FRENCH STRIKING AGAIN

ELY CITY 1 GODMANCHESTER ROVERS 1
THURLOW NUNN EASTERN COUNTIES PREMIER @ THE UNWIN GROUND
11 JANUARY 2020 --- 3PM

ELY CITY V GODMANCHESTER ROVERS OVERSEEN BY THE CATHEDRAL

This time its not the nation taking industrial action but the shooting boot of Ely frontman Harry French whose strike earned The Robins a more than deserved point which really should have been converted into all three in a second half dominance that just required one of their chances taken as chances went begging.
Back on the road, well rails to be more accurate, after around 2 months off after falling out of love with the trains with overcrowding and of course the busy pre Christmas spell all alongside the wet weather that makes the travelling a slight bit precarious.  Ely City had been on the cards for about two seasons but it never quite came about but today with the opportunity to be joined in explorations by Mr R of Platform One Parish was the time to re-emerge.

THE BUSINESS END AT THE UNWIN GROUND

Regular readers may be shocked here that apart from a seventeen minute late departure from base station just over two hours later we would arrive in Ely with the comfort of a seat all the way, I know its unbelievable.  But wait for this on the return journey arrival back at spire town on time with a seat again, who said train travel was a bind.
Sweeping into the station with the Greater Ouse adjacent to the rail line the large marina and 'ship of the Fens' Ely Catherdral offer a majestic approach from the north to what is on offer in this what would normally be small town but here of course city status reigns.  The approaching views were clearly at their best from the rail line embankment because after a walk into the city via the marina there was no photographic option but it was a chance to revisit this attractive little city since my only previous visit somewhere around the late 1980's.  The collection of shopping streets and approaching thoroughfares are filled with buildings of interest at eye level and many above your immediate viewing sightline as well.  The dominant feature of course remains the Cathedral which is superb in its central location and design, from the front view it always looks like its unfinished to one side but its central structure which is lit at night offers an amazing view from inside.  Sadly today there was not time to visit but I well remember paying the admission fee on my last visit of around £3.75 something I don't normally agree with but it was well worth it an impressive add on alongside it the former Abbey Church building this is a city and area well worth a day trip too.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MAIN STAND

With time pressing a walk out to the north of the city towards the ground found very quiet suburbs and as we approached the A10 Cambridge to Kings Lynn a walk through a small park area and via an underpass to get over the bustling link road found us emerging in the Ely Leisure Park.
Here alongside some entertainment establishments there was enough fast food and restaurant type facilities to keep a hopper happy for a seasons visits.  Beyond the site and the sporting side came to life with Rugby Union, Ely were home to Ipswich, hockey, tennis, squash, mini golf course, golf driving range and at the top end Demcom Park/Unwin ground today's ultimate destination.
With the forecast appearing to increase in speed rather than decrease we paid our entrance fee and obtained a very creditable programme effort which actually showed a club that were interested and proud of their effort, unlike so many nowadays.

YOU CANNOT BEAT A GOOD BACKDROP CAN YOU

All the facilities are on the turnstile side with to the left a small toilet block and wooden built flat terrace cover to the corner flag whereas to the right a whopping great stand in height anyway its narrow but deep with the changing rooms below.  Continuing on is large clubhouse and bar and at the front a small hang on cover for some weather protection.  Both ends are open as is the opposite side with two smart UPVC dug outs with added gutters only the best at Ely City.  A visit to the bar would find a nice collection of memorabilia including a fantastic scene from the clubs 1956 FA Cup game versus Torquay United with the crowd on a shallow terrace all dressed in suits and ties with flat caps.  Those of a nervous disposition may have to look away now but I'm going to talk toilets shortly, most of the club house has a fell of the 1980's from when the club moved here from their previous superbly named Paradise Ground included in this is a club that named its new ground after Doug Unwin who was associated with the from 1934 to 1999 and other little reminders of former club officials are also remembered.  'Toilets' I hear you say, well the three wall mounted urinals here are massive in fact in London they would probably have a guide price of half a million pounds and be sold as double bedroomed apartments.
Time to brave the weather it was a dark day with lights on from the start so pictures not the best again and with a scattering of drizzle midway through the first half we diverted for cover.  But to the action and with both sides not having the best of seasons mid tabled visitors Godmanchester would have been most hopeful with third bottom Ely dangerously close to the foot of the table with the sides below them having games in hand.  But The Robins had a new management team to give them hope and Ben Farmer and Luke McAvoy looked to have a young squad and the early exchanges found Goddy in the ascendancy and when they opened the scoring after ten minutes when Reece King crossed for Austen Diaper to divert the ball in from close range you feared for the home side.

AUSTEN DIAPER [9] GAVE GODMANCHESTER THE LEAD

However Ely mustered up a response and French was proving a nuisance to the visitors defence indeed he had fired wide before they had taken the lead he then proceeded to hit the post on 20 minutes but on the half hour mark he levelled when through one on one with keeper Niall Conroy he struck the ball powerfully enough that as it went through the keepers legs any touch could not stop it nestling in the back of the net.
Before half time the young striker was through again and probably should have scored but he fired wide as Conroy advanced.  With the wind at their backs hope sprung eternal that Ely could pick up three points in the second half.

ELY STRIKER HARRY FRENCH ON THE BALL

For most of the second period Ely who had defended the swirling high ball superbly well looked to give Godmanchester the same problems as the visitors struggled for most of the 45 minutes to cross the half way line.  Sub Josh Lowe swing in a superb ball off the right and fellow bench man Marcio Pereira missed his header by a hairs breadth.  A lower tempting cross from Harry McGregor shortly after was just missed by French and at the far post sliding in saw Mitch Drewitt was just off target.  It was Drewitt moments later who struck the post as The Robins mounted a charge it was all getting so exciting that the blogger even got a bit aerated with dug out side assistant referee who had given what seemed a reason, to it has to be said very respectful home bench who were quite calm, upon their frustration at the referee stopping a quickly taken Ely free kick.  Said assistant then decided after over an hour of both managers and physio standing that only two should be, something he reminded them when jogging past on two occasions and I felt he was being a little busy shall we say and mentioned it at slightly raised decibel, not sure how he would have reacted if the two benches were badly behaved, something they were clearly not.

TIFFIN ELY OPERATED ROBINS NEST SNACK BAR TESTED BY MR R

Anyway the closing stages did see the visitors advance over the half way line and Jordan Patrick on loan from St Ives skied a sitter into row z, had there been one, with an effort that would have won it.  But the plus points finished with Ely when a swirling cross held up at the near post of visiting keeper Conroy who had to frantically claw away the high ball twice in the same move to deny The Robins the three points their efforts deserved.
Godmanchester had started very strongly but Ely in the end could have made an argument for scoring five however after going one down they showed spirit and fight when they could have so easily buckled so a promising start for their new management duo in their attempt to pull away from the foot of the table.

THE EVENING BECKONS AT ELY CITY FC

A walk of determination back to Market Street for post match meal from The Fish House and while balancing chips and fish cake we walked back towards the station even with time for some added provisions from thee big T's for the train journey back to Spire.  An enjoyable afternoon in a smart little town watching an entertaining game in trying conditions both sides gave it their all and to add to that a highly successful day on the trains, there is something you never thought you would read on here.