ELY City bounced back from a midweek defeat at Wisbech to score an impressive 2-1 win over Stanway Rovers on Saturday.

ELY City bounced back from a midweek defeat at Wisbech to score an impressive 2-1 win over Stanway Rovers on Saturday.

The Robins were left ruing missed opportunities against the Fenman on Tuesday night but quickly banished memories of their defeat with an assured performance over a gritty Stanway side.

Boss Dennis Lightning, said: “At times during the game it was like watching paint dry but when we look back on the game will forget that it was a bit scrappy and remember that we picked up a good win, especially considering we were missing a lot of players.

“It was very important to get back to winning ways after the Wisbech game because I felt we should have got something from that game and i didn’t want to loose our momentum.”

In a largely dour opening half hour in which both sides struggled to keep hold of the ball, it fell to Robins custodian Lee Pacey to keep the scores level as he reacted well to deny a Stanway striker who fired goalwards from 10 yards.

With mere minutes left of the half however, the Robins finally broke the deadlock as Grant Robbins scrambled home from two yards after an excellent header across goal from defender Ben Lawrence.

The tempo of the game increased markedly in the second half as both sides went in search of a decisive second goal and it was Ely who would strike first as Robbie Mason showed his class by stepping inside a defender and drilling home from 20 yards when sent clear from midfield.

The second goal sparked joyous scenes among the Robins faithful, no doubt bewildered by a scintiallting start to the season by City, but there joy was short-lived as a lapse of concentration from the Ely defence allowed Stanway in to reduce the deficit with a flowing move.

In the remaining half hour Stanway pushed hard for a way back into the game but some decent defending from Ely ensured they were never unduly troubled late on.

The win pushes Lightning’s men up into fourth spot in the Ridgeons Premier League with three wins in four matches so far this term.