Disallowed Goal Costs Robins

A CONTROVERSIALLY disallowed goal forced Ely City to settle for a frustrating 0-0 draw away at Woodbridge Town. Despite scoring a seemingly legitimate opener after just three minutes, the goal was quickly ruled out for offside and the dejected Robins were

A CONTROVERSIALLY disallowed goal forced Ely City to settle for a frustrating 0-0 draw away at Woodbridge Town.

Despite scoring a seemingly legitimate opener after just three minutes, the goal was quickly ruled out for offside and the dejected Robins were unable to breach the Woodbridge defence again, ultimately forcing them into a share of the spoils.

The visitors were not entirely luckless though, as, in the final minutes of the match, a Woodbridge striker was brusquely felled in the area leaving many holding their breath while the referee pondered, and subsequently denied, the penalty.

The denied goal aside, the game was a largely even affair with most of the plaudits going to the respective keepers who time and again ensured that neither side were able to take the lead.

Woodbridge keeper Gary Rose in particular, produced some admirable saves as he denied defender Chris Smith from almost certainly breaking the deadlock on two occasions.

Tim Catley was also in fine fettle in the Robins' goal, but his afternoon was caught short by injury just after the hour mark, forcing Denis Lightning to hand midfielder Wayne Goddard the unenviable task of donning the goalkeeper's gloves.

Goddard was seldom troubled for the 20 minutes he was between the posts though, and bar a late header from Dean Blackman which sailed narrowly wide, neither side created many clear-cut opportunities.

The draw sees Ely remain in sixteenth place overall with 28 points on the board, some six ahead of the drop-zone.