On a cold and damp Saturday afternoon The Robins arrived at Wivenhoe Town FC. The pitch was heavy and sticky and it was a small crowd. The conditions were always going to make it a difficult day for a football match but Ely would find it profitable as they were to walk away with the 3 points. I am afraid that todays report is based on what I have been told by a number of 'reliable spies' who were at the game. I, unfortunately, was unable to get to the match myself.
The game started and straight away Ely had a first minute corner which was followed by an Austen Diaper effort which was saved. The game continued fairly evenly with a couple of attacks going both ways but Ely appeared to be the stronger team and so it proved as they took the lead in the 15th minute. An Ely attack saw the ball end up in the Wivenhoe 6 yard box with a bit of a scramble, the keeper saved a first goal bound effort but could only manage to turn the ball back into play and eventually out to Josh Curry who was then able to force the ball home to give The Robins the lead with his first goal for the club. 1 - 0
With the conditions as they were it was difficult to pass the ball accurately and there was a lot of sliding about on the greasy surface. The Dragons exerted some pressure now to get back in the game but it was well dealt with by the defence and keeper Lee Pacey The Referee was a bit fussy and awarded a number of free kicks and on 30 minutes it was from one of these that Ely doubled their lead. As the ball came into the box from Josh Curry's free kick it was Adam Murray who rose highest and back headed the ball into the net. Wivenhoe claimed their keeper had been fouled but the goal stood. 2 - 0
Ely were well on top now and had a lot of possession and more shots on goal but these were dealt with and the half ended without any more scoring
The second half continued where the last had left off. Richard Chadwick, ‘Tino’ Diaper and Josh B all had shots at goal. Ben Lawrence replaced ‘Mussa’ in defence on 51 minutes. Luke Parkinson was unlucky when he hit the bar with a thunderous 25 yard effort. ‘Chads’ got a boot in the face when trying to head the ball as a Wivenhoe player kicked it (If you see his ’afterwards’ photo I’m sure you will agree it improves his looks greatly). On 62 minutes Josh Bridgeman was replaced by Liam Bolton, making his debut for the club having just arrived from Thetford. On 67 minutes a black eyed ‘Chads’ was replaced by Richard Gammon. Wivenhoe by then had had their best 10 minute spell of pressure going forward but after that, from around the 70 minute mark, Ely totally killed off the Dragons. It started with an attack down the right side the ball came into the middle, ‘Porky Claydon’ was unmarked and he forced the ball home from close in. 3 - 0
It was about to get worse for Wivenhoe, 72 minutes another free kick to Ely. The ball was hit towards the back post Darren Coe headed on and Ben Lawrence got round the back of the defence and forced the ball home. 4 - 0
Two more minutes and it was 5 up, ‘Porky’ collected the ball made a few yards and fired home a stunning shot from fully 20 yards. 5 - 0
Ely were rampant now and playing good football through a very ragged defence, peppering the Wivenhoe goal and it was no surprise when another goal arrived in the 84th minute. Another cross coming in from 'Tino' on the right and there was ‘Porky’ to score his hat-trick goal (and also the goal that made him the leading marksman in the league) 6 - 0
Wivenhoe tried but Ely were dominant and still trying for more and only a very good save from Luke Parkinson’s piledriver kept the score to six and Ely came away with a confidence booster ready for next week’s Vase game. A great result from a good squad performance.