March Town 0-2 Ely City: Sewell and Simpson star as the Robins see off the Hares to boost promotion hopes

Goals from Josh Sewell and Matty Simpson helped Ely City claim the bragging rights in the Fenland derby in a wet and windy bank holiday encounter with March Town.

The Robins travelled to a rain-soaked GER yesterday afternoon looking to extend their unbeaten Thurlow Nunn Division run to seven games, and faced a determined Hares side who had embarked on a three-match unbeaten run themselves after a torrid run of form.

The visitors raced out the blocks, and only had to wait eight minutes to take the lead, when stand-in captain Josh Sewell rose to head home a Jamie Alsop centre after a quickly-taken free kick.

The Robins have become known in the Thurlow Nunn Division One for their fast-paced starts, and soon found themselves two goals to the good when Matty Simpson was allowed to bring the ball down and prod past Dave Beeny in the March goal.

A third Ely goal was chalked off for offside before Nathan Littlefair rattled the crossbar with a powerful header as Ely went into the half time break in the ascendancy.

March looked for a way back into the game in the second half, but the visitors looked dangerous on the break and went close to adding a third goal when Sewell hit the woodwork with a drive from the edge of the box.

The Hares front two of Ondre Odain and Dan Woods looked for a chance to reduce the deficit, but were shut out by a dogged Robins defence who kept their second consecutive away clean sheet.

Chris Bartlett’s March side will look to bounce back from their first league defeat since their 3-1 loss to Braintree Reserves in their clash with lowly Team Bury on Saturday, while Ely City, who are now only a win away from second-placed Great Yarmouth Town, will set out to make it eight wins in a row against Woodbridge Town.