SIX points and nine goals in three days moved Ely City to second in the Ridgeons First Division, just one point behind Swaffham with a game in hand. A 2-1 derby win over March Town United on New Year s Day came swiftly on the heels of sensational 7-0 thum

SIX points and nine goals in three days moved Ely City to second in the Ridgeons First Division, just one point behind Swaffham with a game in hand.

A 2-1 derby win over March Town United on New Year's Day came swiftly on the heels of sensational 7-0 thumping of Long Melford.

March Town United 1 Ely City 2

A DOMINANT second half display saw Ely start the new year with a satisfying win over their local rivals.

The March players went into the game fresh after their fixture against Whitton was postponed, and confident after picking up some positive results during the festive period.

A bizarre own goal in the second minute gave City the perfect start. When a free-kick was lobbed into the penalty area March striker James Patrick, under no pressure, headed back to his goalkeeper who had rushed out to collect the ball, and as the two players collided, it rolled over the line.

The early goal sparked the hosts into life and set up a very open first half.

Luke Pepper was at the centre of most of the Hares' attacking moves and he instigated the equaliser when, after City failed to get a decent clearance from a corner, his shot deflected to defender Steve Thompson who stabbed the ball home from five yards.

The Robins dominated the second half and Jamie Thurlbourne, Simon Warren and Nick Impey all hit the woodwork before Robbie Mason turned well in the box and powered a shot into the top right hand corner of the net.

Paul Shafer had a great chance to steal a point for March two minutes from the end when he cut in from the left but screwed his effort from eight yards wide, before Andy Chatters looked to have scored in injury time. The Ely captain unleashed a stunning free-kick from 20 yards out on the right into the inside of the far post, and to the midfielder's disgust, the referee deemed it to have not crossed the line.

Ely boss Dennis Lightning said: "I set a target of 10 points from the Christmas period and we've got just that so I'm absolutely delighted. We've got the best goal difference in the league and if results in the second half of the season mirror the first we'll get promoted.