Manager Brady Stone heaped praise on his depleted Ely City side last Saturday – following a first away success since February.

Ely Standard: Ely City youngster Tom Thulborn's first senior goal set them on the way to victory at Great Yarmouth. Picture: ELY CITY FCEly City youngster Tom Thulborn's first senior goal set them on the way to victory at Great Yarmouth. Picture: ELY CITY FC (Image: Archant)

The Robins were without nine regular players for a Thurlow Nunn League Premier Divison trip to Great Yarmouth, but that didn’t stop them powering to a 3-0 victory.

Young striker Tom Thulborn’s first senior goal gave them the edge on the half-hour and Sam Reed then sealed the points with a brace in the second period.

He struck only a couple of minutes after half-time when heading in a Joe Brannan cross and completed the scoring with a smart one-on-one finish with 20 minutes to go.

It was a fourth win in their opening six league games and launched Stone’s side up to fourth place in the early-season standings.

“We dominated from start to finish despite having so many people out,” said Stone.

“I’m really happy with our first away win of the season – and our first for several months.

“Our form on the road has been a cause for concern, but a change of system worked really well for us.

“We set up a bit more defensively than in previous away games and looked to hurt them on the counter attack which we managed to do.”

City had lost all three previous away games this season, suffering league defeats at Long Melford and Histon after bowing out of the FA Cup at lower-level Sileby Rangers.

But they are still involved in another national competition – the FA Vase – and compete in the second qualifying round this Saturday.

Stone’s men make the short trip to Premier Division rivals Newmarket Town – a team they have already beaten in league action this season.

City triumphed 2-0 against the Jockeys at the Ellgia Stadium last month thanks to goals from Reed and Lewis Hook and Stone, who missed that match due to illness, would love a repeat.

He added: “It all comes down to which team wants it more in a cup tie and we have to ensure that is us.

“We showed last Saturday we can be hard to beat on the road and that has to be the case again.

“If we apply ourselves properly and perform to the levels I know we can, we stand a great chance of winning the game and progressing.”

Ely triumphed in a seven-goal thriller against Norwich United in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase earlier this month.

They came from behind in extra-time to triumph 4-3 thanks to an own goal and a Deakan Napier winner.