After last weeks cancelled game it was good to get back in action as our game was only one of three that survived the recent bad weather. Credit to Dereham as the pitch was in very good condition for this time of the year. Joe Branham missed the game due to injury and James Seymour was still away on holiday. Daniel Jeffrey came back into the starting line up and Liam Griffin and Alex Theobald returned to the squad after missing the Kings Lynn game and took their place on the bench.

The first half was a good one for the neutral as it was very end to end throughout the whole 45 mins. Dereham started the better team and had a number of corners and long throws that Ely had to defend. Ely then had their own chance as Josh Sewell headed wide at the back post. In the 12th minute Luke Brown won the ball against a home defender down the right hand side, beat another defender and cut the ball back for 17 year old Lewis Hook to calmly slot the ball home from 12 yards out for his first senior goal for the club. The lead was nearly doubled when Nathan Littlefair had a header cleared off the line and then following a good move Matty Simpson hit the crossbar from the edge of the area. Dereham quickly responded and were level on 24 minutes when their centre forward controlled the ball, turned and despatched a 25 yard shot into the top corner giving Harry Reynolds no chance in the Ely goal. The goal ended Ely's run of 3 clean sheets. The goal gave Dereham confidence and they were on top at this point and Ely had to defend a number of attacks from the home side. However Ely were still creating their own chances. Craig Neal had an effort cleared off the line and Josh Sewell had another header go wide of the post. HT 1-1.

The second half started much the same as the second half with both teams looking to get the crucial second goal. It was not until the 64th minute when Ely made the breakthrough. Daniel Jeffrey did excellent down the right hand side beating his man and picking out Sam Goodge at the far post who headed in from 6 yards out. Dereham responded immediately and as the home side striker got through on goal his shot was looking like another equaliser until Josh Sewell made an excellent goal line clearance. From the following corner Harry Reynolds had to be alert to make a save from point blank range and Ely managed to clear the danger. Nathan Littlefair had the chance to increase the lead when he found himself through on goal after charging forward from centre back but was denied by the home keeper. Alex Theobald and Liam Griffin were brought on in the 70th minute. Some excellent football by Ely on the edge of the Dereham box resulted in Lewis Hook bringing out a superb save by the home keeper. In the 78th minute the lead was extended after good work from Alex Theobald set up Matty Simpson to finish with his left foot. Under 18s top scorer Luke Mansfield was brought on for the last 10 minutes as Ely changed formation for the remaining minutes of the game and the 17 year old had an immediate impact as he collected the ball off Daniel Jeffrey on the right hand side of the box, cut inside beating two defenders and fired the ball into the bottom corner for his first senior goal in only his third first team appearance. In the last minute Ely won a penalty and Sam Goodge claimed his second goal of the game. FT 5-1.

A good second half performance after a slightly rusty first half performance was enough to claim the 3 points against a spirited Dereham side. To have two 17 year olds scoring their first goals for the club was very encouraging and a credit to the current Under 18s set up.

Next week we are in Cup action as we host Stowmarket in the quarter final of the First Divison knock-out cup.