Guy Habbin was again forced to make last minute changes to his side, as Joe Brannan pulled out in the warm up and replaced by Dom Hunt. Louis Jenkins made his anticipated return at right wingback replacing the injured Alex Kerr.

Early stages of the game saw both sides matching up against one another as midfield battles for possession and keep ball kept any clear cut chances to a minimum.

Ely’s back line fielded any long balls, Alfie Rogers the pick of the back line winning every battle in the air.

First notable chance fell on 15 minutes, Jack Friend sprang up in the box and saw his powerful shot saved, Antwan Ebanks-Blakes follow up looked to strike a Hadleigh hand but the ref waved play on.

Hadleigh tried a hopeful punt up field and although it cleared last man Rogers, Tyler Key was quick out of his goal to head away outside his box.

The away sides direct approach then saw a chance with a long angled ball over the top, but before the forward could get a strike away on Key, Jacob Partridge slid in a perfectly timed challenge to win the ball.

Ely had another penalty claim turned down, Tatum Cartner delivered a deep free kick to the back post which was fumbled by the Keeper and as Toby Lawal looked to claim the loose ball, the recovering Blues stopper looked to clip away the Ely forwards ankle with his hand. Huge appeals but waved away as Hadleigh clung on.

The deadlock was broken on the half hour, as Ely forced a corner from a great save from Hadleigh’s number one. The resulting corner was beautifully delivered by Jenkins and PARTRIDGE powered in his header from 8 yards into the far top corner.

Ely continued to press high, Jev Cook and Jenkins pushing Hadleigh back down their wings and the front 3 not allowing the away side out.

Hadleigh did see a glimpse of goal on the half time whistle, their left sided forward got in front of Rogers but his attempted curled was taken out the air full stretch by Key and held to keep the score 1-0 to the home side.
Half time: Ely City 1 - 0 Hadleigh Utd

Second half started a little scrappy, as the game plans from both sides seemed to remain. Only a half chance for Friend was of any note for the first 15 minutes, before drama started to unfold.

On the hour mark, City could and maybe should have doubled their lead when a dangerous cross into the box from Cook saw Friend fine space, his shot was blocked and the ball scrambled to Lawal who saw his shot blocked and after some back and forth, was cleared by Hadleigh.

And it was a long hopeful punt down field by Hadleigh that gave them the chance to draw level, as the forward went one on one with Key, who spread himself well, blocking with his feet, but to everyone’s shock the ref signalled for a penalty. Clearly in line with the play, a mistake by the official who chose not to consult with his linesman who was in a better position.

Hadleigh, just as shocked didn’t argue and the forward dispatched with aplomb sending the unfortunate Key the other way, to level the scores.

Ely picked themselves up against the adversity and stuck to their game, again pressing high. Tom Stoker joined the game and instantly upped the attacking pace.

On 76 minutes, Ely got their deserved goal to put them back in front, Cook over lapping to a long pass from Hunt, before playing in Stoker outside the wide right. Stoker beat his man inside and out before pulling a ball back across the 6 yard box. It was stabbed clear as far as Baba CAMARA, who cooly bent a right foot curler round the closing defenders and into the corner of the net for 2-1 with 15 minutes to play!

Ely then took the control, keeping Hadleigh pegged in and lowering their back line, offering the home defence the control to win the long balls aimed towards their goal.

Hadleigh tried to find a late opening, but long balls found Hunt sweeping and Key took the sting out as he fielded anything stray in behind.

As the whistle drew, news came from Fakenham that the ‘ghosts’ had lost at home to Woodbridge, leaving the Robins to climb to the top of the tree by a point!

Hard work for the Ely boys, but grind out a tough game from Hadleigh and a controversial decision for the equaliser. It’s a long season, but the Robins are up there by merit and on and off the pitch, Ely City Football Club are on a high!

Team; Key, Cook, Partridge, Hunt, Rogers, Jenkins ©️, Camara, Cartner, Ebanks-Blake, Friend, Lawal.
Subs; Tagg, Theobold, Salmons, Brannan, Stoker.

Chris Gibson