It was a bitterly cold Tuesday night when the Fenmen came calling at the Unwin. The pitch would hold up, but it was soggy and cutting up so this was not likely to provide a platform for good football. Indeed so it proved, with a scrappy game throughout the 90 or so minutes.
Ely had Sam Parkinson back on the left of defence and reverted back to 4-4-2 with Josh Bridgeman dropping to the subs. bench. He was joined there by Luke Parkinson back from suspension. Wisbech gave a debut up front to new signing Joe Jackson
Ely kicked off and as usual went straight on the attack. They actually gained a corner with the second kick of the game but it was a poor delivery, as many would be during the game, and was easily cleared. Lee Pacey then took a free kick on the halfway line, it eventually fell to Nick Impey but his shot was well saved by the visiting keeper. A minute later another free kick again the header was easily saved. The game was to be littered with such free kicks, very few of these would prove to be of good quality. On 13 minutes the Robins had the ball and were running with it into the Fenmens half, Liam Bolton hit a pass that struck the Ref. and rebounded away, falling kindly to a Wisbech player. He made ground, passed inside but the shot was saved by Pacey and with the help of a defender cleared for a corner. The corner was taken out on the right it came in low, to the near post, to Lunn, he swivelled, shot and beat Pace at the near post. 0 - 1 On 19 minutes Ely attacked down the left, the cross was cleared to the edge of the box where Josh Curry hit the shot but it was not on target. A minute later a Wisbech free kick, taken quickly and clipped over the top, Pace had to be alert to dive at a forwards feet to save. On 24 minutes it was hearts in the mouth time for the Wisbech defenders, they were passing it across the back four, Austen Diaper closed one defender down quickly, as they both kicked the ball it looped up in the air towards goal and the keeper had to scramble to palm it away. Richard Chadwick was the first to the ball, he was tackled, going to ground claiming the Wisbech defender had fouled him in the area. The Ref waved play on. Wisbech were getting to the ball first now, both teams were making individual mistakes but the Fenmen were now on top and seemed to want it more. On 33 minutes they got away down the right, the cross came in dangerously to the far post but the ever improving Chris Sterecki was able to head away to safety. Two minutes later Chads was shown yellow by the Ref supposedly for a ’lunge’ tackle. Wisbech seemed to be making inroads down the right but shots were from distance and not troubling Pacey too much. Ely had a couple of shots in the last couple of minutes before the Ref blew the whistle in the 49th minute for halftime. Wisbech went into the break probably, deservedly, one up after a fairly poor performance from the Robins
The 2nd period started with Luke Parkinson replacing Chads. Ely were a bit more positive now and in the 53rd minute Ely equalised. The Robins were awarded a free kick halfway into the Wisbech half, the ball was pumped into the box , cleared to the edge of the box, Nick Impey hit a shot back towards goal that appeared to be going wide, it hit a Wisbech defender and diverted into the net giving the visiting keeper no chance 1 - 1
On 58 minutes a long throw from Ben Lawrence into the box, cleared out to Bolts he lobbed it back in and Adam Murray, Tino Diaper and a Wisbech defender all went for it clashing heads and all ending laid out on the ground. I’m glad to report that all recovered after treatment but Mussa played the rest of the game with a very nasty head cut that would require some serious looking at after the game. Ely appeared to be on top now getting more possession and got a couple of corners but were not able to cause the keeper much trouble. It was to be Wisbech who came closest, in the 70 minute a midfielder picked the ball up in the centre circle and was allowed to waltz his way to just inside the Ely penalty box but his shot was well saved by Pace. Ely went back on the attack and had a number of free kicks, corners and long throws keeping the Wisbech defence alert but they did not look like scoring and it would be the Fenmen who snatched the winner. In the 85th minute they were awarded a free kick 15 yards into the Ely half, out on the left touchline. A lack of concentration by the defenders saw Wisbech take it quickly, pushing it down the line to Lunn, he got to the by-line beat a defenders tackle, pulled the ball back to Jackson about 2 yards out by the left hand post, he was able to guide the ball into the net 1 - 2
Ely tried to throw everything forward but Wisbech defended strongly. On 92 minutes Josh Bridgeman replaced Josh Curry. Ely were shouting for a penalty because of a hand ball in the box in the last seconds but nothing came of it and the Ref whistled up after 6 minutes of injury time. This was a scrappy game that Wisbech took the first half but Ely improved and were the better side in the second period. There would appear to be a need for some improvements by the Robins before next Saturdays game.