Ellistown FC v Thurnby Rangers FC

A superb Ellistown 5 goal display downed league leaders Thurnby Rangers to make it 3 wins on the spin for town who are moving up the table and in good shape.

As the league table shows, Thurnby are a good side who have recruited well and with Grassroots legend Carl Benson up front are favourites to win the league.

With driving rain making the game more of an arm wrestle that impacted Thurnby more then Ellistown, it was a credit to both sides who tried to play football and to the officials who kept the game flowing while using common sense when challenges were going in on the wet and greasy surface.

Stars of the show were the two goalkeepers, Keenan Tailby and Fred Young who made some fantastic saves, while as a collective, Ellistown were superb in keeping Thurnby at arm's length. The returning River Hardy winning the midfield battles and spraying passes all over the pitch that our player of the season Haydn Brown and Ashley Riddell feasted on as they drove at the Thurnby defence . It was a shame we lost Charlie Grewcock early but that gave the returning James Warren minutes on the pitch and at full back this kid plays like Stuart Pearce.

Our remaining defenders, George Wesley, Ben Worrell were brilliant as they dealt with every danger and Aaron Windram and Ollie Coe in midfield done the horrible stuff well. With Owen Bradder a menace up-front and Captain, Leader, Legend Chris Nettle directing traffic.

It was no surprise it was a goalless first half as both sides battled the elements and each other in a cracking game of football.

EFC 0-0 TR FC

With a great away following getting behind the away team, it was important Ellistown continued the 2nd half as we finished the 1st team as the first goal would be key in this game.

Therefore, it was a disappointment that Thurnby took the lead on 57 minutes when a defensive error left Billy Green with the simple job of netting from close range.

EFC 0-1 TR FC 57 mins

We were gutted and with their tails up it would have been no surprise if Thurnby run away with the game. Ellistown have a great set of lads who never give in and what happened over the next 20 minutes will live in the memory of those present.

In those 20 mins we tore Thurnby apart with 4 goals of the highest quality. The only disappointed home fan was the Chairman who had to leave the game at 0-1 and relied on an over excited secretary to relay the scores by phone.

We equalised on 62 minutes when a floated cross was headed home by Aaron Windram.

EFC 1-1 TR FC 62 mins

We were dreaming of a great win on 70 minutes when following a Thurnby defensive error (caused by our pressing game), Haydn Brown slotted home from close range.

EFC 2-1 TR FC 70 mins

We were in dreamland 5 minutes later when James Warren with a Stuart Pearce 25 yard Free-Kick made it 3-1.

EFC 3-1 TR FC 75 mins

2 minutes later a brilliant counter attack move let in Haydn Brown for his 2nd and Ellistown's 4th of the day.

EFC 4-1 TR FC 77 mins

The home fans were now in panic mode, but the management team had everything under control and to their credit Thurnby ignoring defence to get back into the game, Town could have scored 3 more as River and Haydn were having a field day on the counter-attack.

Carl Benson proved he is still a class player on 85 minutes when he fired home a 30 yard free kick to reduce the arrears to 4-2.

EFC 4-2 TR FC 85 mins

With the home fans crossing anything they could cross, Aaron Windram made the game safe on 89 mins when a River Hardy thunderbolt hit the crossbar and Arron smashed in the rebound.

EFC 5-2 TR FC 89 mins

There was still time for the Thurnby goalie to be sin binned before the ref blew the final whistle when the home fans celebrated like they had beaten one of the league's best teams.

Credit to the large Thurnby following who knew they had witnessed a fine game of football and were complimentary of our performance.

EFC 5-2 TR FC FT

Summary

Everyone connected to Ellistown can be proud of today. A lot of effort goes in behind the scenes by a small number of volunteers to give the team the infrastructure to play. The team said thank you in the best possible way with a top quality performance against a top quality side.

Our committee, fans and village are proud of our team and the lads and management team can be proud of what they done today.

Lads, go and enjoy your weekend. You deserve it.