Town went into this game on the back of a good run of form with 5 wins and a draw from their last 6 games including a superb cup win over Premier Division side Kirby Muxloe the week before. On paper this should have been a formality against a weak and out of from Ellistown side.
The game couldn’t have started any better when within the first minute a long throw from Cossu beat the keeper and allowed Hardy to nod into the empty net. Town were camped in the Ellistown penalty area who had their keeper to thank for keeping out efforts from Hardy, Jelly and Aubrey. Within the first 10 minutes Town were 2 up when Jelly beat his man on the right but was pulled back in the area and the referee awarded the spot kick. Silk made no mistake from the spot for his second goal in as many games. 2 minutes later Town were 3 up when Hardy once again found space on the left and he cut back for Aubrey to drive the ball home. It was all too easy for Town who were then guilty of losing concentration as the Ellistown forward strolled through the centre of the defence to place the ball past Smith in goal to pull one back. Town continued to pound the Ellistown goal but the combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping kept them out until the half hour mark when Jelly found space again and made it 4. Town once again allowed Ellistown to stroll through the middle but a poor finish from their striker when clean through let Town off. At half time Town came in disappointed to only be 4-1 up when it really should have been double figures.
The second half began as the first had ended with Town camped in the oppositions half. Jelly, Hardy, Aubrey and Ramkissoon all had chances but poor finishing meant the score stayed the same. Jayes was thrown on to try and change the forwards luck and within 2 minutes he was clean through but stepped on the ball and turned his ankle in the process which resulted in a Saturday night at the hospital and will keep him out for a month. Aubrey then hit the post as Town continued to waste chance after chance. Ellistown then hit Town with a sucker punch as a long ball wasn’t dealt with by Taylor and the forward lobbed Smith from 25 yards. In a game Town had over 30 shots on goal and had dominated they now found themselves under pressure to get the win and Ellistown began to push forward winning all the 50-50 tackles which will disappoint Towns management. There was still time for Hardy to waste another chance as with the goal at his mercy his shot was blocked on the line. The game ended with Town being disappointed not to have punished a very weak opposition but will take heart from another 3 points on the road. They know it will be much tougher on Tuesday evening as they travel to Ratby in a crunch mid-table clash.
