Robin Hammond found the net in an inspired performance, with Callum Wilkinson and James Voyce helping the Robins’ youth side overcome March Town United.

In a tough game versus the bottom side, Ely dominated the early stages with Hammond pulling the strings across the midfield with the play.
It was his lovely footwork and through-ball that found Wilkinson, but his tame shot untroubled the Hares keeper as he claimed easy off the floor.
A minute later and Hammond again linked up well with Dylan Ashman, Ashman in behind got his shot away but the linesman had his flag raised for offside.
Ashman started to see more of the ball, picking up possession wide evading one tackle, before being taken down by a late lunge that went unpunished. The referee then stopped the game for a heavy tackle on Tris Ivison in the next play.

On 15 minutes, Ely took the lead. Great play from Voyce played in Ashman. His shot was blocked, the ball falling kindly to WILKINSON who adjusted his feet and slotted past the March Keeper.
March came back straight from the kick off, as a loose ball in behind the Ely back line saw the winger come off the right, firing across goal. Reece Hall in the Ely goal diving full stretch to palm it away to safety.
The goal seemed to bring the aggression out of March on and off the ball, trying to press Ely further up the field but also conceding soft fouls.

And it was one of them, 30 yards out that contributed to double Ely’s lead.
HAMMOND with his left foot hammered a long deep effort into the box that evaded the reach of the oncoming Keeper, flew over his head and under the bar for 2-0.

It could have been three minutes later and the energetic Voyce won the ball, playing a one-two with Wilkinson, before setting Hammond, whose deflected shot looped just over the bar.
The Hares keeper went some way to redeeming himself from his earlier mistake, as Wilkinson clean through saw his shot beautifully smothered away by the stopper.
March did try to piece together some forward play, countering Ely- but Zach Slane and Ollie Holmes again produced dominance of their back line with Jack Sherington and Ivison closing off their fullback positions.
On the stroke of half time, March did get the ball in the back of the net, the ball in behind off the wing was cut back for their 9 to shoot home unmarked but the linesman flagged for offside.

HT; Ely City 2 - 0 March Town Utd
Second half, March started well and kept the ball. Ely sat back and kept the Hares pressed though as both teams settled into the restart.

On 53 minutes, Hammond took a ball inside off sub Jake Iball and hit a left footed drive that was just blocked away for a corner.

Two minutes later, Ely got their third from another free kick into the box.

The long high ball from the touchline was again deep into the box, the Hares keeper coming a long way but again got under it as he came through the crowd of players.

The ball went over the top of him and arrived at VOYCE’s feet, who tapped home for 3-0.

That goal seemingly knocked the pace of the game, with injuries to a March player and then Holmes broke down the game as Ely sat back comfortably looking to catch March on the break.

And it was on the break that saw Ely nearly grab a 4th, as Ashman chased down a long ball. He stripped his defender for pace as he made his way to the touchline into the box, but his cut back couldn’t find an Ely player.

March continued to be gutsy, as they through players forward to try and find a goal back and they got that with 15 minutes to play. After forcing a corner, the ball was swung in, and although headed away by Ely; the March midfielder on the edge of the box hit a first time effort cleanly into the far corner.

Ely continued their game plan, hitting March on the counter quicker, as Ashman broke and hit the side netting and after great work from Oska Urbanas, sub Jake Iballs cross cum shot was blocked away.
Heavy legs in the last 5 minutes saw the quality of the game lower, as Ely saw out minutes to the whistle to secure their 3-1 win.

FT; Ely City 3 - 1 March Town United

A hard fought win for Ely, who got their goals but March didn’t give up and competed despite finding themselves 3 down.

The Robins back line was solid, forward wise always looking to create- Hammond being the key in the creative role.

Next week see’s the youth play second placed St Ives Town in another tough one!

Team; Hall, Sherington, Slane ©️, Holmes, Ivison, Hammond, Urbanas, Rohloff, Voyce, Wilkinson, Ashman.
Subs; Iball, Thistlewaite, Reed, Seale, Smith.

Chris Gibson
cjgibsonuk@hotmail.com