The Cambs Invitation Cup semi-final came to the Unwin tonight when the Robins entertained Cambridge University Press FC. Holders Ely knew that it would be a difficult tie against the 1st Division leaders. It was a cold murky night and the mist would get thicker and thicker as the night wore on. The pitch was very heavy and the ball would be difficult to control on the sticky surface.
The Robins started at top speed and forced the Press to defend in depth. They were the more powerful team and penned the visitors into their own half and it was 10 minutes before Press got over the halfway line and then that was just a long ball that Lee Pacey collected easily. Austen Diaper and Luke Parkinson were causing trouble out wide and getting the ball into the box keeping the Press defenders and keeper Phil Peachey at full stretch. On 15 minutes Tino Diaper hit a cross field pass out to Luke, he tried to get to the bye-line but was crowded out and the ball ran for a corner. The corner came in with defenders and attackers all going for it, it ran away from them towards the back post and Richard Chadwick was there to force it home from a couple of yards. 1 - 0
Ely continued to be on top Adam Murray and Chads both had chances but the keeper dealt with them. It was on 27 minutes that CUP had their first meaningful effort. A ball from centre field was played out the wide man on the right, he had space he travelled into the box and shot but Pace got down well and turned the ball round for a corner. Three minutes later a long throw into the box was cleared to just outside the box where Josh Curry hit a shot but it was over the bar. Two minutes later Tino got the ball into the middle Chads latched on to it and turned it past the advancing keeper into the net only to see the Assistant raise his flag for offside. The last ten minutes of the half saw the ball going back and forward Andrew Claydon had an effort saved and Tino hit an effort wide before CUP got away down the left and as the ball came in they got off shot which Pace parried. It fell to the wide man who shot wide when he could have done better. Ely managed to get the ball into the net yet again following a Josh Curry free kick. The ball appeared to go in off a CUP player but the Assistant flagged for an Ely player offside. The whistle went for the break with Ely still in the lead.
The second period started and Ely immediately went forward and got a couple of early corners and Ben Lawrence was putting throws into the box but Press were getting the ball away. Ely’s main pressure was coming down the left with the two Parkys causing trouble but there were no actual shots coming in. On 58 minutes Adam Murray was shown yellow for descent when he threw the ball down (When people get away with poor tackles it seems ridiculous to show yellow for frustration I believe anyway) There were still individual mistakes being made on this pitch but CUP were trying to play football but Ely were not allowing them to do it. On 64 minutes Nick Impey replaced Porky Claydon. CUP on 65 minutes did get a man free on 65 minutes and Pace had to make a double save to keep him out. Ely then got a second goal on 70 minutes. A ball was collected out on the left placed inside to Liam Bolton, he hit a pass out to the right Chris Sterecki ran on to it beating the CUP man to the ball. He cut inside went past two tackles with a mazy run and hit a low shot past Peachey into the net for an excellent goal 2 - 0
On 73 minutes Ely pressure down on the left saw a cross come in from Sam Parkinson but Chads header was saved. Nick Impey then got in behind the defender but his shot was saved and a second effort was well wide. On 78 minutes Chads was replaced by Richard Gammon On 80 minutes a ball came back out of the box and Bolts hit a good shot from 20 yards but it was too straight and saved by the keeper. Two minutes later Mussa headed over from a corner. On 85 minutes Josh Bridgeman replaced Luke Parkinson. The ball was still back and forth and to CUP’s credit they never gave up and tried to play but in the end it was an Ely victory that the deserved as they were the stronger and better team on the night.
The Robins now go forward to face Cambridge City in the final and we all wish them luck for that match