Ely City Reserves 0 Littleport Town 4

ELY City Reserves were sent tumbling towards the relegation zone after a crushing defeat by local rivals Littleport Town on Saturday.

Aside from a bright opening 10-minute period, the Robins were poor throughout and had goalkeeper ??Stuart Rollings???? To thank for sparing them further punishment at the hands of the visitors’ lively attack.

The loss leaves Ely staring down the barrel as they slip to 15th place in the Kershaw Premier League, just five points ahead of basement boys Newmarket Town Reserves.

Aggressive from the first whistle, Ely’s midfield were keen to get on the ball and pressed high as Littleport struggled to adjust.

Frontman Peter Czainecky was full of energy in attack and should really have opened the scoring after five minutes after forcing an error from the visitors’ defence.

An under-hit back pass failed to reach Port goalkeeper Leigh Follen and Czainecky managed to reach the ball first only to poke his effort wide with the goal gaping.

Ely came closer still five minutes later only for a fizzing low cross to be hacked behind for a corner with a queue of Ely players waiting to convert from six yards.

Having ridden the early storm, Port were handed the initiative as an attacker was cynically hauled down in the area and a penalty awarded.

Liam Hart sent Rollings to wrong way to open the scoring for Port.

With a lead establish, Port took control of the game and needed just 10 minutes to double their lead, Hart forcing an own goal after a surging run and cross from the bye-line, his marker turned all too easily.

Ely were desperate for a way back into the game after the break but they were powerless to stop Port all-but sealing the points in the 50th minute as Tom Christie capitalised on confusion in the defence to waltz passed Rollings and score.

The Robins goalkeeper was at his best to deny Port scoring a fourth minutes later, an excellent reaction save keeping a header out.

A second super save 10 minutes later again kept the score at 3-0, Rollings saving twice from Christie on the angle with the goal gaping.

There was little Rollings could do about the fourth however, Jon Bartlett curling home an excellent free-kick from 25 yards after Jose Monteiro was tripped.

The only sour note for Port in a near-flawless performance was the dismissal of Michael Emms for two bookable offences.