The Robins left the New Hamlet on Tuesday night after the worse team performance witnessed by manager Brady Stone since his full appointment as manager in May 2014.

Two Jordan Palmer 1st half goals were more than enough to secure all three points to a home side that had been struggling for a bit of form recently as well.

The Robins started without Alex Theobald (illness) and Sam Goodge (rested) from the draw at the weekend against Gorleston. James Seymour took a place on the bench after his move back from Newmarket Town

The home side went ahead in the 2nd minute when a decent cross from the Rovers left into the box was met by Palmer and he guided his header pass a helpless Reynolds in goal. Rovers looked sharper and hungrier and this was to be a theme for most of the half. It was 2-0 after 20 minutes when Jordan Palmer was given far to much room in the box and his half volley crashed against the under side of the bar and down. The whole ball was adjudged to have crossed the line from the assistant referee even though she was not up with play and the goal stood.

The home side seemed to have more space and create chances at will as the Robins seemed lacklustre and lacking any ideas on how to retain the ball let alone create any chances. Alex Brown did have a shot later in the half but this counted for nothing Rovers could have increased the scoreline before half time but wasted some good opportunities.

The second half saw the introduction of James Seymour for Lewis Hook although to be fair to could have been at the expense of any other Robins player from the first half . Seymour did give a little bit more of a bite in the midfield and was unfortunatle to pick up a yellow card when the home side started to run the clock down very early on and the with the referee seeming reluctant to hurry them up Seymour was booked for dissent which seemed very harsh

Although a slightly better performance in the second half the Robins could not munster a shot on target throughout the whole game and went closest when Ollie Brookes headed wide

The evening got worse for the away side when Seymour appeared to take a knock from a loose elbow and when this was not given he rashly made a tackle and the referee was quick to show him the yellow card and send him off. A number of players then came together and after the incident had calmed down Tom Wiliams was the only player to pick up a yellow card when a number of players from both sides were involved.

Brady Stone talking to the Seb Pearce from the Ely Standard shortly afterwards commented

“I was embarrassed to be their manager,” he said.

“We were 2-0 down at half time but realistically it could have been six or seven.

“There was no talking, no organisation and they looked like a bunch of 15-year-olds playing against a men’s team.

“None of the players gave themselves any credit. I don’t like to pick on individuals because we’re a team but none of the players were good enough.”

Ely’s nightmare evening was made worse in the second half when James Seymour – who returned to the club from Newmarket Town this week – was sent off on his first appearance back in a red shirt.

“We switched it up a little bit in the second half and James came on and was the only one to show a bit of passion,” Stone added.

“He’s an Ely boy and came in and gave it a bit of a go so it was frustrating to see him sent off.

“What really upset me is that we’re not going to places like Haverhill and setting up defensively – we’re giving them the freedom to play.

“I really don’t know what is wrong at the moment. I don’t know whether it’s a personnel issue and we need to look at who we have at the club or whether it’s me and I should take a step back and let someone else come in.

“I spoke to Martin Grey, assistant manager after the game and said it’s the same old story – we take one step forward and five back.

“I’ve said to the players that if we carry on then there’s only one way we’re going and that’s down towards mid-table.”

Ely will hope to claim their first league win since the start of the month when they host Kirkley & Pakefield on Saturday (3pm), and Stone says he will ring the changes in an attempt to find a much-needed three points.

“We’re going to make six or seven changes, without a doubt,” he said.

“Playing like we did isn’t fair for the fans who pay to come and see them. The players let them down, the club down and themselves down.

“I don’t like to be too harsh on the players,but they need to realise they have to be doing better. They need to come back this weekend with a better attitude.”

The Robins are at home to Kirkley & Pakefield on Saturday