Halloween week always throws up an array of spooky surprises – and unfortunately for boss Brady Stone, there was one for Ely City last night.

Stone has admitted it has been a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ week for his men, after they followed up their superb 1-1 draw at second-placed Stanway Rovers on Saturday with a defensive horror show in their League Challenge Cup defeat to Downham Town last night.

The Robins were beaten 3-0 by the lower-level side at the Unwin – a result Stone says was the correct outcome.

“We’re just two different teams at the moment,” he said.

“We were unbelievable on Saturday, but Tuesday was an absolute shambles from the first minute until the last.

“We have two good games and then one really bad game and that puts us back again.

“Downham passed us off the park for 90 minutes. We didn’t take control and we allowed them to play.”

The visitors raced into a two-goal break at half time, before the Norfolk side capped a fine away performance with a third in the second half.

Alex Theobald had a golden opportunity to pull a goal back from the spot late on, but saw his kick sail over the bar.

“The penalty summed the night up,” said Stone.

“Alex is usually so cool in the box but he hit it about 50 yards over.

“It would’ve been nice to go into this Saturday’s with momentum after a win in the cup but we’ll have to look to bounce back now.”

Stone is hoping for an instant response in Ely’s clash with mid-table rivals, Ipswich Wanderers.

Ipswich edged Ely 2-1 earlier in the season, and Stone knows claiming all three points will be a difficult task.

“It’s another massive league game,” he said. “But ultimately it’s an opportunity for us to get another win and add to the positive result we got at Stanway.”