But very early, the away side set their stall out with a quick press. On 2 minutes Godmanchester shocked the home side, as a slip in the Ely defence saw the forward get away and tuck the ball under the advancing Reece Hall.

City tried to regain possession and some composure, a string of corners and throws caused some chaos in the Goddy box, but was eventually cleared.

Goddy pressed wide and direct with their pace, the right winger causing Oli Howlett some issues got in behind and his lay off across the box found the forward but his close shot was brilliantly parried by Hall on his line. On 15 minutes, the away side did double their lead.

A long free kick into the box found their tall defender, his shot was blocked by skipper Zach Slane, but the rebound was tucked away for 2-0 to Godmanchester.

Ely got back straight away and halved the deficit, straight from the kick off a long ball from Archie Ashton found Dylan Ashman. Drawing two defenders, his shot was blocked and James Yoyse smashed home.

Goddy tried to get back up the other end again, long ball splitting Slane and Ollie Holmes, but Holmes recovered to track back his man and put him off as the forward rounded Hall.

City grabbed their equaliser on 22 minutes, then impressive Ignacy Rohloff drove through the middle of the midfield and his lay off the Ashman saw him roll 2 defenders across the 18 yard box with his back to goal and place to the opposite corner past the keeper.

A chaotic first half still wasn’t done, Ely went close to the turn around as Voyse and Ashman had chances, but the half was ultimately put to bed with two quick goals.

Retaking the lead, their third came against from that long direct ball into the wide channel, as the right winger got in behind, evaded the challenge from Slane and blasted across Hall into the bottom corner.

Minutes later and another long ball across the pitch found the Godmanchester 9, who got into the box, and was wiped out by Hall for a penalty. It was dispatched confidently to regain the away sides 2 goal cushion as half time drew.

Half time; Ely City 2-4 Godmanchester R.

Second half and Ely tried to come out and play. The Goddy front line was lively, but their defensive side had also kept tight.

It was back and forth in the midfield as the game broke down in its intensity. Goddy sitting on their lead happy to break when opportunity to stretch Ely came.

Ely suffered a quite serious injury to their keeper Hall, who fell awkwardly from height when punching clear from a corner. Holmes replaced the stricken keeper who was taken away for medical treatment.

Ely tried to press higher, Rohloff again found Howlett high up but his ball into the box evaded everyone. Godmanchester then had a chance of their own to put the game to bed, but their forward blasted into trees from 6 yards out.

Ely still had time to salvage a late assault, as Ashman was denied a sight at goal, till Godmanchester sealed the points with their 5th. A corner from the left hand side was swung in, a mixture of Ely and Rovers legs went for the ball, an unfortunate deflection off the defender flew past Holmes for 5-2 to the visitors on 87 minutes.

As the final whistle drew the game to a close, a disappointing result for the young Robins who fought well to get back in it after being 2-0 down.

Godmanchester were strong and direct, the pace of their front 3 troubled Ely all game.

But a lot of positives still for this young progressive team under Billy Holmes.

Subs- Searle, Iball, Smith, Ivson, Sabberton.
Chris Gibson