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.