Harleston Magpies III 4 Ely City 3

ELY narrowly missed out on a point in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash at Harleston on Saturday.

Both sides started the crucial league encounter in tentative fashion, sizing each other up with probing attacks, but it was Harleston who gathered the resolve to land the first blow, scoring from open play.

Ely were awarded a short corner shortly after, only for Vincett’s goal-bound drag flick to fly into the path of a Harleston defender, resulting in a penalty flick. Vincett stepped up to the spot but was unable to convert the flick.

Moments later, he made up for the missed opportunity, as Nick Wells slid a pass to him on the edge of the D and he dribbled around three defenders to fire home a powerful shot.

A few minutes before half-time, Magpies broke forward again and won a short corner. The resulting attempt at a drag flick from the top of the D was scuffed, but the mis-directed shot was enough to beat wrong-footed Ely keeper Stu Parker.

After the restart, Rob Radcliffe put Ely level again. Then a powerful shot from Vincett was deflected by the Magpies keeper, but Kisby was able to seize the ball to make it 3-2.

With just 10 minutes to go, it looked as though Ely would seal the win, but a number of fouls saw theme reduced to 10 and then nine men.

Harleston made it 3-3, but in the dying minutes, and with Ely still down to 10 men, they won a short corner. The final whistle blew and knowing this would be the final play, the Magpies crowded around the Ely D, reducing half the Ely side to mere spectators on the halfway line. The Ely defence charged the short corner, but the Magpies experienced centre forward fired the ball toward the corner of the Ely goal to clinch victory.

Ely retain their second position in the league, and sets up another six-pointer as Ely host third-placed Dereham on Saturday at 1.30pm.