Ely City and March Town United played out a pulsating 2-2 draw in their FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie at the Demcom Stadium on 8 August 2026, setting up a replay that neither side will approach with much relish after a frantic afternoon of end-to-end football. The result means the tie remains firmly in the balance, with the winners still to be decided in a midweek rematch.

Match overview

From the opening whistle, it was clear that defensive caution would not be the order of the day. March Town United struck first with a well-taken goal, capitalising on a defensive lapse to slot past the home goalkeeper. Ely responded with intent, and their equaliser came courtesy of a towering header from a corner, restoring parity before the interval. The second half followed a similar script, with March Town again edging ahead after a swift counter-attack before Ely’s pressing football paid off once more, the forward showing sharp reflexes to poke home from a goalmouth scramble.

Key moments

• March's early opener: A slick passing move unlocked Ely's defence, with a composed finish from the edge of the box.
• Ely's set-piece response: A powerful near-post header from a corner levelled the scores.
• Late drama: Ely thought they had won it in stoppage time, but a goal-line clearance kept March Town alive.

What it means

The draw leaves everything to play for in the replay, a fixture that represents a significant opportunity for both clubs to secure a notable FA Cup scalp and build momentum for the season ahead. For neutral viewers, this was an advertisement for the early-round charm of the competition: open, committed and full of incident. Ely City will feel they should have closed the tie out, while March Town will take heart from their resilience on the road.