Ely City produced a second-half comeback to secure a deserved 2 - 1 victory on the road at Thetford Town, with Tom Stoker heading home an 88th minute winner.

Despite heavy rain throughout the morning, the surface was declared playable thanks to the efforts of the home ground staff.

Ely made a tentative start and were punished early. In just the 4th minute, Ben Newton reacted well to tip Diggens’ strike over the bar, but Thetford maintained the pressure from the resulting set-piece. The ball falling to King on the edge of the area, and he curled a sublime effort into the top corner to put the hosts 1-0 up.

Thetford enjoyed more possession for much of the half, with Newton called upon several times to keep City within touching distance, his sharp near-post save from King midway through the half the standout moment to keep it at just one to the hosts.

Ely gradually settled. Alex Brown and Stoker began to find pockets of space, with Beard and Young pushed higher from midfield for Thetford, it allowed City to build more controlled phases of play deeper in the Thetford half. Despite limited clear chances, the Robins started looking increasingly more composed as the half-time whistle approached.

HT: Thetford Town 1–0 Ely City

Ely emerged with renewed purpose and quickly showed signs of improvement, though Thetford had the first clear chance of the half, Newton once again standing tall in a 1v1 with Diggens.
Just minutes later, City capitalised on a mistake at the back as they pressed aggressively higher. A loose ball in the Thetford defence from a throw in fell to Brown, who kept his composure, turned inside and finished low across goalkeeper Harry Sutton to bring Ely level.

The goal shifted momentum, and City began to look increasingly assured as the half went on, defending strongly while asking more questions in the final third, as Friend and Stoker both went gradually closer for the Robins.

With the match finely balanced heading into the closing stages, Ely found the decisive moment.
After they defended an initial free-kick near the edge of their own area, City regained possession and countered. After good play down the right, the ball was partially cleared out the Thetford box. It was collected wide by sub Harley Murkin, whose resulting turn and teasing cross from the left found Stoker unmarked in the box, and he guided a clever glancing header into the far corner to complete the turnaround.

The hosts came close deep into added time when ex-Robin Antwan Ebanks-Blake headed narrowly wide, as City saw out the final moments to secure an important away win.

FT: Thetford Town 1-2 Ely City

Team; Newton, Kerr, Townshend, Ruddy, Partridge (C), Brannan, Sutcliffe, Brown, Friend, Stoker, Biggs.
Subs: Rigby, Murkin, Allan, Hamer.