With several absentees from their squad, the Robins rotated again, as Toby Salmons came in for Dom Hunt and Alex Kerr returned from injury at right back.

Ely started brightly, with Alex Theobold first cutting wide, before Kerr and Tobi Lawal linked up well down the right, Kerr’s dangerous cross blocked behind.

Kerr and Lawal continued to cause problems for Woodbridge, bombarding balls into their box which they did well to block or clear away.

Woodbridge had limited chances or quality, as they struggled to counter the Ely press. The only chance falling to them, a 25 yard effort which blazed over the bar at the rugby club end.

The deadlock was broken on 23 minutes, and in some fashion! After picking the ball up midway inside the Woodbridge half, Jev Cook from left back, evaded 3 challenges before smashing a 25 yard rocket into the far corner sending the home fans into celebration.

That seemed to wake Woodbridge, who looked to get back on terms instantly, but the shot from their winger flew just over.

They did however get the equaliser, as they pressured Ely late in the half. City failed to clear their lines and a quick ball inside the centre halves found their forward free to tuck under Key for 1-1.

Ely went close again before half time, Lawal getting in behind, but had two chances blocked.

Ht; Ely City 1 - 1 Woodbridge Town

Within minutes of the restart, Ely regained their lead winning the ball high from a loose ball. As Kerr picked the ball up centrally, he drifted inside as the defenders backed off giving him a clear run. He easily beat his man, before curling a right foot effort under the unsighted keeper from the edge of the box to make it 2-1.

The shock to the quick Ely start left Woodbridge on the back foot, as they invited the pressure on. Stoker tested the keeper from range, before Ely grabbed their 3rd within 10 minutes of the restart.

Alfie Rogers took a quick throw to Theobold, who turned his man excellently. He got to the byline and his low cross into the area was controlled by Lawal, who turned and fired past the stationary keeper!

Woodbridge reacted, hitting direct balls into the Ely half; but an excellent challenge by Cook and Jacob Partridge heading bravely away kept them at bay.

The Woodpeckers did pull a goal back just after the hour, as the ball was played wide, a cross was played in across the box and the unfortunate Partridge diverted the ball past Key to make it 3-2 to the home side.

With the football being played at a high pace for most of the game, tired legs started to come in and a raft of substitutions were made which broke up the fluency of the game.

The last 10 minutes of the game saw Woodbridge camped in Ely’s half, as long ball after long ball was cleared away by Ely’s back line and Cook made a tremendous challenge before the forward could get through. Key made a good stop from range and Salmons headed away from his 6 yard box as Ely were resolute in their task!

The final whistle drew and Ely hung on to all 3 points to maintain their push at the top of the league table.

FT; Ely City 3 - 2 Woodbridge Town

Chris Gibson
cjgibsonuk@hotmail.com