Vincett helps Ely squeeze past Norwich
ELY continued their winning start to the season with a hard-fought win on Saturday.
Norwich City 2
Ely City 3
The visitors were without the services of pacey attacking trio Charles Kisby, Dan Jolly and Jack Upton, but welcomed back the evergreen Julian Palmer and Tim Reynolds.
In sweltering conditions at Taverham, Ely dominated the first half, keeping possession for long periods, but struggled to turn their dominance into clear-cut opportunities.
Half-chances fell to attacking trio Chris Vincett, Chris Purllant and Rob Radcliffe, but it was new keeper Stu Parker, at the other end, who was called on to make the sharpest save of the half and it was goalless at the break, with defences firmly on top.
The second half began more brightly as Ely pushed numbers forward, their endeavour producing two quick goals.
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The first came from Vincett, after fine build-up work from attacking fullback Myles Forber, and the second to Purllant, a characteristically authoritative strike that lifted his tally to five goals for the season already.
Ely seemed set to run away with the game but a sloppy 10 minutes saw them pegged back by two well-worked Norwich City short corners and the loss of Tim Reynolds to the sin bin for one cynical foul too many.
A draw would have been hard on Ely, though, as the visitors continued to dominate the game and press for the winner, led by the tireless midfield running of Nick Wells and man-of-the-match Clarke and the outstanding defensive work of Palmer and Feroze Abass.
However, the winner, dramatically, came in the final minute as Vincett notched his second, converting a short corner with a crisp turn and finish.
Skipper Clarke said: “I was really pleased with the belief the boys showed in each other today to go on and push for the win.
“And it was nice to get a win on the day when we awarded the inaugural Grant Hugogu Memorial Trophy to club veteran Tim Reynolds.”
