The Robins flew down the A14 to Godmanchester to be met with a very boggy and bumpy pitch. With the wind blowing hard it was obviously not going to be an easy afternoon and so it was to turn out. Still neither of the Parky boys and with Darren Coe out injured and Nick Impey unavailable this meant Kenny Smith was retained at left back, Richard Chadwick moved to the left side of midfield and Richard Gammon came in up front. Liam Bolton started in central midfield with Josh Curry dropping to the bench.
In poor conditions both sides started with long balls, it was quite obvious that it would be difficult to play good football. The first shot of the game came from Austen Diaper on 8 minutes but it was well over. The best bit of football so far, on 13 minutes, was then played by Ely, who were well on top. The move involving four players was down the left but as the ball came in Richard Gammon had strayed offside so it came to nothing. A minute later Porky Claydon managed to play Josh Bridgeman in but his effort was well over the bar. Another couple of minutes later and a long throw from Ben Lawrence found Adam Murray but his shot was turned away for a corner which eventually came to nothing.
It was to be 22 minutes before Ely got the ball in the net. Ely won a corner on their left, Adam Murray leapt highest directed his header goal wards but Mackney in the Godmanchester goal did well to tip it over the bar for a second corner. This time it was swung in from the right, the ball found its way to Porky Claydon, his shot was blocked and the ball looped up in the air before dropping to Mussa who fired home past the advancing keeper 1 - 0
A couple of minutes later it got even better for the Robins. Chris Sterecki played a ball over the top of the Goddy fullback. Gammo ran in behind him and collected the ball inside the penalty area before he was taken down by the keeper. The Referee immediately awarded a penalty. After some time dealing with the injured Gammo, Josh Bridgeman stepped up to take the spot kick and beat Mackney putting his shot straight down the middle 2 - 0
Godmanchester to their credit did not give up and Ely became a bit casual all over the pitch. They were made to pay on 31 minutes when Goddy reduced the arrears. They made ground down their left had side before crossing the ball in level with the edge of the box, Ben Lawrence got a head to it but went over to the right hand side and fell to Michael Hyem about 6 yards outside the angle of the box. He hit a lob cum shot that flew over the top of Lee Pacey in goal and into the top left hand corner of the net 2 - 1
Five minutes later it was level. This time it was a high ball down the centre as Ben Lawrence went to attack the ball he received an elbow in the stomach which the Ref failed to spot. The ball went over the top of him allowing Bass to run on to it and slot home past the advancing Pacey to make it 2 - 2
Ely tried to get back in the ascendancy, on 38 minutes Tino Diaper collected a ball from a throw, made ground down the right got in a good cross, across the 6 yard box to the back post but Josh B came from the far side and put the ball high and wide. A couple of minutes later Goddy went down their right and another good shot from that side but this time it was turned round the post by a diving Pace. The resulting corner came to nothing, Ely moved the ball down the pitch and were awarded another free kick level with the box a couple of yards in from the touchline when Tino was upended. He got up and took the kick, it was a good ball in but no one could get on the end of it and the whistle went for half time.
The second half started and Goddy were the first to cause a problem when Lee Pacey had to tip another cross/shot from the right, over the bar. It was getting very sticky out on the pitch so much so that the Assistant Refs. were running the right back sides not the normal left. On 57 minutes another long throw into the box from Ben Lawrence was cleared back to him, he swung the ball back in and Mussa got his head to it but could only put it wide There were a number of free kicks being given away on this surface. Ely were the ones with most possession at this time but the home team were always dangerous when looking to break. On 69 minutes a free kick in the Ely half was swung up to Chads on the left, he made ground and was about to shoot just outside the box when he was pulled back. Another free kick, this time taken by Tino it was a supposed shot on goal but he got it all wrong and it was dreadful going yards wide. On 73 minutes Porky was replaced by Tas Chisango. 77 minutes a ball over the top saw a Goddy attacker get in behind the defence and it took a great recovery tackle from Mussa to stop him getting a shot away from 15 yards. On 82 minutes Josh Curry and Dave Wilson replaced Liam Bolton and Chads. Ely were still going forward, now another free kick outside the box Josh Curry swung it over but again it was easily cleared. On 87 minutes a killer blow for Ely. Goddy mounted an attack the ball came in from the left and it was cleared but it only went as far as Michael Hyem. He was 35 yards out, he lashed it back ‘Gerrardish’ and it flew into the back of the net. 2 - 3
Ely tried to throw everyone forward and on 90 minutes a long Godmanchester clearance found a forward on the left he cut in and shot as Pace dived at his feet, he took most of the sting out of it and Kenny Smith was able to clear as the ball rolled towards the line. On 92 minutes a last effort by Ely as Tino got the ball out on the left. He got a cross in and Ben Lawrence got his head to the ball but he was unable to keep it down and it harmlessly cleared the bar. A minute later the whistle went for the end of the game
Another game where the Robins were unable to put a game to bed after being so on top for the first 20 minutes, just like the Spalding game. There was effort there this afternoon but no real sparkle from the players and again wasted chances. Lets hope we can put that right against Haverhill Tuesday night.