Buoyed with confidence from last week’s performance at Peterborough, Captain “Sicknote” Dodsworth’s band of merry men were hopeful of turning the tide and actually getting some points on the board.

Could they have foreseen things to come - perhaps if their inspirational captain’s performance during the warm up was anything to go by. The usual routine of short passing and the team getting their game-face on (although it has to be said that Chris usually looks like that), was interrupted by an impromptu performance of Swan Lake meets Commando, as Dodsworth went tumbling to the ground, floored by his own feet. Again. A quick 999 call and his hurty finger was fixed. Dick of the day vote #1.

On to the game…Ely started brightly, pinning Wisbech back for much of the first 15 minutes. A series of good runs and play in the midfield led to several short corners. Tim Reynolds had several decent attempts on goal and good interchanges with Michael Wilderspin, but unfortunately nothing came from these. Although it would have done, had it not been for the unwieldy foot of Warren Dennis, who, in an attempt to ensure the ball didn’t go wide, swiped at the goal bound shot of Wilderspin and got his foot in the way….again. Dick of the day vote #2.

Shortly after this, Ely won a flick that was duly converted by Sicknote at a pace that would have made a sloth look like Usain Bolt. The final mention of the first half must go to Marc Hunt, who in his usual way, looking like he was chasing a run-away dog, got floored by the Wisbech pint-sized adolescent left back. Well done Marc.

Onto the second half, and despite hopes of building on their lead, Ely were soon under pressure. Wisbech broke on numerous occasions, several of these being lapped up by Sam Dunkley, Rob Minns, Dodsworth and Shaun Atkins in defence, and goalkeeper Ian “the cat” Grange. Wisbech earned themselves a number of short corners, and eventually found the net despite Grangie making several good saves, with Wisbech converting on the rebound. A relatively even period of the game followed, with both teams searching for the winner without success, until a moment of comedy from Grange. A lofted ball into the d arrived, rolling harmlessly towards the goal and, unsure whether to clear it or leave it, Grange picked the secret third option of giving the ball enough of a touch to put Wisbech in to the lead. Dick of the day vote #3.

That looked to have secured him the honour of writing this report, but oh no….no sirree. From another short-corner, a blatant back-stick secured Ely another flick. Up stepped Dennis to try to bring it back to 2-2. However, placing the ball directly at the keeper was never going to work….and it didn’t. Cue cheers from Wisbech, and derision from Ely. Vote #4.

A late rally by Ely pushing for the equaliser, led usual defender, Dave Williams, to distances up the pitch previously never known. In a one on one with the Wisbech keeper, altitude sickness clearly got to Williams, who promptly went down like he’d been shot. The late push eventually paid off; Ely secured a short-corner just before the final whistle blew. After winning a second short-corner, a scramble in the Wisbech d led to Hunt converting Chris Beaumont’s goal bound shot. “I was just making sure it went in” claimed Hunt, clearly not happy about being lower down the goal scoring ladder.

So…a point finally on the board, despite a performance that left a lot to be desired at times. Still, there was plenty to talk about round the table afterwards, and make the dick of the day voters spoilt for choice. Oh…and well done to Shaun Atkins for earning himself man of the match…on another day, he would have got more of a mention, if the rest of the team hadn’t provided so much “comedy” to write about.

Warren.