After a week of a league defeat, the club captain departing as well as news of two others leaving ,Under 18s going out to an injury time winner in the FA Youth Cup this victory seemed all the more sweet for players and supporters alike. Even traffic problems and the kit arriving not until 30 minutes before the kick off could stop The Robins winning through to the next round of the Buildbase F.A Vase.

Enforced changes to the Brantham starting line up saw Spencer Saberton and Alex Theobald coming in for the injured Daniel Jeffrey and the departing James Seymour while the bench saw the return of recent signing Ashley Shipp after a hamstring problem.

The Robins started brightly on a very good playing surface and Alex Theobald was quickly put through by George Darling only to rush and take his shot early when he much more time on his hand. A Craig Neal shot from the edge of the box just flew over the bar, but the signs were good with both Neal and Kelvin Enaro getting at the two full backs.

Ely had restricted the home side to almost nothing when one of the Chenecks forward's ran at defender Ollie Brookes into the box and rather than try to go past him on either side just blatantly ran into him.Brookes who had no where to go, but the only person in the ground who thought it was a foul was the referee and he pointed to the spot to the dismay of the Ely players and supporters.

The spot kick was converted and Ely undeservedly found themselves behind. The game seemed to open up really early and an Ash Walter shot just wide was then followed by a home side attack with the shot hitting the side netting. Alex Theobald then tried his luck without any joy, but eventually the away side did get their reward with a great team move starting with keeper Harry Reynolds who played the ball out to left back Alsop,his pass forward found the feet of the ever increasing influential George Darling who played a cross field ball to winger Kelvin Enaro . Enaro then played it back to Tom Williams who's cross field ball found Craig Neal.The winger laid the ball back to Alsop who found the advancing Ash Walter on the edge of the box and with a confident flick found the roaming George Darling who from the edge of the box strode on to the pass and hit the ball with his right foot hand and low past the home keeper

It was nothing more than Ely deserved and both sides went into the break level.

The second half continued in the same vain with Tom Williams almost getting on the end of cross in the box while the home side just shot over. Ely went in front from the head of defender Tom Williams . A quality free kick taken by new club captain Jame Alsop found Williams arriving at the far post and because the ball in was so good all that was needed was a little glance and the ball hit the back of the net . The Robins tails were up and you could see the signs of the confidence returning to the side who in all honestly had really controlled the game..Both Ash Walter and Craig Neal had efforts on goal although for all their dominance a third goal was really required.

The home side pressed and from nothing hit the post and carved out some half chances without troubling Reynolds in goal. The killer goal came again from the head of Tom Williams when a corner from Kelvin Enaro found the head of Ash Walter just outside the six yard box and Williams lost his marker and with the keeper coming to claim the ball Williams managed to get a head on it to send the ball over the line.

Ely then saw the rest of the game out to go into the draw for the 2nd Round for only the fourth time in the last ten years.

A much improved performance all round with the side looking after the ball better in the right areas and much more vocal support from everyone of them .Next up is the trip to Stanway Rovers to try to claim some valuable league points next Saturday