Ely took to the (rather bouncy) pitch ready to impose a fast paced, passing game onto Cambridge City. This worked well in the first 15 minutes, with Mark Hodgkinson controlling the midfield allowing Breunus van Lutterveld and Jamie Cooper to make incisive runs and feed the forwards. Ely broke into the opposition circle on numerous (well at least two that this reporter can remember) and produced powerful shots just wide of the posts - maybe listening too much on a Wednesday night…. As the half went on, the wily Cambridge attackers, supported by the younger whippets in their team, started to pull the Ely defence out of position and built pressure, earning several short corners. The defence and keeper held firm initially but, from a short just before half time, Alexander New produced a good save but the rebound was forced in to make it one-nil at half time.
Cambridge City started the second half quickly, continuing to push Ely back and scoring three quick goals - one from another short corner, one from a bobbling shot from “just inside the circle” and one from a penalty stroke after a clumsy tackle from Ely’s debutant, Neil Page. Following this, Ely re-gathered and produced some flowing hockey, with the full-backs pushing on to support their lively forwards and force some good chances and short corners. unfortunately these weren’t converted (a combination of good defence and “agricultural” execution at times). Ely did have a good shout for a video referral to see if the ball crossed the line following a goalmouth scramble and felt aggrieved when an expert finish by Elliott Barry didn’t count as the umpire blew his whistle to award a short corner half a second earlier. As the match wore on, Cambridge City pinched another two goals to give the score line a distinctly unfair look!
MoM: Ben Reynolds

Next match vs City of Peterborough at home, 12:45 push back.

Match details

Match date

Sat 16 Oct 2021

Push back

15:00

Meet time

13:30

Location

Wilberforce Road Astro

Instructions

13:30 meet at Club car park - let me know if you're going direct. Push back 15:00.
Dynamic stretching, followed by short, quick passes between 3 then box setup for shots on goal. Half a dozen penalty corner runs. *Pitch 2*

Address:
Wilberforce Road Athletics and Hockey Ground
Adams Rd
Cambridge CB3 0EQ

Due to refurbishment works to the clubhouse overrunning, there are a number of areas within the pavilion that are currently out of bounds. Toilets are available in a portacabin outside the front entrance and access to the changing rooms are limited. The bar area is not accessible.

We can only guarantee changing and shower facilities post-match, so please travel in kit if possible.

Access to drinking water is limited, so please inform players to bring enough for themselves.

Although the legal requirement to wear a face covering indoors is no longer in place, the University staff have asked that people continue to wear one when inside the pavilion.

The clubhouse and the bar will be closed, teas will be provided at the Red Bull pub (11 Barton Road, Cambridge, CB3 9JZ, T: 01223 300943, https://www.redbullnewnham.co.uk). The pub carpark is no longer accessible, so parking is only available on the surrounding roads. There are parking restrictions on Barton Road close to the pub between 11am and 2pm, so if you arrive during that time, there is metered parking further up the road (to the west).

Teas will be pizzas and they will be served approximately 2 hours after pushback unless there are two matches finishing simultaneously, in which case the servings will be staggered. Please inform me by 20:00 hrs on Wednesday evening if you do not wish to stay for teas (as per Area Rule 6.6.2) and of any dietary requirements. Vegetarians will be catered for already, but any vegans and people requiring gluten free meals must inform me in advance, otherwise a suitable meal may not be able to be provided.

Competition

Men's Division 4 North West

League position

Ely City 2

Cambridge City 6

Team overview