RIDGEONS DIVISION ONE Thetford Town 2 Ely City 3 ELY joint-manager Dennis Lightning believes his side has put itself back in the promotion picture after coming back from two goals down to beat Thetford on Tuesday night. The win, the Robins second in th

RIDGEONS

DIVISION ONE

Thetford Town 2

Ely City 3

ELY joint-manager Dennis Lightning believes his side has put itself back in the promotion picture after coming back from two goals down to beat Thetford on Tuesday night.

The win, the Robins' second in three days, was achieved thanks largely to a fine second-half performance which yielded three goals in 25 minutes.

And Lightning said that, so long as his team can put a run together, they could well be in the promotion shake-up come the end of the season.

"I've always said that if you can win five games in a row in this league, that's a lot of points. If we do that, we can put ourselves right back in the mix."

Despite dominating most of the play early on, Ely found themselves 2-0 down at half-time. They got back in the game after 48 minutes when Andy Chatters converted a penalty awarded for a foul on Richard Dewsbury.

Chatters himself levelled the scores after 53 minutes, before Robbie Mason's spectacular scissors kick after 65 minutes gave the Robins a lead they would not relinquish.

"It was a strange game," said Lightning. "We looked in total control for the first 25 minutes and I thought it would only be a matter of time before we scored.

"Then they got a goal and another before half-time. We told the players at the break to keep doing as they were, that the chances would come, and they did."

With nine league matches to go, an intriguing run-in sees Ely travel to promotion-chasing Walsham Le Willows, whom they beat on Saturday, and they also have to travel to fourth-placed Fulbourn Institute and entertain champions-elect Stanway Rovers, as well as visiting second-placed Tiptree United on the last day of the season, April 29.

"If we can turn those teams over, we are still in with a great shout," said Lightning. "We've been inconsistent this season and that's probably something to do with the age of the side.

"It's a confidence thing with the youngsters but the number involved in the first-team is a good sign for the future. Stephen Spriggs played at left-back on Tuesday night and did well, while Jody Murfitt had a good game in midfield."

Ashley Brand also impressed after in his second game after signing from March last week, while Steve Tuck, who returned to the Unwin Ground last week, was among the substitutes.

Ely travel to Hadleigh United on Saturday.