Ely City's first ever visit to Lincoln Road home of Peterborough Sports of the UCL Premier Division gave them a good work out at most probably one of the best Step 5 sides that the Robins we will come against this season.

Sports on the back of a United Counties League Division 1 title and League Cup double have aspirations to progress up the non-league pyramid and they have assembled a side full of experience and now how at this level. The first half was a good lesson of when not to give the ball away to cheaply while making space for your teammates to make runs into good areas. Sports made the pitch as big as they could when they had the ball and Ely found it hard to play they pressing game to any effect.

Ely found ourselves 1-0 down within side the first five minutes when Ollie Brookes standing in at right back could not deal with the Sports winger and his shot across Harry Reynolds found the back of the next off the far post. Shorty afterwards it was two when a searching ball from midfield got behind the Ely back four on the left and when the cross came in there seemed to be some confusion between Harry Reynolds and Ash Walter and the ball was left for the advancing forward to tap in.

Ely did try and play football ,but never retained possession long enough to create any chance and it 3-0 mid way through the first half when Ash Walter got caught with the ball at his feet , the advancing Sports player could not beat Harry Reynolds from his first attempt but his save could prevent the rebound being put away.

Mason Newman had Ely's only shot on target in the first half when he struck straight at the keeper.

The second half saw an improvement with the introduction of some senior players and although Ely kept the ball better it was Sports who had the majority of chances with Harry Reynolds foiling them on a number of occasions.

Joe Peacock and Jordy Baker had half chances to get one back, but with possession being given away again on the half way line and a ball over the top found the Sports striker power his way pass Ash Walter and even though the first shot was saved the rebound was despatched for Sports fourth

Brady Stone commented afterwards that he doubts you will see to more powerful physical energetic forwards at this level so it was a good test for us in that respect. We knew when we arranged the fixture that it was going to be a tough game, but that is what we wanted before the start of the season on Tuesday

Ely Line-Up : H.Reynolds,O.Brookes, S.Saberton, S.Goodge ,A.Walter, T.Williams,L.Hook,M.Newman,J.Seymour,J.Peacock,J.Baker Subs all used : J.Alsop,L.Griffin,M.Simpson,G.Darling