Today it was Norwich United who were visiting the Unwin. With the two teams sitting next to each other in the League, the points were very important to both teams, so it was obviously going to be a real hard scrap. The pitch had taking a bashing this year due to the weather and the amount of games so it was very bumpy and still boggy, which would help neither side really. It was a cool afternoon but fairly bright., there was quite a strong breeze blowing up from the Rugby Club end which the Robins would have at their backs in the first half. There was a rainbow to be seen to the north, over towards Downham Market, so the Robins were hoping that there would be a ‘pot of points’ at the end of it. Darren Coe was back from injury so Adam Murray moved up front to partner Andrew Claydon. There were 76 paying customers in the ground and at 2.59 the game got under way.
At 2.59 and 18 seconds (the official time by the Referee, yes 18 seconds) the Robins were a goal up. I know that Ely always go flat out at the start but this was unbelievable. The red Shirts kicked off, the ball went out to the left wing, Luke made a few yards, all the defenders and attackers went towards the near post, the cross was very deep and Liam Bolton ran in unmarked to powerfully head home, giving the keeper no chance. So like lightening, a Bolt stuck at the Unwin 1 – 0
It was very soon about to get better, after 3 minutes Ely doubled the lead. As Ely went forward again the ball ended up with the Norwich keeper, his kick went to the centre circle, Luke Parkinson headed it powerfully forward, Mussa was able to flick it over the defender into Porky Claydon’s path and he took it on, lobbed the advancing keeper, goal !!! 2 – 0
Ely put pressure on the visitors and it wasn’t until the 8th minute that Norwich got into the home end and this was only a free kick from the halfway line and that sailed straight into Lee Pacey’s hands. Their first real shot was a minute later when Pace had to make a flying save to his right and grab the ball when it appeared it was behind him. This was a real good save for the camera but probably the only one he had to make in the whole first half It showed that the visitors were quite shell shocked at the start but to their credit they now settled down to some degree and got more into the game. There was not a lot of great football, with long balls at both ends, but none of these were creating any clear cut chances. The odd good move, mainly from Ely, always seemed to break down in the last third. Ely looked dangerous from set pieces and both Porky and Mussa headed just wide from corners. Just before the break Norwich had a two or three minute spell when they exerted a bit of pressure, resulting in two consecutive corners, but this was dealt with and at the break Ely were in a comfortable lead.
The second half started and Ely went straight down the left and the cross missed every one. Norwich went down the other end and were awarded a corner. This was cleared, Sam Parkinson to brother Luke, he got the ball into Mussa who was just inside the visitors half making ground. He laid the ball into Bolts path but his rising shot was palmed over and the corner came to nothing. Was this frantic start to the 2nd half to be the same as the first, no not really. Norwich were now working hard and on 57 minutes after attacking down their left the central player got a flick to the cross but the ball went just wide. Four minutes later they had a free kick just outside the box and Pace had to be alert to save. Two minutes later still, another free kick this time just outside the left edge of the box, this time Mussa had to head away for a corner but that was easily cleared. On 70 minutes Nick Impey came on for Josh Curry and on 75 minutes Richard Chadwick came on for Porky Claydon. On 81 minutes a good Ely move saw a ball over the top, the keeper rushed out, Imps got there first and pushed the ball past him but the defender was able to get to the loose ball first. Luke Pakinson then set off from the halfway line on a long mazy run but was unable to finish when he got in the box. In the 86th minute Josh Bridgeman replaced Dave Wilson. In the 89th minute Ely went forward again the keeper punched the cross and a defender put it out for a corner. This was met with a header by Chads a scramble another couple of headers, the last one out towards the edge of the box Josh B shot, a defender by the post on the line just managed to block this one and the ball came back in from a tight angle into the grateful keepers arms. A minute later it was all over, a two nil win and three good points
Ely were grateful for the three points but to be honest Norwich were not the best team to visit the Unwin this season and Ely will have to be a lot sharper on Tuesday for the visit of League leaders Dereham Town