RIDGEONS FIRST DIVISION Debenham LC 1 Ely City 0 ELY joint-manager Steve Taylor accepted promotion was out of his side s reach after the Robins went down to a last-gasp defeat on Saturday. In a poor game of few chances, Debenham took all three points with

RIDGEONS FIRST DIVISION

Debenham LC 1 Ely City 0

ELY joint-manager Steve Taylor accepted promotion was out of his side's reach after the Robins went down to a last-gasp defeat on Saturday.

In a poor game of few chances, Debenham took all three points with a header four minutes from time to leave Ely licking their wounds. And Taylor admitted that promotion was not now the number one priority for his men.

"I think the players have accepted that we won't get promotion," he said. "We've just got to re-organise and try to enjoy the rest of the season. Maybe the pressure's got to the players a little bit, I don't know. I just hope the players can relax and enjoy the rest of the season."

Taylor revealed that he felt his team would be more suited to going for promotion next season, and that he was happy to be there for the long haul.

"We are probably not ready to go up at the moment but when Dennis [Lightning, assistant manager] and I joined we said it was a three-year plan and we'll be at the end of the second year when this season finishes.

"The reserves are going well and the under-18s are top of their league. We'll have some more players in the first team squad next year and I'm confident we can do well."

Dean Blackman will miss Saturday's visit of Haverhill, but otherwise Taylor has a full squad to choose from.