MANAGER Dennis Lightning admits he was disappointed with his Ely City side after they lost 2-1 at nine-man Dereham Town in the Ridgeon’s League Premier Division on Tuesday night.

MANAGER Dennis Lightning admits he was disappointed with his Ely City side after they lost 2-1 at nine-man Dereham Town in the Ridgeon’s League Premier Division on Tuesday night.

A whirlwind start saw the hosts catch the Robins cold to take the lead inside the first two minutes, but Ely equalised just a minute later.

Mark Johnston’s corner was headed home at the far post by Adam Murray to make it 1-1.

Dereham regained the lead a minute before the break when, after Ben Lawrence was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box, they converted the resultant spot kick.

The hosts had two players sent off in the second half and, although Ely had a two-man advantage for the final 20 minutes, they were unable to break through.

Lightning said: “We had quite a strong wind on our backs first half and I expected us to cause them problems, but we didn’t create anything after the goal.

If I’m honest, we didn’t play well enough to create too many chances.

“We bombarded their penalty box in the final 20 minutes, but we played it totally wrong and I told the players that afterwards.

“We tried to hit direct balls into their box, but their two big centre-halves just stood there. We should have worked the ball across the pitch and moved their defenders about, but we failed to do that.

“I’m not disappointed with our team many times but I was last night, as we should have been able to get in behind them and we failed to do that.

The defeat leaves Ely sixth in the table after three wins and two defeats from their first five games.

On Saturday, the Robins visit fellow Ridgeon’s Premier outfit Wroxham in the FA Cup preliminary round at 3pm.

Lightning’s men are then scheduled to be back in league action on Tuesday night, when they entertain Haverhill Rovers (7.45pm).

Soham Town Rangers, meanwhile, are also in FA Cup preliminary round action on Saturday, as they visit United Counties League Premier Division side Stewarts & Lloyds Corby.

Then it’s back to Julius Martin Lane on Bank Holiday Monday for the league visit of promotion hopefuls Hitchin Town. Both games kick-off at 3pm.