AFC Ely vs Crusaders 2019
Kershaw 30 Year Junior Cup Matchweek 1
Saturday’s all-Ely encounter saw the return of competitive football to the Paradise. In what should have been AFC Ely’s second game back following amateur sport’s resumption, had it not been for the cancellation of last week’s friendly, the home side took the spoils of three points to kick off the Kershaw 30 Year Junior Cup.
With such a long lay-off from football and sharpness severely lacking, particularly for AFC Ely, the overall quality in this match was some way off where both sides expect to be in the coming weeks. Owing to low levels of fitness and players working away the rust built up over lockdown, neither side could gain a foothold in the opening exchanges. Turnovers were high and ball retention was non-existent – the game was exhausting.
Crusaders looked the more menacing of the two teams: they carried more goal threat with sustained attacks, testing AFC Ely goalkeeper Sam Young on multiple occasions. However, the ever-reliable veteran stood tall and dealt with efforts on goal confidently.
It wasn’t until the second-half that the game exploded into life. During a ten to fifteen minute spell, three goals flew in. In what was a fortunate stroke of serendipity, AFC Ely took the lead courtesy of their top goal scorer Conor Gibbs. Frazer Jennings, occupying a centre-half position on the day, played long up the pitch and the ball rolled harmlessly to the Crusaders goalkeeper: his attempted clearance, however, was pounced on by Connor Gibbs in typical Gibbs fashion. His fleet of foot enabled him to snatch the ball and stroll past the hapless goalkeeper before finishing in the unguarded net. Likewise, the home side’s second was one built on luck. This time a back pass from a Crusaders defender left their goalkeeper completely wrong-footed as the ball trickled over the line doubling AFC Ely’s lead.
The nature of AFC Ely’s goals left the visiting side incredulous as they had dominated the game, fashioning the better chances. Nevertheless, Crusaders’ response was swift, halving the deficit almost immediately. Striking from some distance, the Crusaders defender’s effort arrowed towards goal as Young could only fumble his attempted stop before putting the chance on a plate for the visiting team’s forward to gleefully tuck home.
By this point in the game, AFC Ely’s backline was left emancipated through injuries to Adam Keeble and Frazer Jennings – their starting centre-back pairing. This saw fullbacks Tom Hunter and Tommy Faulkner move into the vacated centre-half positions, with Sam Day and James Gillet filling the wide areas. Without proper cohesion, the home team were left vulnerable and Crusaders equalised with a sublime volleyed-effort from their number 11. Heresy momentarily erupted within the AFC Ely ranks as their 2 goal lead vanished.
What would please AFC Ely manager John James most, however, would be the team’s response to Crusaders’ leveller. Connor Gibbs’ tireless work won a corner for AFC Ely and the resulting set-piece led to disparate emotions for the two competing teams: joy for AFC Ely, despair for Crusaders. Popping up at the back-post, Will Cooper headed home Faulkner’s deep corner and without time for a response from Crusaders, AFC Ely won the game.
Full-time result: AFC Ely 3-2 Crusaders 2019
AFC Ely Man of the Match: Tommy Faulkner
Elsewhere in the group there was a win for Little Downham over Witchford and a draw between Littleport and Stretham, leaving Little Downham at the summit of Group C after match week 1 on goal difference.
AFC Ely travel to Waterbeach for a friendly fixture on Thursday next week – kick off is at 6:15pm.
Press release from AFC Ely
Written by Oliver Jennings. oliverjennings98@outlook.com
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