The Robins welcomed back Joe Brannan and Alex Kerr into the back line after minor knocks, with Jack Friend also back in the starting eleven taking his place up front.
City started lively, with a high press in the Bloaters half creating chances in the final third. On 10 minutes, Aaron Hamer was fouled inside the oppositions half. Tatum Cartner delivered a brilliant ball to the back play, where Jacob Partridge rose above everyone to head at goal- but his bullet effort was tipped away by the Keeper.
The half continued with some very tight and edgy play, both teams matching up between each box.
Hamer and Kerr linked up well to put the latter in behind, but his dangerous cross was scrambled away.
Tackles continued to come in, hard and fair- but also niggly fouls started to creep in as Yarmouth’s forward was booked for a late challenge on Cartner, and Cartner picked up a caution for a similar offence.
Ely closed off the half on the front foot, as the lively Friend drew a block from the keeper from an angle, Hamer then robbed the midfielder and slipped a pass through to Friend yet again. This time, he rolled his defender before drawing the keeper- but his clipped effort over the advancing stopper just crept past the post. Yarmouth did see a chance from long distance with a well worked move, but Tyler Key was alert to gather comfortably.
Both defences had stood firm, Ely’s more so in an evenly placed game as both teams went in level at 0-0.
HT; Ely City 0 - 0 Great Yarmouth Town
Second half, Yarmouth continued their defensive resilience but also started to create some half chances, a long ball round the back found the Yarmouth forward- but a beautifully timed challenge from Jev Cook put the ball out for a corner.
Kerr was replaced by Baba Camara due to injury and Camara was at the heart of the move where Ely thought they’d taken the lead. A long switch from Hamer from right to the left wing found Camera out wide, he skilfully weaved inside before delivering across the box and Tobi Lawal stroked home- only to see the linesman’s flag raised.
Tensions raised as the minutes ticked away, fouls starting to add up as both Teams tireless effort showed.
Ely found the Yarmouth keeper at full stretch, Alfie Rogers testing him from distance, before Key was called into action as he parried away an effort and Cook cleared before the striker could tap in.
Controversy came with 15 to go, when Cartner was adjudged to have shoved his man over into the Ely box as the away team appealed a penalty. The officials in discussion eventually came to the verdict the shoulder barge from Cartner was outside the box, but Ely’s number 7 was dismissed for his second yellow. The free kick was then put harmlessly over.
Down to 10, Ely kept the ball better and tried to hit Yarmouth on the break. Friend skinned his man on the counter but was hustled out by the defenders, before Stoker flashed an angled effort just wide.
Cook’s eyes lit up 25 yards out, but his shot untroubled the keeper and in the 90th minute, Yarmouth thought they had broke free as the winger bore down on goal, but Camara tracked back superbly and slid in before a shot on goal could be taken.
As the referee whistled for full time, the game ended goalless before any tensions could boil over.
A hard fought contest saw both teams have chances throughout, Ely mustering the better of them. The Bloaters keeper the busier of both, with some crucial stops. Ely’s back line again keeping a clean sheet for the second game in a row all come away with much credit.
Ely City 0 - 0 Great Yarmouth Town
Team; Key, Kerr, Rogers, Partridge ©️, Brannan, Cook, Hamer, Cartner, Stoker, Friend, Lawal.
Subs; Tagg, Salmons, Camara, Theobold, Ebanks-Blake.
Chris Gibson
cjgibsonuk@hotmail.com