Today the Robins flew into Cambridge to the R Costings Abbey Stadium to play the Cambridge United Scholars, C.R.C. It was a nice bright afternoon when we got underway but very cold, the pitch appeared to be its usual good condition even after all the rain we have had. Ely made two changes from Tuesday’s very hard game with Andrew Claydon and Richard Chadwick starting in place of Taz Chisango and Austen Diaper with Austin dropping to the bench. As the game panned out, it appeared that there was a bit of a hangover from that Tuesday game with some tired legs on the pitch. Ely were to a show a lack of ‘sparkle’, were unable to pass the ball with any authority and generally found things going ’wrong’
Straight from the kick-off Ely won a corner which CRC had to clear virtually off the goal line. The clearance went out left and the Scholars very quick, wide man made ground to the bye line but his cross was behind the onrushing attackers and the ball was cleared. On 6 minutes Sam Parkinson played a back pass too soft and Lee Pacey in the Ely goal had to get to the edge of his box and save with his feet to stop the lively CRC forward getting to it. Ely peppered the CRC box with long throws and corners but the corners were of poor delivery and were easily cleared. On 23 minutes again CRC attacked down the left the player beating Adam Murray for pace (there are not many who can do that) He cut in and shot towards his near post but ’Pace’ had strong hands and beat out the shot. This time the Ely clearance went down the left wing and ’Porky’ Claydon got to the bye line but there was no one there for his cut back. Three minutes later another cross in from the left saw ’Porky’ head the ball on to Liam Bolton, his shot was deflected just wide of the upright. The resulting corner was deep and Chads climbed highest, his header hit the bar and rebounded clear. Next Josh Bridgeman had an effort but it ballooned over the bar. Things were to change as the Robins took the lead on 31 minutes.
Another attack this time down the Ely right saw the Scholars have to put the ball out for yet another corner. This was swung in, towards the back post, ’Chads’ sent a powerful header goal wards, the ball was hacked away from the line with ’Chads’ claiming it was already over the line, it mattered not as ’Porky’ got to the rebound and forced the ball into the net for the Robins. (There was some confusion over this goal as to if it belongs to, was it 'Chads' or was 'Porky' I dont know who it actually belongs to sorry 1 - 0
Unfortunately the lead was not to last too long, CRC were given a very easy goal to bring the scores level. A long ball over the top was causing no problems, Sam Parkinson got to it easily and hit a back pass to his keeper. He badly under hit the pass, allowing the CRC striker to latch on to it, round ’Pace’ and plant the ball into the empty net.
This goal gave the scholars some impetus and they went close again in the 40th minute when a powerful shot from the edge of the box brought out a good save from ’Pace’ The teams turned round at the break all square.
Ely came out with determination, went straight on the attack. This resulted in yet another corner out on the Ely right the ball was poorly cleared and ’Mussa’ up for the corner recovered the ball back out on the right, drove into the box and into a couple of tackles before going to ground.. He was claiming a penalty but the Ref. waved play on. Another attack this time Luke Parkinson had a shot just over the bar.
On 51 minutes Mussa went down injured after a tackle, after treatment he left the field and he was unable to carry on. He was replaced by Chris Sterecki. In the 10th minute Ely were to go ahead again. This time it was yet another long throw into the box from Ben Lawrence, Darren Coe got his head to it, flicking it across the goal towards the back post where ‘Chads’ came in and nodded it home from close range. 2 - 1
The next 10 minutes saw severe pressure on the home goal, shots from Chads and Luke went wide, Porky nearly got on the end of a through ball. Nick Impey hit a cracking 25 yarder that the keeper managed to cling on to just under the bar and Chads had another effort just over the bar from the edge of the box. On 65 minutes Austen Diaper replaced ‘Imps’ but on 67 minutes CRC got back into the game again.
It was about the first time that CRC had crossed the halfway line since half time. They were awarded a free kick just inside the Ely half. The kick pumped into the box, it was not cleared well and fell to CRC’s striker who lashed it high into the net from a narrow angle 2 - 2
Again the goal spurred CRC and they brought out a couple more good saves from Lee Pacey and went close with a header and were using their speed to good effect. ‘Tino’ Diaper went close with a shot over the top and Darren Coe saw yellow when adjudged to have pulled a player back. Ely went on the attack still using set pieces and long throws. Porky and Sam Parkinson had a good move down the left but in only resulted in yet another corner. This corner came out to Josh B but his shot only hit one of his own players. On 85 minutes Richard Gammon came on for ‘Chads’. Ely had a couple more long range efforts off target but the game ended without further incident.
The Robins did not play well, certainly not to the usual standard and a number of mistakes were made in all areas of the pitch. It was a game they could and should have won. Lets hope we have got this one out of our system and we can move on to the Vase game with a positive attitude.
Good Luck Robins