Ely City suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat on the road against Fakenham Town at the Daly Group Stadium, despite creating the better chances and applying long spells of pressure in a frustrating afternoon in Norfolk.

The Robins began brightly and were immediately on the front foot. Early deliveries into the box caused problems for the home defence, with efforts from debut forward James Moore and Alex Kerr blocked as Ely looked to make their early dominance count.
A superb move on the 10th minute nearly produced the breakthrough. Kerr found space down the right and delivered an excellent cross into the area, but Friend could only glance his header just wide of the post.

Ely continued to create openings. The excellent Charlie Sutcliffe slipped a clever ball inside for Moore, whose powerful effort was well saved by the Fakenham goalkeeper. Two minutes later Kerr was controversially shown a yellow card after a 50/50 challenge - a decision that surprised many and hinted at the stop-start nature the game would soon take under this official.

Further pressure followed as Sutcliffe saw a 20 yard effort blocked after good interplay with Kerr, while Jack Friend had another chance on 24 minutes after Jev Cook had burst down the left and picked him out, only for the shot to be blocked at the near post by the recovering defender.

The hosts gradually grew into the game and threatened from set pieces, the Robins Goalkeeper Ben Newton was forced into action on the half hour, stretching to tip the ball away before a back-post effort could be powered home.

Ely finished the half strongly. Sutcliffe again won possession deep and fed Moore, whose cross was parried by the Ghosts keeper. The loose ball eventually returned to Sutcliffe on the left, but his dangerous delivery was intercepted just as Friend prepared to shoot.
Despite Ely having the clearer chances, the sides went into the break goalless.

HT: Fakenham Town 0-0 Ely City

The second half began in similar fashion, though the referee remained busy with his whistle. Moore was booked shortly after the restart before the game’s decisive moment arrived in the 50th minute. A free kick awarded to the home side was only partially cleared, and a Fakenham midfielder struck a powerful effort from the edge of the area into the far corner to give the hosts the lead.

Ely almost found an immediate response when Friend was played through and knocked the ball past the goalkeeper, appearing to be clearly caught in the process, but appeals for a penalty were unbelievably waved away in another controversial decision by the man in the middle.
Moments later the match took another twist as Fakenham were reduced to ten men when their number four received a second yellow card following a very soft challenge in the midfield.

The Robins pushed hard to take advantage of the extra man. Friend forced another save at the near post and shortly after a snap shot was spilled by the goalkeeper, but Alfie Rogers could not convert the rebound.
Subs followed as Tobi Lawal replaced Sutcliffe and Harry Biggs came on for Moore, while Ely continued to bombard the Fakenham penalty area with crosses and set pieces. However, the home defence heroically held firm, throwing bodies on the line to protect their lead.

Frustration mounted late on. Lawal was shown another yellow card as the game became increasingly stop-start, while Ely continued to feel aggrieved by several decisions. Friend was again involved in controversy when he was flattened by the advancing goalkeeper while contesting a cross, only for the foul to be awarded the other way.
The closing stages brought further drama when Alex Brown was sent off after an off-the-ball incident during stoppage time whilst trying to retrieve the ball, leaving Ely with ten men as they chased an equaliser.

Even with bodies thrown forward in the final minutes, the decisive opening never came. Fakenham defended resolutely through seven minutes of added time to secure the points.

FT: Fakenham Town 1 - 0 Ely City

Team: Newton, Hamer, Cook, Collins, Rogers, Kerr, Fulianty, Sutcliffe, Brown, Moore, Friend.
Subs: Biggs, Allan, Lawal.

MediaTeam POTM: Charlie Sutcliffe