Match Report: Ely City 2 - Stowmarket Town 1

A bizarre own goal by Stowmarket’s centre back Phil Weavers in the end settled this lively encounter at The Ellgia Stadium on Saturday.

Robins manager Brady Stone was looking for a major reaction to the disappointing performance on Tuesday against Fakenham while Stowmarket were looking to kick start their season off after being touted as one of the favourites at the beginning.

The home side made just one change to the starting eleven from during the week with Sam Goodge coming in for NIck Heap

The visitors started the brighter with a Andrew Wood header testing Harry Reynolds early on. Again in the 7th minute Stowmarket got behind the Robins back four and a cross into the six yard box was missed by everyone and hooked away from danger.

Ely started to find their feet and after good work by Alex Theobald, Adam Capel found himself in the six yard box, but his shot tamely went into the keeper’s hands. Sam Goodge on his first home start for a long period tried at shot from distance without any joy.

Stowmarket then came back into and after Harry Reynolds had saved from a Jon Carver header the deadlock was broken in the 30th minute. A visitors’ free kick on the edge of the box was not dealt with and when the Robins did not react to the second ball at the far post the ball was recycled back across goal and Josh Mayhew reacted the quickest to fire home

The home side then reacted well and got its reward in the 41st minute when an Alex Brown corner was meet by Jonathan Brown who powered home his header to draw the sides level. The Robins nearly went into half time break in front when from a free kick, Tom Williams had the ball in the net, but was adjudged to have been in an offside position even though the home fans thought the flick on had came from a Stowmarket player.

The game was only five minutes old when within a minute the game changed on its head. Firstly. Harry Reynolds produce a quality save to deny a Jemel Fox header going in and then a minute later the most bizarre goal that has been witnessed since the ground opened in 1986.

Just inside his half Stowmarket defender Phil Weavers was closed down by Alex Theobald, but on the volley the defender just turned a lobbed his own keeper to put the Robins in front

The home side continued to work hard in the heat and on the break a Jonathan Brown run down the left found Alex Theobald who shot first time when the striker had time to compose himself. At the other end Alex Brown cleared off the line with his chest but the Robins were defending stoutly.

Matty Simpson was introduced in the 70th for the hard working Alex Theobald and almost straight away Simpson had a great chance to put his side 3-1 up. Through on goal the forward could only force the keeper into a save and Jonathan Brown just missed out following up. In the 75th minute NIck Heap was introduced for Jonathan Brown .

With the away side now pushing players forward and with the Robins having two wiling runners up front chances fell to the home side to put the game to bed.

Again Matty Simpson had a great chance when put through, but could only tamely shoot at away keeper Sam Goodge then went through one on one only to see his shot hit the side netting even though some of the home fans thought it was in.

NIck Heap was again put through with just the keeper to beat shot and hit the post and the chance had gone.

With the home side missing chance after chance the danger at the other end was still there and after own goal during the week Tom Williams done really well to ensure his block went behind for a corner late on.

The home side managed the last few minutes really well and on good attitude and desire to win the game ended up taking all the points.

Next up is another home game on Tuesday September 12 when Ely City play Godmanchester Rovers.