The away side set out their stall early, with this being the fourth meeting between the two sides, it was no surprise with the physical element to Mulbarton as they looked to dominate.

The opening quarter of an hour was scrappy, with no real quality, as the refs whistle broke any fluency with multiple fouls given.

Ely had the first notable sniff, as the home side cleared a corner, Jack Friend and Tobi Lawal broke at speed but before they could combine to go through on goal, the ball was cleared.

The away side however were dominant in possession and constant in their direct approach and opened the scoring on 20 minutes as their forward picked the ball up outside the area. He wriggled his way through four Ely tackles before seeing his shot blocked. It fell kindly to his strike partner who tapped home from 6 yards.

They nearly doubled their lead 2 minutes later, but Jacob Partridge cleared at the near post from a wicked cross, before Tyler Key a minute later tipped over a shot from 20 yards.

Mulbarton with something to hold on to broke down Ely, winning fouls and slowing the game down to frustrate the home side.

They doubled their lead late in the half to take a two goal cushion as the ball was picked up deep in the Ely half. The blues midfielder was given time as the goal opened up for him and he lashed home from 25 yards past a hapless Key.

There was still time for some drama before the half was up, with already a tense game being officiated, the away side’s 8 launched himself through the back of Aaron Hamer and was rightly dismissed.

HT; Ely City 0 - 2 Mulbarton Wanderers

The second half was much the same as the first, although Ely with a man up looked to up the movement against their opponents.

But Mulbarton got men behind the ball and looked to be even more physical and direct. The referee was drawn in to given fouls, as the game was stop start and frustrating any Ely move forward.

A raft of substitutions for Ely saw them get on the ball more, as Friend found some width and sub Antwan Ebanks-Blake occupied the centre to try take Ely up the field to craft a chance.

Ely’s chances fell late, as getting one back would set up a nervy finish, but Hamer had a shot blocked from range and Friend’s whipped cross caused confusion between Mulbarton’s defender and keeper, with the ball going inches wide.

The late resurgence from Ely was stopped in its tracks though, as after several decisions went against the home side, Friend was sin-binned for apparently disagreeing with a foul against him that went the other way.

That summed up Ely’s day, as the game petered out with Mulbarton comfortably holding their lead.

FT; Ely City 0 - 2 Mulbarton Wanderers

Subs; Rogers, Tagg, Carter, Ebanks-Blake, Theobold.

Tough game for Ely. The first defeat at home this season which has been an incredible run at the Demcom. The disappointment is there, as Ely will know they can play better. Chances, luck and decisions didn’t fall for the Robins and that’s football.

But City remain 2nd, and that defeat doesn’t define the amazing work by this team in the first half of the year!

We go again next week v Hadleigh, then the small matter of Fen Classico on Boxing Day..

Sponsors POTM; Jacob Partridge