The Magpies were looking for their second league victory of the new campaign and Ely their first, so it was to be a tense evening in Norfolk. The Robins came close first, Richard Chadwick hit a shot on the turn from a Ben Lawrence long throw but it was narrowly off target. Dereham replied with Bammant weakly glancing a Bussens centre into the keepers arms when he was well placed. In the 20th minute Ely won a throw, deep in the Dereham half, it was flicked onto Andy Claydon who netted from close range to give Ely the lead. Play then became disjointed with few chances at either end. In the 35th minute Dereham won a penalty when Ben Lawrence was harshly adjudged to have brought Bammant down in the box. Starling confidently sent Lee Pacey the wrong way for the equaliser. Ely soon had an opportunity to restore the lead but Josh Curry diverted Lewis McDonalds cross from the left high and wide at the far post. Although Ely had been on top for most of the half the teams went into the break all square.
The second half started with Ely going forward In the 50th minute the Robins got themselves in front again when Richard Gammon drilled home a 20 yarder after another long throw had unsettled the home defence. Ely had two further chances before Dereham's Bammant headed Starling's free kick over the bar in the 70th minute. Dereham started to apply pressure and with their next attack Bussens spread play wide to the left and Bammant delivered a cross that enabled Sam Borror to shoot home from close range to equalise. The Magpies continued pressing and Bammant had a shot charged down before Starling curled a free kick narrowly wide. In the 87th minute Bammant was brought down in the box, again. This time the offender was Darren Coe who was red carded. Gusterson slotted home the spot kick to put Dereham in front. As the Dereham team celebrated on the goal line a frustrated keeper Pacey was also red carded after an altercation with those celebrating. The home side kept Ely at bay for the last remaining minutes, and were able to take the 3 points. A game that Ely should have won ended in disaster losing points and players.