Ely City 2 Felixstowe and Walton United 3

A good performance from Ely City once again went unrewarded on Saturday as they went down to promotion hopefuls Felixstowe.

The Robins enjoyed both plenty of the ball and a glut of good chances but could make neither count as they came up short despite goals from Adam Murray and Andrew Claydon.

The defeat – Ely’s 16th of the season – leaves them third from bottom and a point from safety.

Claydon and attacking midfielder Austen Diaper both had shots on goal saved by Danny Crump in the opening stages of the match as Ely started strongly.

But it was the visitors who took the lead in the 27th minute as Crump’s long free-kick was collected by Ryan Clark, who drilled low past Lee Pacey from the edge of the box.

James Seymour should have equalised for Ely in the 36th minutes from Lewis McDonald’s deep free-kick but shot wide in a crowded area.

The Seasiders doubled their lead in the 42nd minute as Clark outfoxed the defence and curled over Pacey from a tight angle.

Ely finally pulled a goal back five minutes into the second half as Murray nodded home McDonald’s free-kick.

But Ely shot themselves in the foot once more as, just three minutes later, the visitors restored their two-goal advantage through Ben Cranfield.

Ely piled on the pressure in the last 15 minutes, and pulled a goal back through Claydon, who stabbed home from close range amid a melee of defenders in the Felixstowe box.

But, for all their pressure in the final minutes, Ely were unable to find a crucial third goal.