Ely booked a place in the 2nd Round Qualifying and a home time with Diss Town. This was after a scrappy, wet sodden display that required extra time.

Jamie Alsop returned to the starting line-up along side Liam Grffin with George Darling being unavailable and Matty Simpson dropping down onto the bench. On the bench saw new signing Kelvin Enaro and Daniel Jeffrey returning from injury.

The first half was a fairly dour affair although Alex Theobald did have the ball in the net at the second attempt, but was ruled to be in an offside position by the assistant referee. Tom Williams headed straight at the keeper while James Seymour from six yards out should have done matter with his effort shooting wide. The away side did not really create to mauch in the way of chances, but did have a great chance before the break but Lopez from fired wide the free- kick.

As the second half started so the heavens opened up and Kirkley seemed to come out with a little more belief and the Robins were very slow to get going. Alex Theobald put a header over the bar and a Spencer Saberton cross shot tested the keeper.

Robins introduced both Matty Simpson and Kelvin Enaro to make his debut and his direct running at defenders caused the Kirkley side all sorts of problems

The break through came in the 65th minute when an Ash Walter corner was swung in and the Kirkley keeper seemed to lose his bearings and all he could do was help the ball into the net.

After that both sides did create a couple more chances, but in the 80th minute the game turned when captain James Seymour was clearly pushed from behind by a defender in the box while attacking a corner. The referee and surprisingly the assistant referee seemed not to make a decision and Kirkley broke and a left wing cross found Lewis Hammond who headed home at the far post.

Ely responded well and created four good chances with the best coming from Tom Williams who's shot somehow came up a defender and away for a corner when you would have put money on the ball flying into the net.

Kirkley also looked for a winner, but in the end the game went into extra time.

Both sides went for the winner,but in the 10th minute of extra time Ely took the lead again when an Ash Walter cross found Tom Williams creeping in and although the keeper saved the first effort Williams made sure with his second effort.

No sooner had the game restated when Kirkley equalised again. Liam Griffin's attempted block on Jack Smith's long range effort seemed to put more spin on the shot and it flew past keeper Harry Reynolds

The rain kept pouring down and credit to both sides for really having a go as Alex Theobald and James Seymour had chances for the Robins and again at the other end Kirkley where having a go. Kelvin Enaro was a thorn in the Kirkley side and he went close to scoring on his debut, but it was left to last seasons top goalscorer Alex Theobald to grab the winner. Spencer Saberton right wing cross was met by Theobald who's movement was to clever for the Kirkley back line and his header was placed in the bottom corner of the net out of Robinson in the Kirkley goal.

The Robins will now hope to push on and look to pick up some league points when they travel to Walsham-Le-Willows next Saturday