After the midweek demolition of Heacham in the league Tuesday night, Guy Habbin made a couple of changes to keep his side fresh. Tom Rigby and Aaron Hamer came into the line-up as Charlie Sutcliffe and Harry Biggs swapped to the bench, Sam Townshend came back into he side from the Reserves as Tom Stoker was away.

Both side in reasonable form settled into their own games, neat and tidy – although the Robins were a little more pressing in the first quarter of an hour – and had the first chance on goal.
An excellent piece of play through the middle saw Alex Kerr get inside the box and unleash an effort at goal which Pearson in the Fakenham goal turned away.
Tom Rigby was also too impressive in the middle of the park, he gave the Robins possession deep inside the Fakenham half and kept the ball well as Fakenham then struggled to get out of their half.
At the other end, the away side tried to build into the last third, but Rob Ruddy, Jacob Partridge and Alfie Rogers were compact and made it difficult to break into the box. It was Ruddy who helped create the next chance, as he dis-possessed the attacker and played a clever ball to Brown. Brown advanced and slipped to Kerr, his first time ball found Friend who managed to get into some space, but the ball was poked away before he could go for goal.
It was Townshend however that was the thorn in Fakenham’s side, as he got the ball down and ran at them. Hamer with an exquisite ball in behind saw Townshend get away but was up ended as he made his way to goal. The half passed with limited clear-cut chances, as Pearson in the Ghosts goal made a routine stop from Friend before Newton came out and collected at the forwards feet.

HT: Ely City 0 – 0 Fakenham Town

The second half opened just as cagey, with Ely holding their compressed line and looking to open up Fakenham on the counter. An injury to Rigby saw him replaced by Harry Biggs, as the Robins looked to take control early of the midfield.
As the hour mark ticked over, the away side started to come into the game more, although over hit passes and some close defending from Partridge limited Fakenham anything clear. Townshend then took the game by the scruff, as his pace started to stretch Fakenham’s tired defence. Biggs found the winger in behind and he danced through, but his pull back eluded Friend on the stretch. He then found himself clear on the far side and as he made his way towards the box, he was upended and the Ghosts defender booked as Townshend received treatment. The more fouls conceded deep by Fakenham saw the ball crossed in dangerously on several occasion. First Ruddy was inches off the back post from nodding home, before Rogers powered a header on goal only to see it blocked. Fakenham snatched a chance against the run of play, a miskick in the Ely 6 yard box ricochet off the forward and it just crept past Newton’s post. There was still time for another foul and booking as Townshend kept running at the retreating Fakenham line and it was that man again who was hauled down when through on goal on 84 minutes. A beautiful ball over the top saw Sam run onto the ball and bare down on goal, only to be pulled back by an outstretched arm and to fall to the floor. The defender was sent off as Fakenham put their backs to wall for the closing 6 minutes of normal time.
Ely pressed for a winner, but the game finished goal less, taking the tie to penalties.

FT: Ely City 0 – 0 Fakenham Town

There was drama there, where Fakenham missed and Ely had a chance to win it – but Pearson in the Ghosts goal saved Rogers effort, despite being 6 yards off his line at the point of strike but the linesman failed to give it. That saw the Ghosts level again, only for Jev Cook to fire over in sudden death. (Fakenham win 7-6 on penalties)
A cruel end to a great display by the Robins. Fakenham clung on throughout and scrape through to the next round.

Subs; Brannan, Biggs, Sutcliffe, Root.

POTM: Sam Townshend