Ely City are two matches away defending the Cambs Invitation Cup after their 1-0 win against Cambridge United’s development side in a replay of last season’s final.

And even though it was a replay of last season’s final, both sides fielded vastly different teams. The Robins’ injury struggles are well known and, Alex Batten, who signed for the club on Monday afternoon, slotted into the starting line-up.

United’s side, meanwhile, featured a lot of the under-18s team that booked their place in the third-round of the FA Youth Cup last week, with the likes of Tom Knowles on Jordan Norville Williams out on loan.

The game certainly had the narrative but, for about 25 minutes at least, lacked the action.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, after allowing United to dominate proceedings at first, Ely found a way into the game through set-pieces.

Indeed, from four consecutive free-kicks Ely forged chances. The first came for Alex Brown who, from the lively Chris Lewis’ free-kick, saw his header palmed away by Finley Iron by Tom Williams nodded wide from Jamie Aslop’s cross.

United’s discipline continued to wane towards the end of the first half, with Josh Lowe also going close from a set-play.

That isn’t to say United weren’t without chances as the game opened up though, with Ely keeper Bradley Stewart having to be on his toes to deny Jake Battersby an opportunity on goal.

All the Robins’ hard work was nearly undone after a mix up between Joe Brannan and Stewart nearly allowed Sam Bennett a shot at an open net, although full-back Brannan recovered well.

The keeper redeemed himself moments later, though, tipping Ben Worman’s effort onto the bar.

Not to be outdone, Iron then made a superb stop to deny Letten’s dipping effort from the edge of the area as the first half ended goalless.

The intensity continued after the break, with Batten’s snapshot being pushed away by Iron at one end, before Joe Neal and Bennett combined well at other other, with the latter smacking the ball wide of the upright.

And the goal finally came after 50 minutes, and few inside the Ellgia stadium were surprised to see it from a set piece. An in-swinging corner wasn’t dealt with and eventually turned into his own net by Worman to give the hosts a deserved lead.

United responded, with Stewart making a decent stop from Tom Dickens’ header, before Iron made an even more impressive save to deny Williams’ header.

And in a reverse of the first half, the game petered out from there. Ely held United at arms’ length for much of it, limiting the young U’s to shots from distance.

Two minutes from time, however, Battersby perhaps had the chance they had been waiting for, but saw his shot fly wide of the post meaning Ely booked their place in the semi-final of the cup.

Ely: Stewart, Brannan (for Simpson, 47), Alsop (c), Walter, Williams, Darling, Lewis, Goodge, Lowe, Batten (Callaghan, 82), Brown (Hazey, 90)

Unused sub: Diejohaoh

Goals: Worman (OG, 50)

United: Iron, Jeche (Steel, 63), Dickens, Simper (Dearman, 80), Johnson. Goode, Bennett, Darcy, Neal, Worman, Battersby

Unused subs: Grey, Toyer

Bookings: Goode (foul, 63)

Referee: Tom Harasca