Ely City 3 Woodbridge 1

ELY City were back on song at the weekend as they eased to victory over mid-table Woodbridge at the Unwin Ground.

After their 15-game unbeaten run was ended at Norwich United last week, the Robins were keen to get back to winning ways and three goals in the first 45 minutes helped set up an impressive win.

Both Wroxham and Norwich United were victorious at the weekend meaning Alan Alsop’s side remain in fourth place in the Ridgeons Premier League ahead of next week’s trip to Stanway Rovers.

A minute’s silence was held before Saturday’s match to mark the death of faithful Robins’ fan Narajen Singh, who died in a collision in the city on Tuesday (December 6).

Captain Lee Pacey called on his side to get a result Narajen “would have been proud of” in the build up to the game and it took just eight minutes for the home side to move into the lead as a lofted Sam Parkinson free-kick looped over the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

New signing Tom Wright came close to doubling the lead 10 minutes later only for a superb covering tackle to stop an almost certain goal, with the striker preparing to pull the trigger.

Though seldom able to launch a decisive attacking move, Woodbridge were afforded too much space on the edge of the Robins’ box on a couple of occasions around the half-hour mark, with Pacey called on to make some decent saves as shots reigned in.

With the pressure building however, Ely moved into a 2-0 lead as striker Richard Chadwick nodded home from a corner.

The points were all but sealed in the seconds before half-time as Parkinson pulled back across the box for Wright, whose blocked shot fell to first-half substitute Josh Bridgeman, who fired home from 20 yards to make it 3-0.

Nick Impey’s powerful shot from a tight angle was well saved by the Woodbridge keeper early in the second half but the early warning served only to inspire the visitors as they began to get a foothold in the match.

James Hubbard had a snapshot from close range well saved by Pacey and Ross Gilfedder spurned a glorious opportunity from just six yards out as the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the game.

After a short break due to floodlight failure, Woodbridge managed to pull a goal back as Paul Berry lashed home from 25 yards.

The goal threatened to spur the visitors on but instead, it was Ely who enjoyed the better of the late exchanges as subs Austen Diaper and Taz Chisango had efforts well saved.