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Tue 15 Aug 2017  ·  Premier Division
Haverhill Borough
1
2
Ely City Football Club
1st Team
Match Report:Haverhill Borough 1 Ely City 2

Match Report:Haverhill Borough 1 Ely City 2

Paul Jeffrey16 Aug 2017 - 02:51

Robins in smash n grab,but at what price ?

The Robins arrived at the New Croft after picking up their first win of the season on Saturday and Brady Stone made just one change to the starting eleven with Tom Thulborn starting in place of Alex Theobald who was rested due to the 3G playing surface.

The bench looked thin on the ground with players coming back for either injury or unavailability

Both sides had chances in the opening exchanges with Nick Heap looking the Robins best outlet on the left. Borough seemed to grow into the game better than the away side who seemed poor in possession and continued to hand over the ball with out be pressurised .

With 23 minutes gone the home side took the lead when a rare mistake at the back from Tom Williams was punished. A ball over the top was not dealt with by Williams and the Borough forward Charlie Holmes nipped in to lob the ball over the advancing Reynolds into the net Reynolds had earlier been down for treatment for a lengthy period following a foul on him in the box.

The Robins seemed lackluster and lacking any penetration at all and a Tom Thulborn shot and fine save from the home keeper was the only effort on goal Ely had in the first half

With a good talking to by Brady Stone at half time you were expecting a response by his troops and although it picked up slightly it was still not good enough as the home side looked the more dangerous to increase their lead.

Harry Reynolds injured in the first half surprisingly came out for the second, but with just 7 minutes gone was replaced by Ben Mayhew to make his Robins debut. Mayhew produced a couple of really good saves to keep his side in the game and the Robins at last started to look dangerous in attack.

Jonathan Brown came on for his debut along with last years top goalscorer Alex Theoblad for Tom Thulborn and Liam Griffin in an attempt to get back into the game. This seemed a master stroke by the manager as out of nothing in the 75th minute Brown struck a half volley from distance that although Borough keeper Petty got some finger tips to it the ball went in off the post .

This equaliser seemed to spure the home side on and again looked more dangerous to take the lead again when they continuously got behind the Robins back four ,but Mayhew was on top form and pulled off some great stops.

The night got worse for the Robins when full back Daniel Jeffrey was stretched off with a knee injury in the 80th minute and with all three subs used they saw out the game with ten men.

Ollie Brookes came to the Robins rescue on a couple of occasions and with the Robins hanging on for a point incredibly in added time took all three when Alex Theobald drove in from the right and unleashed a screamer to beat Petty and seal a very very fortunate victory.

Everyone in the ground knew that it was a smash and grab victory, but that is football and these things seem to even its self out over time.

More worryingly is the list of bodies that the Robins have either on the injury table or just coming back with lack of fitness.

Next up for The Robins is a home game on Saturday v Walsham Le Willows

Match details

Match date

Tue 15 Aug 2017

Kickoff

19:45

Competition

Premier Division

League position

8
Ely City
23
Haverhill Borough
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Main Club Sponsor - Demcom