Ely City were left frustrated at the Demcom as a spirited second-half performance went unrewarded, with Great Yarmouth Town snatching the points with a late winner in the testing, rain-soaked conditions.

The visitors got the game underway, and it was a fairly even opening as both sides settled into the contest. Yarmouth looked to play direct early on, testing the aerial strength of Rob Ruddy and Alfie Rogers, who largely stood firm. Ely showed early promise through Joe Tarpey in midfield, winning possession deep and driving his side forward.

The breakthrough, however, came for the away side on 12 minutes. A long throw was only partially cleared and the ball fell invitingly on the edge of the box, where the Bloaters forward struck a superb volley into the top corner, giving Ely Keeper Ben Newton no chance. Ely thought they had responded soon after when Ruddy nodded home a scrambled ball from a corner, but the referee ruled out the goal for a foul in the build-up.

Yarmouth continued to pose a threat from set plays, while Ely struggled at times to play out under pressure. As the half wore on, the Robins began to build momentum, with Aaron Hamer and Rogers combining well down the right, but Rogers' effort went just wide. The best chance of the half fell to Tobi Lawal just before the break, latching onto a delightful outside-of-the-boot pass from Alex Brown, but the advancing keeper blocked his clever attempt.

HT: Ely City 0 - 1 Great Yarmouth

Ely emerged with more intent after the restart. Jack Friend tested the keeper early on, and despite worsening weather conditions, the Robins pushed higher up the pitch. Tarpey and Hamer both went close as Ely sustained their pressure, the rain making the surface increasingly slippery and unpredictable.

Just moments after Brown had produced a crucial goal-line clearance to deny Yarmouth at the other end, Ely finally found their equaliser on 69 minutes. Hamer again burst forward, the ball was worked inside, and Brown stepped onto it confidently, firing a strike into the far corner to deservedly level the score.

The Robins looked the more likely winners as chances followed. Ruddy curled an effort agonisingly off the inside of both posts with a curling effort, while Lawal broke through one-on-one only to slide his shot inches wide as Ely continued to press with belief of a winner.

But football can be cruel- and with just three minutes of normal time remaining, another long throw caused problems. The ball was headed clear only as far as a Yarmouth midfielder, who drove a low shot through a crowded box and into the corner of the net to restore the visitors’ lead.

Ely threw everything forward in stoppage time. On his debut, Fin Edwards came agonisingly close to being a instant hero with a chance just inside the box, but his effort bounced up and unlikely for the youngster, over the bar. Moments later, the final whistle confirmed a harsh defeat.

FT: Ely City 1 - 2 Great Yarmouth Town

Team; Newton, Hamer, Kerr, Partridge, Rogers, Ruddy, Brown, Tarpey, Friend, Lawal, Sutcliffe,

Subs: Biggs, Cook, Fulianty, Edwards

POTM: Alex Brown