ELY suffered a damaging 3-0 loss in what was a tempestuous game at home to lowly Whitton United. The Robins were made to pay for some slack defending in a game where the performance was far better than the scoreline suggests. In an end-to-end opening peri

ELY suffered a damaging 3-0 loss in what was a tempestuous game at home to lowly Whitton United.

The Robins were made to pay for some slack defending in a game where the performance was far better than the scoreline suggests.

In an end-to-end opening period, neither side could find the cutting edge to break the deadlock. Whitton's Ronaldo Wright went closest though, after his effort rebounded off the bar and away to safety.

No such luck after 28 minutes though, when Duane Wright's audacious lob shot from outside the box dipped under the bar to give the visitors the lead. Richard Chadwick could have brought The Robins back on terms soon after but sent his header agonisingly wide of the far post.

After the interval The Robins pushed on in hope of restoring parity and went close on a couple of occasions. Most notably on 55 minutes when Mark Johnson saw his effort denied by a sprawling double save from Whitton 'keeper Ryan Beale, who injured himself in the process.

The hopes of an equaliser for the home side were dealt a hammer blow after 83 minutes when Lee Pacey was caught in possession leaving R. Wright the simple task of tapping into an empty net. With the vigour drained from the home team Whitton added a third goal with Duane Smith scoring his second from the edge of the area.

The loss means Dennis Lightning's side slip to fifteenth place on 18 points with a tough match at home to high flyers Dereham Town on Tuesday.