GALLERY: Heartbreak for Crusaders as they lose out in penalty drama

Ely Crusaders v Chatteris Fen Tigers (Image: Archant)

Ely Crusaders fell at the first hurdle in the cup after squandering the lead three times against a plucky Chatteris side.

Ian Walters marked his Crus debut with a brace – and Lewis Peacock was also on target – but the hosts were pegged back on three occasions and the match went into extra time and, ultimately, penalties, with the visitors coming out on top.

Crusaders captain, Matt Brodie said: “To lead in the game three times and still lose the tie is disappointing. The two chances they had in open play we defended poorly and that ultimately cost us.”

Ely dominated possession in the first half and it was man of the match and debutant Walters who opened the scoring with a well-worked goal.

Chatteris seldom threatened in the first half but managed to go in a half-time level at 1-1 after scoring from a direct free-kick.

The second half was a more open affair as the turgid conditions began to take their toll but Ely again took the lead as Lewis Peacock nodded home.

But it wasn’t long before Chatteris pulled another back to level with a second free-kick.

The hosts took the lead once again with a 20-yard volley from Walters but the lead lasted just five minutes. A long, flighted ball from Chatteris was poorly defended by Ely and the ball was tucked away to take the tie into extra time.

In extra time, it was again erroneous defending from Ely which gave Chatteris the edge, as the visitors took the lead for the first time.

But Ely showed great character to level the tie once again.

With the last kick of the game Walters could have won it as he was through one-on-one with the goalkeeper but his effort slide agonisingly wide.

Ely lost 6-5 the subsequent shoot-out 6-5.