The City Reserve side started brightly, as MacCallum and Harry Woodbine linked up well to carve open early chances, but saw a combination of the home sides defence and goalkeeper to make crucial blocks.

Woodbine continued to create space and his initial mazy run saw a loose ball fall to MacCallum who’s bobbled effort from 20 yards struck the post.

As the game opened up, Townshend saw his run and shot saved well by the Whittlesey keeper before at the other end, City stopper Joe Murfitt did well to tip over a header from the home sides forward.

Just before the half hour, Ely took the lead from great play down the right hand side, as Fin Logan and Woodbine combined, Logan delivering perfectly for ROOT to beat two defenders in the air and bullet home his header from 12 yards.

The rest of the half was broken down with several stoppages as little fouls and a couple of injuries took the sting out of the game. Ely did have the chance to double their lead before half time, as MacCallum again held up the ball before laying in Townshend, but his angled shot hit the side netting and it remained 1-0 at the break.

HT; Whittlesey Ath Res 0 - 1 Ely City Res

Into the second half, City took the early sting from any Whittlesey resurgence, as James McCabe dictated possession in the midfield. The impressive Woodbine was withdrawn for U18 starlet Dylan Ashman and Ashman drew the next chance. He picked up the ball deep and danced his way through several defenders before hitting a swerving drive that just flew past the top corner.

On the hour, another chance went begging for Ely, MacCallum beating the Whittlesey keeper to a poor back pass, but his toe poke rolled agonisingly against the post and cleared off the line.

Dan Jeffery off the bench then caused havoc in the box and found the keeper with a smart stop, before MacCallum saw a wonderful effort blocked by the defender. Jeffery then turned provider to Townshend who’s clever turn in the box created space for a shot, but another brave block diverted the ball to safety.

As the game entered the last five minutes, Ely thought they had put the game to bed. Sub Conor Loker driving into the box, was caught as he tried to get a shot away and the referee pointed to the spot.

MACCALLUM got his deserved goal, as he blasted the ball down the centre of the goal past the hapless Keeper.

But Ely made the last few minutes and stoppage time harder for themselves, as straight from kick off, a lapse in concentration in the defence saw the Whittlesey midfielder play in his forward who beat the offside trap and slot past the largely untroubled Murfitt, to set up a grandstand finish!

The home side piled forward, but Jamie Baxter and Jack Challis won their battles and Murfitt took the pressure off claiming a deep corner in a scramble for the ball.

Ely took the sting out of the game into injury time, as they camped deep into the Whittlesey half for the referee to draw the game to an end.

FT; Whittlesey Ath Res 1 - 2 Ely City Res

A scrappy game overall. Ely dominated huge parts of the game but couldn’t finish their chances, that could have put the game to bed early.

Root’s great finish with more minutes after injury and MacCallum worked tirelessly throughout getting his deserved goal. A good physical encounter all round that saw Ely resolute in the battles all over the pitch.

Through to the next round as their cup runs go on, the Reserves return to league action next week, away to Milton.
Team; Murfitt, Logan ©️, Baxter, Challis, Carvalho, Harnwell, McCabe, Woodbine, Townshend, Root, MacCallum.

Subs; Loker, Diver, Ashman, Jeffery.

Chris Gibson
cjgibsonuk@hotmail.com
(Picture by Natasha Lane)