period as the introduction of Tabi Lawall from the bench injected some pace into the attack. Ely started to really put Downham under pressure and looked very dangerous.
Sadly on 65 Minutes Downham stole possession out on the right wing and the Winger placed a great shot low into the corner, Tyler Key had little chance to stop it.
Only 3 minutes later the game was over when a superb long range effort evaded Key and nestled in the back of the net.
The game was over at that point but Ely kept battling and deserve so much credit from the way they have performed this season.
Last season the team gained only 29 points and 8 wins, this season a massive 72 points and 21 wins, what a season we have all had!
Well done Guy, Matt and all the players and backroom staff.

FT 3-0
Team - Tyler Key, Joe Brannan, Alex Kerr, Aaron Hamer, Jacob Partridge, Charlie Root, Alex Brown, Toby Salmon, Finley Logan, Tom Stoker, Jack Friend,
Subs - Tobi Lawal, Alex Theobold, Sam Tagg, Jevon Cook, Ash Dobson