This afternoon’s warmups at Trafford Park didn’t need to have taken long. It was glorious. The sun beat down on this late season match up as the Yachtsmen felt the pressure of being so near and yet so far away from their seasons goal, writes Darren Wiseman. With 3 games to go, rivals Gorleston headed the table 2 points ahead of the home side with 3 to play. But with the leaders facing a difficult looking game away at Newmarket Town, Wroxham needed to go all out to bag three points in the sunshine.

Jordan Southgate named an attacking line up with an emphasis on creativity. Ollie Sutton started in goal as Captain, fullbacks Wyatt Hill and Travis Dodsworth flanked Centre Halves Chris Skipper and Olly Yun. Jordan King held the midfield together alongside Shaun Taylor and Brad Spooner, with Ryan Miles and Jamie Forshaw on the wings hoping to provide plenty of service to Grant Holt up front.

Wroxham kicked off defending the Kenny Cooke stand but it was Ely who created the first chance of the day. Skipper failed to clear the ball effectively, heading towards the centre rather than away and Ely’s Louis Jenkins picked up the ball in the right channel. He shot for goal, but his effort lacked power and was straight at Sutton in goal.

The Yachtsmen’s first chance came from Jamie Forshaw. Played in with a looping ball into the right channel Forshaw was able to take his chance first time and drew a good one handed save from Reynolds in the visitor’s goal. The resulting corner was met by a firm Holt header, but it went over the bar.

On 11 minutes the deadlock was broken. An Ely long throw was only half cleared, and when the ball was sent back into the danger area the Yachtsmen failed to clear and Ryan Gibbs was able run onto the ball and chip over the despairing lunge of Sutton. The collision would result in the Ely forward having to be replaced, but the damage was done.

The pressure seemed to be getting the promotion hopefuls and they took some time to get their heads back together. On 20 minutes a sustained spell of pressure lead to the ball breaking for Jordan King in a central position, but he snatched at his effort and the ball blazed over the bar.

It took until 29 minutes for a really quality piece of play from Wroxham to finally signal they had settled back into the contest. The lively Forshaw drove to the by-line and his cross flashed in front of two desperate lunges, but no attackers could quite close enough to turn the ball home.

On 38 minutes Grant Holt used all his experience to earn a free kick in a dangerous central position. Unfortunately, Ryan Miles could only hit his effort over the bar. Strangely, goalkeeper Reynolds proceeded to take so long over a goal kick that he earned himself a yellow card. This was then followed almost immediately with a yellow card for Josh Townshend as he fouled Jordan King with a heavy challenge.

Wroxham finished the half strongly. Dodsworth delivered a lovely cross which went just over Taylor's head. The final moments had a feel of Attack versus Defence training, with a corner from the home side dropping for Yun 6 yards out. He had time to control and turn but his effort flashed just wide.

With Gorleston trailing at half time, this match had a feeling that it just wasn’t going to happen for the Yachtsmen. So much of the ball but nothing to show for it.

Ely City got the second half underway. Wroxham were well on top from the off and they almost had the perfect start. A free kick into the box was won in the air by Yun and dropped for Holt who drove the ball home on the turn. Cue cheers and celebration, but also the Linesman’s flag and the goal was chalked off. Wroxham were going all out now, and Spooner was able to terrorise the Visitors defence and cut back for Taylor, but his effort was well over.

Wroxham were in complete control, it was just about finding the right pass to unlock the defence for that vital equaliser. On 55 minutes, excellent build up worked space for Hill to cross for Spooner, but his effort hit the outside of the post. After such a great bit of play it was hard to believe the ball did not go in. The pressure continued to build with crosses raining into the Ely box, but they somehow managed to repel the attacks and keep their slender lead. Southgate responded bringing on Black for Forshaw.

Their was only one team that looked like scoring, but as it started to look like it might be one of those days then ShaunTaylor dragged the Yachtsmen level. Pin ball on the edge of the Ely box ended with Taylor through on goal, and he was able to poke past Reynolds and cause pandemonium. With Gorleston well beaten at Newmarket, the home fans sensed the season swinging back in their favour.

On 85 min Hill nearly took the roof off the place. A long ball out to him on the right which he controlled on the volley with one touch, and then he hit a half volley with his next touch that just went over the bar and onto the top of the net. It would have been a worldie, but all Hill got was a damaged hamstring for his trouble.

The game finished with a tremendous atmosphere. The Blue Wave did all they could but Wroxham could not find a winner. The last chance of the day saw a long ball into a crowded Ely box finally break for Poynter, but his snap shot was just deflected over by an outstretched leg.

It was a pulsating game, Wroxham gave it everything but could only come away with a point. The season is perfectly poised, the last 2 games will undoubtedly be full of more drama as the table is finally resolved.