Brady Stone says he couldn’t be more proud of his Ely City players – despite watching them fall to a 4-1 Cambs Invitation Cup final defeat last night.

The Robins were outdone by a superior Cambridge City side at the Cambs Glass Stadium, and Stone admitted that he was frustrated by Ely’s first-half display, which saw them ship two goals.

“We were poor in the first half. We didn’t get going and there were too many passengers,” Stone said.

“We had a word at half-time and said we deserve a place in the final and to be fair to the players they came out in the second half and were brilliant.”

The Lilywhites raced into a two-goal lead by the break thanks to an Ollie Brookes own-goal and Harry Norman’s measured finish.

Matt Foy added a third for Cambridge early in the second half, but Ely reduced the deficit in the second period through Ash Walter’s header.

Cambridge wasted a golden opportunity to add a fourth after Manny Osei blasted a penalty over the bar, but did eventually find the net again through Josh Lowe seven minutes from time.

“I think we were the first team to score against them in seven games,” Stone added.

“I’m really proud of the players and we can’t thank the support enough. The Ely fans were really loud and we’re just delighted that people are coming out to watch us play.”

Ely now turn their attentions back to the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division and their final match of the season at fourth-placed Gorleston on Saturday (3pm).

Few would argue with Ely taking a more laid-back approach heading into the tie after securing their league safety earlier this month, but Stone insists his men will go to Norfolk looking for the victory which would cap an impressive first season back at Step Five.

“We need to go into Saturday’s game with the right attitude and we want to go out there and get the three points,” he said.

“I think the last time we played Cambridge City in the final of the cup, we played Gorleston on the final day and lost 8-1 so we obviously don’t want a repeat of that!

“We know that a lot can happen over the summer but I think that we’re really building something here at Ely.

“We have a great squad, great fans and who knows - maybe looking forward we can take Ely into the Ryman League.”