Witchford 96 Prove too Strong for AFC Ely

AFC Ely vs Witchford 96
21/04/2021
6:15pm KO 
Kershaw 30 Year Junior Cup Matchweek 3

Witchford 96 prove too strong for AFC Ely, scoring three unanswered second-half goals to claim victory. 

The Kershaw Junior Cup could not have started better for AFC Ely: defeating Crusaders 2019 should have been the catapult the Ely-based team needed to put their wretched league campaign (now null and void) behind them. However, consecutive cup defeats, coming last weekend at Pymoor and on Wednesday night to Witchford, have reminded AFC Ely of their shortcomings.

Soundly beaten on the night, AFC Ely did show promise in the first-half, wistfully squandering opportunities to take the lead, but in the end were overawed by the strength and efficiency of Witchford 96. The home side’s collapse in the second-half, giving away two penalties and gifting a third to the visiting team, was compounded by Adam Keeble’s foul-mouthed exchange with the referee resulting in his temporary dismissal. 

The game began rather scrappy in nature, with neither AFC Ely nor Witchford able to establish firm control of possession. Chances were scarce until Cameron Laing found himself further forward following a reshuffle. In spite of this, it was Conor Gibbs who had the first real sight of goal when his arcing effort from just outside the eighteen-yard box was parried by the Witchford 96 goalkeeper – a clever save from a clever effort. Laing was introduced when played in behind by his captain: unable to evade the covering defender though, the goal scorer in the weekend’s fixture was forced into a speculative effort that did not trouble the Witchford number one. AFC Ely’s best chance on the night again came the way of Laing as he narrowly missed at the near-post following a low, volleyed cross from the right. 

Any encouragement the hosts could take from the first-half was soon quelled upon the restart as Tommy Faulkner’s rash challenge saw a spot-kick awarded to the opposition. Goalkeeper Sam Young almost kept out the penalty but the ball squirmed underneath his flailing left glove. 

Witchford’s second, again, came courtesy of the penalty spot thanks to more reckless defending from the home team. This time, AFC Ely’s midfielder Laurence Howe was making a recovery run when he inadvertently clipped the heels of the man he was chasing. As players from both sides swarmed the referee as a result of his decision to award the penalty, he was in no position to abrogate his verdict; the noise of the challenge from Howe was so audible that any complaints from the home team fell on deaf ears. On this occasion the ensuing Witchford penalty was dispatched without a sharp inhale of breath as ball and goalkeeper went in opposite directions. Witchford consolidated their lead, and the game more or less, with a third goal at the near-post, rounding off a clinical performance. 

Full-time result: AFC Ely 0-3 Witchford 96 

AFC Ely Man of the Match: James Gillet 

There was only one other Wednesday night fixture in Group C with Crusaders edging past Stretham, the latter being AFC Ely’s opponents on Saturday – kick off is at 3:00pm. 

Press release from AFC Ely
Written by Oliver Jennings. 
oliverjennings98@outlook.com