RIDGEONS LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION Walsham-le-Willows 4 Ely City 3 ELY were made to pay for uncharacteristically bad defending, with three goals coming from under-hit backpasses. The Robins, who haven t conceeded in their last three league games, were look

RIDGEONS LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION

Walsham-le-Willows 4

Ely City 3

ELY were made to pay for uncharacteristically bad defending, with three goals coming from under-hit backpasses.

The Robins, who haven't conceeded in their last three league games, were looking to continue their surge towards the top of the table with a win against second-placed Walsham-le-Willows.

But they found themselves 2-0 down at half-time. The first goal came through a corner when five Ely defenders failed to pick up an attacker. Shortly after, the home side scored a penalty when Vinnie Long didn't put enough on his pass back to Leigh Follen and the goalkeeper brought down a Walsham player in the box.

It seemed as if stern words had been said in the dressing room at half-time as the Ely players came out fired up. Jamie Thurlbourne pulled a goal back with a penalty after a handball, just two minutes after the re-start, and a Robbie Mason strike, five minutes later, put them level. Ely looked like they would go on to win, with some fluent passing moves. But another under-hit Long backpass allowed a Walsham striker to put his team back in front.

Tom Beech scored the equaliser with his first touch for the Robins when he came off the bench in the 82nd minute. Ely won a corner and he struck home just 10 seconds into his debut.

Yet, Walsham were gifted a late winner when Dean Blackman's header back to Follen was intercepted and finished off by a Walsham striker.

Ely manager Dennis Lightning said: "I just can't understand how a team who have defended so well all season can give away such soft goals. We were by far the better side and when you score three goals away from home you really expect to win the game.