Ely City Reserves produced a strong all-round performance to secure an emphatic 4–1 victory over Foxton, as Josh Townshend's double, brother Sam and Charlie Tunnell got in on the rout.

Ely started brightly but were quickly reminded of Foxton’s threat. Inside the opening minutes, the visitors forced a corner which was delivered in dangerously, only for the Robins stopper Joe Murfitt to produce a superb leaping save, tipping the flicked header over the bar to keep the scores level.

That early warning save from Murfitt proved pivotal, as Ely soon took control. On five minutes, Josh Townshend broke into the box and was brought down, leaving the referee with no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Up stepped Tunnell, who calmly dispatched the penalty, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to give the hosts an early lead.

The game settled into a scrappy rhythm midway through the half, with both sides battling for control. Sam Townshend found himself in the thick of it, having a goal disallowed for an apparent offside, before his next effort hit the side netting from an acute angle. George Lamb fired at the keeper for Ely as they looked mount more pressure, before Ben Harnwell then fired just over from 25 yards as he found space in the middle.
Jev Cook showed attacking intent down the right, though his delivery was well blocked. Foxton remained dangerous, coming close on 23 minutes when a well-worked move down the left ended with a curling effort drifting narrowly wide.

Ely continued to threaten, with the Townshend brothers linking up well and earning a corner after an eye-catching passage of play saw Sam's shot deflected wide. Their influence told again on 37 minutes, as Josh Townshend doubled the lead with a composed finish, being played in, beating his man, sidestepping another challenge, and slotting confidently past the keeper to make it 2-0 at the break.

HT: Ely City Reserves 2-0 Foxton

The second half began in perfect fashion for Ely. Just three minutes after the restart, Sam Townshend again the provider as he drove to the by-line and squared for his brother, who tapped in from close range to make it 3-0. Moments later, Murfitt was called into action again, producing a sharp save to deny Foxton and maintain Ely’s commanding lead.
Foxton did manage a response on 55 minutes, capitalising on a foul out wide by Tom Saunderson. A well-delivered free kick was met with a powerful header that gave Murfitt little chance, reducing the deficit to 3-1.

However, Ely responded immediately. Straight from the restart, Sam Townshend restored the three-goal cushion, a lofted ball caught the Foxton defence out as Townshend raced in underneath it, before lifting the ball over the advancing keeper in a confident finish.

From there, Ely controlled proceedings. Sam Townshend continued to find space and cause problems, while sub Dani Carvalho and winger Conor Loker were involved in further attacking moves that kept Foxton on the back foot. Cook also produced a moment of brilliance, embarking on a surging run through multiple defenders before being denied one-on-one by the outstretch foot of the Foxton goalkeeper.

Defensively, Ely remained disciplined despite a late push from Foxton, who threw men forward in the closing stages. Carvalho should have grabbed a 5th for Ely on the counter, but after he cleverly beat his man, he fired over on his left.

In the end, Ely City Reserves ran out deserved 4-1 winners, with the Townshend brothers at the heart of an impressive attacking display and Murfitt providing key saves when required.

Team: Murfitt, Cook, Baxter, Diver, Saunderson, Tunnell, S. Townshend, Harnwell, Lamb, J. Townshend, Loker.
Subs; Mazey, Logan, Chivers, Heron, Carvalho.

POTM: Josh Townshend