Football Ely City 1 Woodbridge Town 1

A point was enough to see relegation-threatened Ely City to safety on Saturday as results elsewhere went in their favour.

The Robins went into the match needing to match or better the result of third-bottom Diss Town and, despite only managing a draw themselves, they were able to breathe easy after news filtered through that Diss had gone down 4-1 at Wivenhoe.

The point saw Ely finish in 17th place in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division, just a point clear of the bottom three.

It was a lively start to the match from the Robins, with Charlie Bowditch, promoted once more from the reserve side, testing Woodbridge keeper Jack Spurling with a shot from range.

Centre back Adam Murray was also denied by Spurling, with a powerful header parried over the crossbar.

Despite bossing the opening exchanges, Ely fell behind in the 11th minute as a corner from Jack Mead was headed home by James Hubbard.

After the break, Ely stepped on the gas and Murray was again unlucky with a pair of headers, one effort slipping narrowly wide before Spurling was called upon to deny the defender once more.

Woodbridge threatened on the break but there was no denying Ely their equaliser in the 68th minute as Andrew Claydon fired past Spurling from close range – albeit aided by a deflection off of a Woodpecker’s player.

The attendance at the match was 169, the club’s highest attendance of the season.

Elsewhere, Ely City Reserves finished their first season in the Kershaw Senior A league in 11th place.

A 2-0 win over Comberton – with goals courtesy of George Cummins and Dean Salmons – and a 1-1 at Fen rivals Chatteris Town – with Tyler Philips on target – was enough to secure their status in the league for next season.

Both senior and reserve sides will return to action again in July for pre-season.