Ely City Reserves 3 v 2 Kings Lynn Reserves

Starting XI - Jeckells, Turner, Silvain, Butcher, Murfet, Harnwell, Murfitt, Goodjohn, Jeffrey, O.Johnson, Rathjen
Subs (All Used) - Tunnell, Perry, Sizer, J.Johnson, Drewitt

A well contested pre season friendly saw Ely’s second string side come out 3-2 winners against a Kings Lynn Reserve side from a league above. Ely started positively, pressing the ball high and this led to their first goal. After winning the ball back in the opposition final third, Daniel Jeffrey played the ball through to Josh Rathjen who slid the ball under the keeper to make it 1-0. 1-0 quickly became 2-0 as a penalty was awarded due to the Lynn keeper bringing down Ben Harnwell after the keeper had fumbled a shot. Jeffrey stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to get Ely’s second of the game. Kings Lynn began to get a foot hold in the game and put together some nice moves using their speed to their advantage but could not get through Ely’s defence, with keeper Evan Jeckells making some good saves. Ely then went 3-0 up after Jeffrey picked up the ball in midfield, drove at the Lynn defence and took a shot which was deflected and looked up over the despairing Lynn keeper.

After the half time break Lynn stepped up the pace and began to have more freedom in the Ely half but Ely stood tall and defended well, albeit riding their luck at points. An ugly moment saw both teams go down to 10 men as an altercation between Ash Sizer and a Lynn midfielder saw them both take a walk for an early shower. Kings Lynn then switched formations to 3 at the back, which allowed them to have extra men going forward which Ely did not combat. Lynn then got a goal back as the ball fell to the Lynn striker in the box who finished well past Jeckells. Kings Lynn then pulled another back as the ball bounced around in the box and a Lynn player managed to nod the ball home. Ely managed to cling on for the win and now look forward to two more pre season friendlies before the season gets underway.