Match 2. Hadleigh United v Ely City

Saturday 18^th August 2012 @3pm

Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties Premier Division

HADLEIGH UNITED 2-0 ELY CITY

The Millfield, Duke Street

Admission: £6

Programme: £1 (40pp A5)

Attendance: 70

Food: £2.10 Bacon bap

Drink: £3.40 Guinness

A late decision on where to go today as earlier plans were thrown away as my Mother-In-Law was admitted into hospital on Friday but was well enough for visitors so, after getting the OK nod from my good wife, I dropped the family off at the hospital and decided to go to Hadleigh via the M11/A120 to avoid the V festival traffic on the A12.  Coming back was much quicker and easier on the A12.

There seems to be much choice for lunch in the High Street and I spotted 3 chip shops in the town.  There are plenty of parking spaces available in the club car park.  Coming in through the turnstile, the tea bar is on the left and the club building is on the right.  There is a large area of standing cover in front of the building and the dugouts are also in situ.  There is just hard standing behind both goals with a small grass bank behind one of them.  On the opposite touchline are a seated stand and a training area and junior pitch behind it.

The first half was dictated by the home side whereas the second half was the complete opposite.  Hadleigh took full advantage of the defensive lapses on 10 minutes when no11 drifted in from the left and shot right footed from the edge of the area low in the corner, despite an Ely claim for a foul in build up.  Hadleigh carried on the first half dominance and added a second a minute before the break when an error on the halfway line allowed the right winger to run onto the ball from the right.  The low cross reached the no11 despite attempts to clear and he calmly slotted the ball into the opposite corner.  A spirited second half performance from Ely was prevented by wayward shooting and a great performance from the home keeper, denying 2 goal bound efforts with his legs.  In 30+ degree heat, the players had regular water breaks and I was glad for the available shelter.