The Robins started brightly, fast moving the ball and carving out early openings. In the opening 5 minutes, Tom Stoker played a perfectly weighted through ball to Jack Friend, but his cutback was blocked. Moments later, Ben Newton was called into action at the other end, saving well at his near post after a long ball caught the Ely back line on the turn.

Ely responded with sustained pressure. Alfie Rogers forced a save with a header from a corner, but on 10 minutes the breakthrough came. Harry Biggs delivered a superb corner to the back post, and Joe Brannan stooped to head home and give the Robins a deserved lead.

The goal ignited Ely. Jev Cook surged forward from defence, causing constant problems, and from another forced corner Rogers saw his headed effort cleared off the line. Biggs’ delivery continued to torment the hosts, and in the 38th minute it paid off again - Friend rising highest and glanced a header past the keeper into the far corner for 2–0.

With Ely now in complete control, Sammy Townshend began to dominate down the left flank. His pace and delivery stretched the Parson Drove defence, and after one cross just evaded Friend, the Robins struck again. Townshend burst away, whipped in a wicked low ball, and Stoker produced an audacious first-time flick over the keeper to make it three.

Right on the half-time whistle, Biggs won possession deep in midfield and threaded a delightful outside-of-the-boot pass to Stoker, the on form forward finished coolly under the keeper for his second and Ely’s fourth.

HT: FC Parson Drove 0 - 4 Ely City

The second half was more controlled and measured from Ely. Stoker had an early chance, forcing a save as he blasted toward goal. Drove came out with some fight for damaged limitation, hitting long balls to their forwards, but Rogers and the impressive Brannan with Josh Collins alongside fielded the threat.

Substitutes Harley Murkin and Charlie Sutcliffe injected fresh energy; Sutcliffe was twice denied in a number of minutes by the home keeper as Ely continued to threaten. Alex Kerr came close late on, Sutcliffe also turned inside the area and dragged wide, before Collins fired over from the edge of the box as the visitors continued to press right to the final whistle.

After two added minutes, the full-time whistle confirmed a superb away performance from the Robins, with the first half damage already done.

FT: FC Parson Drove 0 - 4 Ely City

The Robins have been drawn in the Semi Finals to face neighbours Soham Town Rangers, as they beat Histon the previous night 3-1. Lance Key’s side visit The Demcom on the 16th of December, 10 days before the Boxing Day clash at the Just George Stadium.

Team: Newton, Cook, Townshend, Rogers, Brannan, Collins, Brown, Fulianty, Friend, Stoker, Biggs.
Subs; Sutcliffe, Kerr, Allan, Murkin.

MediaTeam POTM: Joe Brannan