Ely City have to stay hungry if they want to pick up more wins and steer clear of relegation this season, according to boss Brady Stone.

The Robins bounced back from last week’s defeat to Wivenhoe by beating Brantham Athletic 2-1 on Saturday and Stone says it was the Robins’ hunger that made the difference between defeat and success.

As has often been the case this season, Ely found themselves a goal down inside five minutes as Brantham’s Ollie Mann netted.

But the Robins regrouped and two goals from Richard Gammon, one either side of half-time, saw them to a crucial victory.

Stone said: “Against Wivenhoe we just didn’t want it enough, they showed more desire and got the win but against Brantham the players showed that they really wanted it.

“I saw their heads go down after we conceded and I was worried about what might happen but to be fair to the lads, they rallied and came back into it. It was a game that we really couldn’t afford to lose.

“But if we want to start picking up more wins we have got to show that hunger every week. We are going to be playing against a lot of mid-table teams without much to play for and we have got everything to play for so there are a lot of points still to be won.”

The win moved Ely off the bottom of the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division and to within eight points of third-bottom side FC Clacton.

This weekend, Ely welcome Haverhill Rovers to the Unwin Ground but, despite a mediocre season by their own standards, Stone is expecting a difficult test.

He said: “They have had a change of manager recently and they have picked up since then. I know they will be well-drilled and well-organised so it’s going to be a tough game for us.

“I think our supporters have only seen two league wins in two seasons so we are desperate to do well for them.”

Weather-permitting, Saturday’s match at the Unwin Ground kicks off at 3pm.