The young Robins started brightly, dominating the early spells of possession as their high press and pace forced Heacham deep inside their own half. Ely were unlucky not to open the scoring after an excellent move down the right, but the final ball just evaded a finishing touch.

As Heacham defended resolutely, the tempo of the game dipped and Ely began to show signs of frustration with a few misplaced passes disrupting their rhythm. However, the breakthrough eventually arrived in emphatic fashion.
Finn Edwards, fresh from making his first team debut the previous Saturday, was played in diagonally from the right. Taking a quick glance up, Edwards met the ball on the half-volley and thundered it over the helpless Heacham goalkeeper into the far corner.

Ten minutes later, Ely doubled their advantage. Iggy Rohloff collected the ball inside the left channel, drove across the Heacham back line and fired a shot that took a deflection before striking the far post and bouncing into the net.
It was a strong finish to the half for the home side, who went into the break firmly in control.

HT: Ely City U18s 2 - 0 Heacham U18s

The second half began at a slower pace. Ely introduced a couple of changes that appeared to disrupt the tempo they had built in the first half, and the game became increasingly congested in midfield - something that suited Heacham’s more physical and direct style.
Heacham soon pulled a goal back following sustained pressure from set pieces. A perfectly delivered ball into the box found their towering forward, who rose highest to loop a header into the far corner.

The goal lifted the visitors, who began to sense an opportunity. Ely retreated deeper as Heacham continued to apply pressure, and the equaliser arrived just after the hour mark. A direct ball in behind allowed the striker to combine neatly with his strike partner before calmly slotting past Reece Hall.
Ely captain Oskarus Urbonas quickly rallied his side, demanding more aggression and urgency. Leading by example, he surged forward from defence to slide a pass into Archie Ashton, whose through ball narrowly failed to reach Edwards.

Gradually Ely regained their composure and began to stretch the play into wider areas once again - an approach that had served them well earlier. It ultimately proved decisive.
A slick exchange of first-time passes between Jack Bratton and Ashton created the opening, with Ashton delivering a superb cross into the box. Voyse arrived at pace to meet it and fired home to restore Ely’s lead with 10 minutes remaining.

From there, the Robins managed the closing stages well, seeing out the remaining minutes to secure a hard-fought three points.

FT: Ely City U18s 3 - 2 Heacham U18s

Team: Hall, Ingram, Constable, Urbonas (C), Heffer, Searle, Rohloff, Golden-Oguguo, Matthews, Edwards, Ashton.
Subs: Voyse, Lampshire, Howlett, Bratton.

MediaTeam POTM: Oskarus Urbonas.