Match Report Ely City Under 18s 1 Bedworth United Under 18s 2

Both sides were looking to progress for the first time in their history into the 1st Round proper and it was the visitors from Warwickshire that went into the hat for the draw after an emotional end to the game.

The Robins already without influential midfielder Lewis Hook through injury suffered a big blow the day before the game when Alex Brown injured his knee in training with his college side and ended up on crutches.

Boasted by a good size crowd of 142 the ground was fairly quiet as Bedworth started brightly with the home side looking distinctively nervous. The Greenbacks had already had one shot wide before their took the lead in the 3rd minute when Ely did not close down quickly enough on their own edge of the box and a left foot shot passed a fairly static Jake Alsop in the bottom hand corner.

Ely could not get hold of midfield where they are normally fairly dominant which meant creating anything going forward was proving difficult. As the half went on the game evened out and The Robins looked most dangerous with the outlet of wide player Tom Thulborn causing the Bedworth left back problems. Jacob Waters had a great chance six yards out, but placed his shot wide

The first half ended fairly evenly, but with Bedworth just ahead with the early strike

The home side started the 2nd half much more brightly and a Dan Maund shot wide and a George Raynor free kick showed signs that this game was not out of Ely's reach. As the game opened up Bedworth did create a number of chances themselves, but it was substitute Brandon Bishop who had a good run and shot that brought out a good save from the visitors number one .

George Raynor who had a fairly quiet game by his standards almost got on the end of a cross,but rather than go with his head tried to get a touch on the ball with his foot and the chance went begging.

With the game now becoming stretched at both ends Bedworth created a great chance to go 2-0 up but the lively forward placed his shot wide

As the game entered the finally 15 minutes Ely eventually got the break through that their endeavour in the 2nd half deserved. A free kick from the left by Charlie Tunnell was cleared by the central defender and the ball dropped to Dan Maund outside of the box and he managed to adjust his body and hit a sweet volley which sailed over the keeper's head into the top corner. A great strike to get The Robins level and with the home crowd now starting to make some noise it was game on.

The goal seemed to re focus Bedworth attitude going forward and went close with another attempt. The game could have been won by Ely's Brandon Bishop, but scuffed his shot wide when one on one with the keeper. Bedworth still looked the more dangerous going into the final few minutes and with their forward bearing down on Jake Alsop Ely's Charlie Tunnell came from nowwhere to put a block on the shot.

The big moment came in the game right at the death as Ely firstly did not clear their lines properly and conceded a corner. From the resulting corner the Bedworth attacker won the ball and placed a header goal bound. Ronan Kerr was on the post and as the ball came towards him edged his arm towards the ball. The referee did not see it ,but the assistant on the far side did and correctly indicated for a penalty to the dismay of the majority of the crowd. After consulting with he assistant the referee pointed to the spot and then sent the distraught Kerr off . The penalty was converted and sent the Greenbacks through into the next round.

Mark Leonard joint Manager of the Robins side commented after the game
'I thought it was a pretty even game all round with neither side creating many clear cut chances.
Dave and I both thought we didn't do enough first half to stamp our authority on the game,but the lads gave their all second half and but for a dubious penalty we could still be in it.
The lads were absolutely gutted after the game, but they should be very proud we've got this far,we've had 3 very tough away games and the performance away at A.F.C Rushden and Diamonds was amazing.
We can now concentrate on the league which we have a more realistic chance of winning.