The Wroxham faithful arrived at a grey Trafford Park rightfully expecting another 3 points from a confident and in form home team. The Robins however could not have felt the same. Two places from the bottom and coming into the game on the back of a 4-1 home defeat.
The Yachtsmen lined up with Ollie Sutton in goal, Kieran Smith and Travis Dodsworth at full back with Mac Gee and Chris Skipper at centre half. Harley Black and Shaun Taylor patrolled the midfield with Ryan Oakley and Ryan Miles out wide. Charlie Clarke led the line with Tim Henery just in behind.
Wroxham got us under way, defending the Kenny Cooke stand, full of the noisy Blue Wave who were in fine voice. Both teams wanted to get the ball down and play from the start, and a good game looked in store. Ely started the most lively, with centre forward Oliver Shackleton looking full of pace and a threat to the thin blue line defending Suttons goal.
The first real chance did not materialise until 14 minutes. Henery shot from 20 yards cannoned back off the post, but the rushing Miles could not finish and his effort was blocked behind for a corner which came to nothing.
On 18 minutes the visitors took a turn to hit the woodwork. Steve Holder, a burly number 10 with an effort from the edge of the area which left a muddy smear on the Wroxham crossbar.
On 20 minutes, Wroxham earned themselves a penalty after a handball in the Ely area. Black confidently stepped up but his effort hit the bar as well. It was a really open game, with the ball going from end to end. It definitely did not look like a 0-0 today!!
On 31 minutes Wroxham went in search of a goal to break the deadlock. Good build up down the right saw a ball centred for Ryan Miles, but his first time effort was saved by Craig Foxall on the visitors goal.
Both sides had a clear style of play. The Robins tried to launch the ball early for Shackleton to chase whilst the Yachtsmen get the ball into wide areas and try and work an opening.
On 43 minutes a tough game nearly boiled over. Teo sliding tackles in the space of two seconds sees Smith get the worst of them from Ban Harnwell. The Ely defender got booked, and then minutes later another sliding tackle on Smith saw another booking, this time for Matt Simpson. Skipper Ashley Walter did not agree, and for colourfully arguing earned himself 10 mins in the bin.
Wroxham really pushed then until the break, trying to make their advantage tell, but it stayed 0-0 when the whistle blew.
With no changes to either side Ely got us restarted, but it was Wroxham who had the first chance on 48 minutes. A great cross field ball picked out Miles who controlled and then saw his sharp effort saved at the near post. A minute later it was Henery who was having a try from 25 yards. It was saved, but the ball dropped for Black to fire just over.
On 60 minutes the deadlock was finally broken. Another good ball to Miles, and again he controlled, but this time his effort arrowed into the net at the near post.
Within seconds, it was nearly two. Wroxham earn a free kick and when it is deliver, Skipper meets it unmarked but Foxall pulls off a fine save.
On 75 minutes, the Yachtsmen put the game deservedly to bed. Lovely build up through the middle release Henery one on one with Foxall. He scoped his finish over the onrushing goal keeper for a lovely finish.
The game meandered to a conclusion with the points secured. Wroxham almost nabbed a third at the death. Substitute Poynter beat his man out wide and delivered for Oakley, but he could not get the ball out of his feet to convert the chance.