New Ely City joint manager impressed after Mildenhall draw

Habbin watched the Robins play out a spirited 1-1 home draw with Mildenhall Town on February 4, his first game since joining the club as joint boss alongside Luke McAvoy.

Louis Jenkins slotted Ely into a fifth-minute lead before Luke Butcher’s scrambled effort denied the hosts victory against a team in the Eastern Counties Premier Division's top seven.

GOAL! @ElyCityFC 1-0 @MildenhallTown: Superb start for the #robins. Joao Varela with the intricate dribbling as he gets in behind the Hall defence, and sets up Louis Jenkins who taps home from point-blank range. 5’

— Dan Mason (@DanMasonSport) February 4, 2023

“I took my first training session on January 31 and I saw everything I needed to know that this group can be competitive with some of the best in this league,” said Habbin.

“Being on my doorstep, this was a role I felt I couldn’t turn down.”

The Mildenhall draw also saw Ely captain Ash Walter mark his 300th appearance for the club.

Ash Walter (right) marked his 300th appearance for Ely City in the 1-1 draw with Mildenhall Town. (Image: Daniel Mason)

Habbin left United Counties League Premier Division South outfit March Town, where he was an assistant manager, to join up with his hometown club after previous first team coach Ollie Drake left City on January 30.

The former Haverhill Borough boss, who left March in the hope of returning to frontline management, has met up with the Ely squad and other club members since his arrival.

His first aim will be to try and lift the club’s fortunes this season, as they continue their focus on climbing out of the bottom half.

FT: @ElyCityFC 1-1 @MildenhallTown: Guy Habbin’s first game as joint first team manager for Ely ends in a spirited draw, after taking an early lead against a top six side. #robins withstood pressure from the visitors to arrest a five-game losing run at home.

— Dan Mason (@DanMasonSport) February 4, 2023

“It’s about getting the approach right on the day,” Habbin added.

“It’s not a club in crisis, but it’s about getting everyone channelled with where we want to try and head towards.

“We don’t want to try and reinvent the wheel; we want to provide stability.”

Ely are due to visit Ipswich Wanderers on February 7, 7.45pm before a trip to Norwich United on February 11, 3pm.

Ely City: Key; Isaacson, Hunt (sub Theobald, 50’), Walter (C), Munro, Wyman, Moir, (sub Farrow, 83’), Wilson, (sub Hida, 65’), Townshend (sub Felgueiras, 86’), Jenkins, Varela.