ELY CITY v. IPSWICH WANDERERS

RIDGEONS DIVISION 1 KO CUP – 15TH MARCH 2005

Wanderers fielded a much changed side for this cup tie, in fact only 3 of the starters from the previous Saturday were in the first eleven named on the team sheet. There was a keen wind blowing end to end which took the edge off an otherwise mild evening but did not have much influence on the game.

For the first 5 minutes both sides were getting used to the conditions and, for Wanderers, their unfamiliar line up. Then on 6 minutes Mason broke through the Wanderers offside trap and raced into the area. His cross was too long but Chatters put the ball back into the 6yd box and, helped by some poor defending, Mason was on hand to fire in the opening goal. Not two minutes later, and again helped by some awful defending, MacCullum looped in a shot from the far corner of the box with Robbie Stannard stranded. The Wanderers defence was taking its time sorting itself out as Mason and Chatters repeatedly found ways through and threatened the goal. At the other end, Jorrell Hurd was showing the fragility of the Ely defence with his mazy runs but his shots were off target when a pass inside might have produced better results. The Wanderers midfield appeared to be working well at times but it was the defence that was being so easily penetrated and on 27 minutes Ely scored their third. Chatters appeared offside as he was passed the ball and was left with just Robbie Stannard to beat from 15 yards. This had come after a period of Wanderers sustained attacks in which Rene Swann and Matthew Thompson were prominent.

However, it was soon 4-0 when Chatters broke through and lobbed the ‘keeper. The ball rebounded off the bar and Taylor was ready to slot it home. On the stroke of half time Chatters’ corner grazed the bar with Robbie Stannard thinking it had gone behind and a free kick came to nought as the referee blew his whistle.

Ely City 4 Ipswich Wanderers 0

4 minutes into the half Matthew Thompson had a chance at goal but his shot was wide, and then Jorrell Hurd slipped the ball inside the defender for Rene Swann  to run onto. He was forced wide to the goal line and Catley, in the Ely goal, was able to tidy up. Rene Swann, Jorrell Hurd and Matthew Thompson were finding room up front and it looked as if Wanderers were going to get back into the game. However, it was Warren who nearly scored next as his glancing header from a free kick went narrowly wide. Wanderers had used all 3 substitutes by 65 minutes but this did little to stop Ely adding a fifth through Warren. Looking suspiciously offside, he raced from the half way line to easily beat the advancing Robbie Stannard.

With 5 goals against with no reply and three needless bookings, it was a sad night for the club which had seen such euphoria over the last few weeks.

Ely City 5 Ipswich Wanderers 0