With still a few absentees, Guy Habbin drafted in 'on-dual reg' new signing Josh Collins for the absent skipper Jacob Partridge, and Joe Tarpey on a short term deal.
Alex Kerr and Jev Cook returned to the squad, as well as Sam Townshend promoted from the Reserves.

In very warm conditions, both sides started the game scrappy – although the away side the more productive as they pressed early high up the field forcing several corners from blocks.
Ely keeper Ben Newton had to be alert from a flicked header from an inswinger, clawing it away off his line before Alfie Rogers hacked away.
The home side adapted to the higher press by springing diagonal long balls out, the impressive Aaron Hamer hitting a superb cross pass into the path of Friend but was crowded out as he approached the Willows box.

Dictating the centre of the field, Walsham centre midfielder Gayfer took a chance from 40 yards, seeing Newton off his line – but his outrageous hit drifted just wide of the post.
Ely’s first real chance at goal came half way through the half, as good play between Collins and Joe Brannan saw Brannan delivery a pinpoint centre over the top, Friend knocked down and Hamer arrived to strike first time just over the bar.
Ely formed some momentum finally, as Cook got away down the left, his dangerous cross just deceiving Friend and Tom Stoker to put away.
There was enough time for both sides to take a lead into the break, as first a Walsham free kick saw Newton claim brilliantly as the forward looked free to head on, then Friend should have seen Ely take the lead but as he got in between the two defenders, he pulled just wide from the penalty spot, much to his frustration.

HT: Ely City 0 – 0 Walsham Le Willows

The second half started much the same as the first. Walsham had early possession and looked to peg Ely back. But Ely came out rejuvenated after soaking up the pressure, in space of 3 minutes, they had two clear cut chances. First, good work from Root and Brown saw Stoker slipped in down the right, he cut into the box but pulled his effort just wide of the far post.
Then the next counter, Tarpey and Hamer combined, this time the ball bouncing up for Hamer to hit a rasping shot, which the Walsham keeper did well to turn behind.
As the game opened up, Walsham hit long to catch Ely, but Collins headed away as the Walsham forward try tried to receive a ball over the top. Friend then was found in behind, and as the ball bounced between him, the defender and the keeper, he nodded over the onrushing stopper, but it clipped the wrong side of the post and wide.

The game itself became scrappy, but the referee was making some interesting decisions in judgement of very soft tackles, one so that after questioning what intent a foul was made, debutant Collins was sent to the sin bin for apparently dissent – much to the surprise of those around him. From the resulting free kick, Walsham took an emphatic lead. Chaplin for Walsham hit a sweet strike over the wall and into the top right hand corner, giving Newton no chance. An outstanding effort to break the deadlock of a game that had had little quality up till then.
They could have doubled that lead with 15 minutes to go, another wicked delivery into the box by Chaplin found his forwards head – but Newton stuck out an arm, pushing over the bar from close range.

A triple change saw Ely go for it, but left them exposed at the back, a long ball in behind Brannan saw the Walsham forward into the box but Newton again made himself big and smother blocked at his near post to keep it at 1-0.
And that proved to be decisive, as a minute later on 82 minutes, sub Alex Kerr linked up with Hamer, Hamer driving into the box but was upended and the penalty was given with a chance for the Robins to level.
Friend stepped up and blasted it to the keeper’s right to equalise.
Both sides had a chance to pinch it late, a scramble in the Walsham box saw a shot blocked from Kerr, before Walsham were denied by Brannan with a crunching challenge when it seemed destined for the Willows forward to blast home.

The final whistle ended a game of little to split the sides as the score line reflected and probably a fair result. Walsham were play off runners up last year, so you feel will be up there again beside the Robins hopefully come May.

FT: Ely City 1 – 1 Walsham Le Willows

Team: Newton, Hamer, Collins, Rogers, Brannan, Cook, Root, Brown, Tarpey, Stoker, Friend.
Subs; Kerr, Sutcliffe, Townshend, Biggs, Saunderson.

Man of the Match: Ben Newton