Defeat in the City!

As a result of this victory Ely maintained their unbeaten home  record and moved to second place in the Division. It was a Jekyll and Hyde return for Melford s Oli Judge, who after five weeks out with injury was unfortunately  carried off with the same knee injury after only 16 minutes. With  central  defender Dek Roy out till  2025  , Manager Liam Joyce introduced for a debut  the experienced defender  Patrick Campbell to compensate, and moved defender Carlos Lazar to te striker  role to replace the long term injured Ryan  Gibbs.  Despite the end result it was a bright and promising performance from Melford, marred by two defensive lapses rather presenting the game to Ely City.  The game opened with corners at both ends without any end results. The Robins went ahead after 11 minutes, a poorly defended corner saw a header  from   TOM STOKER rebound off a Melford defender into the net, On 34 minutes the score was doubled, after some good play down the  Ely left flank,   somehow  ALEX KERR found the net via the Melford near post, not great defending by the Villagers.   Despite the setbacks Melford often had Ely on the back foot, with some good passing football  with Josh Fenton-Jones and Ben Judge, the architects of much of the good work,   but sadly for Melford no finished product.  Up front for Ely former March Town player, and Peterborough United trainee,  Jack Friend was always a threat to the Melford defence.   Although in the second half Ely hit the Melford post twice, Melford had three golden opportunities to open their scoring. Early in the half Ben Humphries was through on goal,  but keeper  Harry Sutton came out to block his shot, on 66 minutes Reuben Chinnery  was victim of a pitch bounce and from  7 yards his shot sailed over the bar,   Minutes later with keeper Sutton stranded at one end of his  goal   Ben Judge headed wide of the gaping goal.   Just time for Melford keeper Matt Walker to make a great save  from Friend at the other end, and on the  final whistle after a collision fall to the ground with an injured shoulder, not a good event for  Melford.    MELFORD   Walker Akinade, O Judge (16 mins)  B Judge,    Campbell,  Stoneham,  Fenton-Jones,  Chinnery,   Lazar,  Brown (capt) Humphreys   subs used   Ayiteyio, Pheby,   Birch, O  Byrne,  Charway  Jnr