Wednesday 2nd September 2020, Kick-off 19.45
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Bearscroft Lane, Godmanchester
Admission: £6.00
Programme: None
Attendance: 128
Not only was this an all-Cambridgeshire tie, but also both are members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division. When last season was voided, Godmanchester were in a very safe 12th place in the 20 club division, following twelve wins and two draws from their 25 league games, whilst for Ely City, the decision to void the season may have represented a reprieve for them, as they were third bottom, four points clear of the bottom two but having played three games more than both. But with a new manager in charge and plenty of incoming signings, Ely will be hopeful of a avoiding a relegation scrap this season.
In contrast to the bright, clear evening I enjoyed at Thetford the previous evening, there was constant thick drizzle for much of the game this evening during the first half, in which Godmanchester looked the biiger threat, seeing a shot blocked on the line on 12 minutes, a free kick whistle just past the post on 21 minutes, and a cross from the right glancing the woodwork on 43 minutes. Ely did look organised and seemed to be happy stay in the game at half time, and indeed they were as the scoreline remained goalless at the break.
However, nine minutes into the second half Godmanchester took the lead with a fine goal, Reece King running onto the ball near the centre circle, strode forward before unleashing a shot from well outside the box that just evaded a defender and went through the keeper's dive and into the net. Although Ely had a great chance to equalise within a couple of minutes, when a ball fizzed in from the left just evaded a tap home, Godmanchester created plenty of chances to extend their lead, and had a deflected goal disallowed for offside on 70 minutes, and there only looked like being one winner. But a one goal lead is always a vulnerable one of course, and out of nothing, Ely conjured up an equaliser on 82 minutes, a free-kick pumped in through the middle took a deflection in the crowd to divert the ball past the keeper and into the net. Both sides had their chances to win the tie in the remaining minutes, but the scoreline remained level at 1-1 after 90 minutes and, according to the new rules introduced this season, the tie would go straight to penalties, without any extra time.
Godmanchester took their penalties first, but saw their third and fifth penalties saved, whilst all four of Ely's penalties were scored, to seal the victory and set up a home tie against Eynesbury Rovers, of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division, in the next round.
Bearscroft Lane, Godmanchester
Admission: £6.00
Programme: None
Attendance: 128
Having watched my first competitive game of the season yesterday evening, at Thetford Town, I meandered westwards today through Suffolk into Cambridgeshire, for my second this evening, and another FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round game, attracted by its location close to the dual carriageway to take me on the long journey back home after the game.
Bearscroft Lane is located on the south-east perimeter of Godmanchester, just beyond a large new housing estate, with open countryside beyond to the south. Located down a short lane, there is a reasonably sized car park, and the ground is accessed via a turnstile block in one corner. Immediately to the left are three buildings, all connected to each other, with the clubhouse bar, tea bar window, and changing rooms, all tastefully painted in sky blue colours with tiles sloping roofs. They are set below the pitch, and some picnic tables are placed on top of the grass bank. Further along this length, there are two modern metallic all-seater stands located just beyond the half way line, and beyond those is a longer stand of corrugated iron and held up by scaffolding poles, and containing a row of seating along the rear. A similar, but smaller and without a row of seating, is located close to the entrance behind one length, with just hard standing available along the rest of this end and along the remaining length. The area behind the remaining goal is marked as out of bounds. Once again, there were plenty of Covid-19 precautions in place. Visitors were invited to scan a QR code to register track and trace contact details, plenty of sanitiser gel dispensers were installed, social distancing signage was in place and seats taped off. Unfortunately, no programme was issued for this fixture.
Not only was this an all-Cambridgeshire tie, but also both are members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division. When last season was voided, Godmanchester were in a very safe 12th place in the 20 club division, following twelve wins and two draws from their 25 league games, whilst for Ely City, the decision to void the season may have represented a reprieve for them, as they were third bottom, four points clear of the bottom two but having played three games more than both. But with a new manager in charge and plenty of incoming signings, Ely will be hopeful of a avoiding a relegation scrap this season.
In contrast to the bright, clear evening I enjoyed at Thetford the previous evening, there was constant thick drizzle for much of the game this evening during the first half, in which Godmanchester looked the biiger threat, seeing a shot blocked on the line on 12 minutes, a free kick whistle just past the post on 21 minutes, and a cross from the right glancing the woodwork on 43 minutes. Ely did look organised and seemed to be happy stay in the game at half time, and indeed they were as the scoreline remained goalless at the break.
However, nine minutes into the second half Godmanchester took the lead with a fine goal, Reece King running onto the ball near the centre circle, strode forward before unleashing a shot from well outside the box that just evaded a defender and went through the keeper's dive and into the net. Although Ely had a great chance to equalise within a couple of minutes, when a ball fizzed in from the left just evaded a tap home, Godmanchester created plenty of chances to extend their lead, and had a deflected goal disallowed for offside on 70 minutes, and there only looked like being one winner. But a one goal lead is always a vulnerable one of course, and out of nothing, Ely conjured up an equaliser on 82 minutes, a free-kick pumped in through the middle took a deflection in the crowd to divert the ball past the keeper and into the net. Both sides had their chances to win the tie in the remaining minutes, but the scoreline remained level at 1-1 after 90 minutes and, according to the new rules introduced this season, the tie would go straight to penalties, without any extra time.
Godmanchester took their penalties first, but saw their third and fifth penalties saved, whilst all four of Ely's penalties were scored, to seal the victory and set up a home tie against Eynesbury Rovers, of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division, in the next round.
They would go on to win that tie 3-1, before bowing out at the First Round stage with a 1-2 home defeat agains Biggleswade, of the Southern League Division One Central (one step above)
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