Ely made it 10 wins on the bounce and 4 clean sheets in a row by inflicting league leaders Wivenhoe Town to only their second defeat of the season and their first defeat away from home.

Ely were without Jamie Alsop, Nathan Littlefair (both unavailable) and Sam Goodge (injured) for this crucial Thurlow Nunn First Division fixture so manager Brady Stone called on experienced centre half Ben Lawrence to come in and help out as the rest of the team remaining unchanged from Saturdays victory. dom Hunt gained a call up to the first team after impressing for the reserves and joined the three under 18s on the bench.

Ely started the game at a tempo that they continued for the full 45 minutes of the first half. They were quick into tackles, winning key battles and playing some excellent football when in possession. The first chance of the game fell to Alex Theobald after some excellent work by Craig Neal to find Alex but his left foot volley went past the visiting keepers top hand corner. The visiting keeper was called into action as he saved smartly from an Ash Walter free kick that was heading for the top corner. Wivenhoe were looking fairly dangerous on the counter attack as Ely dominated possession and the away side won a couple of set pieces with Josh Sewell doing well to clear one away from an advancing Wivenhoe attacker. Back at the other end Ely were finding the Wivenhoe keeper in good form as he saved well from Matty Simpson and then again denied Josh Sewell from a corner. The breakthrough for Ely came after 32 minutes when some good build up play by Alex Theobald and Matty Simpson found Craig Neal whose cross was pushed away by the Wivenhoe keeper but only to James Seymour who was able to head home from 6 yards. Ely followed this up by going in search of a second goal and this came before half time as Craig Neal got down the left hand side and his cross come shot went over the keepers head hitting the back post before crossing the line to the delight of the home supporters.

Ely had to make a change at half time as Ash Walter had taken a blow to the ribs defending a corner and was unable to continue so 17 year old Lewis Hook came on in his place. Wivenhoe were on the front foot at the start of the second half and were camped in the Ely half putting balls into the box at every opportunity however the Ely defence stood firm. A corner was only partially punched out by Harry Reynolds but the Wivenhoe attacker could only head over the bar. Appeals from the away side for handball by Ben Lawrence were waived away by the excellent female official. Ely managed to weather the storm and nearly wrapped up the game with a third goal as Alex Theobald broke away from the Wivenhoe defence but the impressive away goalkeeper was quick off his line and managed to parry Alex’s shot away to safety. Wivenhoe pushed again as the game became end to end as both teams searched for the games vital third goal that would have dictated the remaining 20 minutes. Harry Reynolds had to save down low to his left following a driven shot from the edge of the area whilst James Seymour had a left footed effort go wide of the post. The Wivenhoe keeper then lost the ball under pressure and as the ball was laid to Lewis Hook his shot was cleared off the line by a covering defender. Alex Theobald unleashed a shot from 30 yards that had the Wivenhoe keeper scrambling back as it just cleared the crossbar. The time ticked on and it sensed that Wivenhoe knew they were not going to be let back in the game by this hard working Ely side. Lewis Hook and Matty Simpson were able to tick down vital minutes keeping the ball in the corner and Luke Mansfield who came on for the last 5 minutes gave the home defenders no time to settle to pump the ball forward.

The full time whistle went and the Robins claimed another vital 3 points. The players left the pitch to a deserved round of applause from the home fans. This was a true blood and thunder tie that Wivenhoe played their part in. Next up at the Unwin ground on Saturday is the visit of the talented AFC Sudbury Reserves squad, kick off 3pm.