Gorleston missed a chance to close the gap on leaders Mildenhall with a lacklustre performance and a 2-1 defeat at Ely on Saturday.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Gorleston Reserves receive the team of the month award prior to the game with Costessey Sports. Picture: David Hardy.Gorleston Reserves receive the team of the month award prior to the game with Costessey Sports. Picture: David Hardy. (Image: Archant)

Gorleston had opened the scoring in their last two games inside the opening 10 minutes and had gone 230 minutes without conceding. There was a goal inside the opening 10 minutes of this game, but it ended Taurean Molloy’s chances of another clean sheet.

The hosts had already had three efforts on goal before gaining a corner in the eighth minute. It was cleared but the ball was returned into the box where it found the head of Ashley Walter.

Greens came close to equalising in the 20th minute when Connor Ingram lifted their first corner to the far post where Peter Oldham rose unchallenged but his header rebounded back off the woodwork.

Gorleston began the second half keeping possession better and started to try to play some of their passing football but again found it difficult to penetrate the Ely defence.

Connor Ingram worked himself some space for a shot but the defender blocked it for a corner.

From the corner, Oldham again rose highest to head goalwards but home keeper Finley Iron threw himself to his right to pull off a great save.

With 14 minutes left Ely virtually secured the win. Scorer turned provider when Walter crossed low across the box to where Sam Reed was able to turn it in. That was his last touch of the game as he was subbed trotting back to the halfway line.

With six minutes left Craig Neal blazed over the Gorleston bar when he looked sure to score and settle the match.

The Greens tried to press the hosts back. Joel Watts got through the middle with three minutes left but shot tamely at Iron but, a minute into stoppage time, Watts again burst through the middle, rounded the keeper and slotted the ball into the empty goal.

There was still time for Middleton to lift a free kick into the box but the knock down fell nicely for Ely and they were able to clear and, to be honest, it would have been harsh on Ely had Gorleston scored an equaliser.

Gorleston: Molloy, Wise, K Ingram, Short (Taylor), Yusuff, Short, Stanton (Goreham), Oldham (Watts), Garrod, C Ingram, Middleton.