ELY sent a team consisting of players from both minors teams to Peterborough for the Minors National Cup knockout qualifiers this weekend. Their first match was against unknown quantity of Herne Bay. A good first-half display saw goals from captain Sam N

ELY sent a team consisting of players from both minors teams to Peterborough for the Minors' National Cup knockout qualifiers this weekend.

Their first match was against unknown quantity of Herne Bay. A good first-half display saw goals from captain Sam Norton, Simon Thompson and two from Dan Salisbury to provide Ely with a 4-0 lead at half time. Things looked good for Ely at this point, but then came the second half.

Herne Bay started to hit back and with James Bayes in goal doing his best to keep them out, they managed to bring the score back to 4-3 with two minutes on the clock.

Some great defensive work from Ely along with some counter attacking ensured that the score stayed 4-3 in their favour and saw them through to the next round.

Here they faced a Bury St Edmunds team whom they have managed to keep on top of this year. Things continued in this vein for the first half to see Ely take a 3-1 lead at half time. Un like their last game, Ely did not let the opposition hit back hard and managed to cruise through to a 9-3 win. Scorers for Ely were Sam Norton (six), Dan Salisbury (two) and Simon Thompson. It was nearly 10, but unfortunately a shot from Sam Arnold came back off a post.

This is the first time Ely have made it past this stage to the finals, to be held in July.

The player of the day was Simon Thompson, playing through the pain barrier of a broken finger.