We start the match report with a big thank you for the 11 players who put on the Ellistown Shirt knowing there were no subs and based on recent results were likely to be on the end of a drubbing.

It would have been easy to cry off and play the "unable to field a side" card knowing there is no relegation and it would be cheaper to take the £75 fine and 3 points deduction then pay out for the game. We don't do easy and credit to our management who got the team together.

With scouts from Asfordby, Ashby Ivanhoe (good to catch up Mr T), Gresley Rovers and Heather St Johns watching, it was a chance for our 11 to impress and for 80 mins they did just that.

To the delight of the Ellistown faithful, we started the better team and took the lead on 10 mins when full-back Keiron Tompkins went on a mazy run and burst into the box and finished like Erland Harland.

EFC 1-0 ST 10 mins

We held the lead for 20 glorious minutes and during this time, we enjoyed ourselves as our attacking 3 led by the returning Adam Ward who only found out at 7.30pm he was playing caused Sileby all kind of problems.

Our bubble was burst on 30 mins when Symon Donnerstag slotted home with ease.

EFC 1-1 ST 30 mins

The home fans then sat back and waited for the Sileby goal avalanche but it never came as Town regrouped and on 42 mins, livewire Morgan Brown sent the home fans into dreamland as he smashed home the 2nd.

EFC 2-1 ST 42 mins

Half-time came with Town in the lead and it was no fluke.

EFC 2-1 ST HT

Sileby came out of the traps faster in the 2nd half and started to create chances but could not find a way past Austin Parish who impressed the watching Asfordby scout (we will not waive the 7 days this time!!!!). We were content to hit Sileby on the break and the next goal was key.

The following paragraph sums up our season. With the clock winding down and Sileby's frustrations getting the better of one player who decided to take on ref Martyn Jarvis and ended up with 10 mins in the sin bin. Sensible referring. All it needed was a 3rd goal from town to win the game. Tensions were building as Ethan Fox received the ball on the wing, beat 3 players, and then went back to beat them again, then beat 2 more to move into the penalty box and had a clear shot at goal. SHOOT went up the cry but no, Ethan decided to beat 3 more players and send the ball towards goal. With the ball moving in slow motion, time stood still for 5 seconds, could this be the winner? The goal post said no as it kicked the ball off the line. Our hearts sunk as the 11 men were a lick of paint away from winning.

The game changed on 80 mins when our fallback Ryan Patel went down injured when completing a tackle that left Sileby's Symon Donnerstag clear on goal and he made no mistake.

EFC 2-2 ST 80 mins

With Ryan having to come off injured and our players out on their feet, it was no surprise that Sileby took advantage and scored on 85 and 90 mins through Shaun Smith and Callum Glover to make the final score.

EFC 2-4 ST FT

Summary

Well played lads, you put in a performance way above expectations and if you can replicate that on Saturday and we get some extra players in then a win v Highfield Rangers on Saturday is on the cards.

Congratulations to Sileby on the win and thank you for hanging around afterwards and putting money behind our bar. Finally, well done to the officials who kept the game flowing and held their own in the banter stakes.