League cup win for Ely in game against Downham Town

After Saturday’s 4-1 reversal at Brantham Athletic, Guy Habbin gave starts to Tobi Lawal, Sam Tagg and Alex Theobold after positive impacts in that game, despite the defeat.

Charlie Root also made a return after returning to fitness with the Reserves as Joe Brannan was ruled out.

Ely made a lively start, as Theobold went close with Downham eventually having to clear off the line after Downham’s keeper Duncan McAnally blocked from close range. 

Town’s keeper then made a fantastic save from an Aaron Hamer drive, turning away to safety. 

Lawal, who scored Ely’s only goal in the weekends defeat, justified the reason to start- picking the ball up in the centre before taking on 2 defenders and drawing another save from McAnally.

Downham started to get their foot in the game, settling down after a frantic start. Possession through the lines trying to draw a well organised Ely out.

In an attempted break, a long ball from the wingback saw a foot race with the Town winger, but Hamer tracked back to clear well.

They almost did pull level before the break, again, a ball from the right was excellently delivered but the arriving forward fired off the bar, with Dom Hunt and Alfie Rogers combining to clear. 

The half-time score was Ely City 0 - 0 Downham Town.

At half time, Root was withdrawn for Baba Camara who slotted in beside Tatum Cartner as Ely looked to shift some creativity through their midfield. 

Instantly the Ely attack looked to press early, as Tagg and Lawal looked to pull wider. A brilliant clearance from Jev Cook found the pace of Tagg who got past his full back and delivered low across the box, Theobold was denied at the near post with by a block as Camara hit the follow up harmlessly wide of the Downham goal from distance. 

Tagg again got down his side and a high looping cross saw the Downham keeper punch away from under his bar, under pressure from Theobold again. McAnally fell awkwardly and after receiving some treatment the keeper was withdrawn. 

Ely looked to put the pressure on after Downham had to reshuffle the pack due to the injury, as Hamer bent one just wide and Lawal was denied by a last ditch block.

As the minutes ticked away, the game was stretching and Ely took full advantage. Lawal picked up the ball out wide and beat his man, crossing the ball into the centre of the midfield.

Camara picked the ball up 25 yards out and curled a low right footed curler into the bottom corner, past the despairing arm of the keeper to make it 1-0 with 15 minutes to go! Downham looked to instantly hit back, as a long ball down the centre was thrashed at goal, before a cross found the centre mid 20 yards out, but his volley hit the base of the post, rebounded out and Hunt cleared.

Ely thought they’d doubled their lead as Hamer nodded in from a lobbed cross, but the flag was raised on the far side. 

Downham looked to break with the quick free kick and found the right winger, who had been superb all game, but as he cut back in and fired at goal, the ball hit the foot of the post again and rebounded to safety.

Into injury time and Downham flooded the Ely half, but long balls over couldn’t beat Hunt or Jacob Partridge as the Robins held on as the whistle went!

Fantastic cup game! Both teams went for it and as the game went on, tired legs opened it up more.

But it’s the Robin who progress and Downham will count their luck hitting the woodwork on four separate occasions! 

Full Time Score: Ely City 1 - 0 Downham Town

Team: Key, Cook, Partridge, Hunt, Rogers, Hamer, Root, Cartner, Theobold, Lawal, Tagg.

Subs; Ebanks-Blake, Camara, Slane, Ashman, Stoker