Newmarket travelled to Ely for their pre season friendly with a squad of 14 despite Ollie Wade and Felix Allen being unavailable.
It was a good pre season run out for both teams, Ely took the lead from a penalty corner before Newmarket pulled one back when James Atkinson dribbled in from the right flank and thundered a reverse stick shot in at the near post from the top of the D.
Ely soon retook the lead from another penalty corner, Simon Harrington deflecting in at the near post. Newmarket improved from here and scored the next goal, again by James Atkinson, despite Simon Donalds best effort of pinch it on the goal line.
The game was tied 2 all at the break, in the second half Newmarket took the lead, William Wilson disposed Ely on the defensive 25, carried the ball forward before setting Dawson away into the far right corner, he crossed for young debutant Dylan Hardy whose effort was blocked on the line by an outfield players body, veteran Wilson stepped up and despatched the resulting penalty flick int on the top corner. Newmarket scored the their fourth from a broken down penalty corner routine, Wilson finding Donald who set up Josh Dawson at the far post for a tap in.
Ely pulled one back, working the ball well down the right and deflected a cross short on the reverse just in front of the keeper. This goal was very much against the run of play and Newmarket soon added a fifth with a fine team goal, James Atkinson grabbing his hat trick with the final touch to secure a well earned victory.
A good win against a team at the same level albeit in the NW league quadrant, with good numbers at training the club are optimistic for the coming season.