It was back to league action for Kirkley & Pakefield last Saturday with an away match against Ely City - and they put in a fine second half performance to win 5-1.

The Royals made a slow start and were a goal down after just two minutes when after a corner, poor defending saw Steve Holder finding the net with a low header.

The visitors equalised on 15 minutes when a Jack Hutchinson corner fell to Cameron Russell who neatly found the net. The Robins then went close twice, with both Matt Simpson and David Cooper putting attempts over the bar.

The Royals gradually built momentum and were attacking constantly, with Kyle Haylock succumbing to heavy tackles more than once, but the scores remained level at the interval.

The second half saw an early Ely header stopped on the line by Jack Herbert but the Royals took the lead on 55 minutes through Daniel Conroy after good play by Russell and Baker. Two minutes later Baker had a goal ruled out for offside and in the next minute fine work by Baker and Haverson saw Haylock centre for Conroy to execute a fine finish for his second and the Royals' third.

Shortly afterwards home centre forward Josh Lowe was sent through on goal with Jordan Smith making a good save to deny him.

On 62 minutes Kyle Haylock put a brilliant ball over to put Russell through and his good curling shot from the edge of the area went into the top corner to increase the Royals' lead. Haylock then had a good shot saved by the keeper at a second attempt before he was replaced by young Ryan Howes and shortly afterwards Jake Spooner replaced Conroy.

On 80 minutes keeper Smith made another fine save to put a Lowe shot over the bar while at the other end substitute Howes produced fine individual work to almost score his first senior goal, with the keeper blocking his effort.

Russell completed his hat-trick on 85 minutes, taking his chance well after a neat through ball picked him out.

The match finished with a good away victory for the Royals after a fine second half team performance, with the three points lifting them to eighth in the table.

Team: J Smith, A Meekan, J Hutchinson, B George, J Herbert, L Flower, K Haylock (R Howes 73), K Baker, D Conroy (J Spooner 76), J Haverson, C Russell. Sub not used: G McGee.

After receiving a bye in the first round, Kirkley & Pakefield fell at the first hurdle in the League Challenge Cup on Tuesday, going down 2-1 at Walsham le Willows.

On a very wet evening the Royals had both Jack Herbert and Jack Hutchinson unavailable so brought in Harry Creamer and Ian Dawson, who has just returned to the club after several seasons playing in local football after sustaining a bad leg injury, while in goal Elliot Reynolds made his first appearance of the season.

With just five minutes gone Haylock produced a fine run down the right side from the half-way line, squaring the ball to Dawson whose shot from 20 yards went just over the bar. After 11 minutes the home team hit the bar and from the rebound a good chance was missed.

Haylock then broke free again, Daniel Conroy picking up his centre with his sharp shot hitting the post, Baker then had a good shot on the turn saved by the keeper's legs.

Reynolds in the away goal then made good saves from Clark and Jennings. At this point in play the home team had a purple patch but with several attempts goal bound were still not good enough to force their way past Reynolds in the away goal. After an entertaining first half the score remain goalless.

On 50 minutes Clark's shot went straight at Reynolds and then, following a corner, another 20 yard shot from Ryan Clark went through the defence and past the keeper into the net for the opening goal.

The lead lasted just two minutes before Conroy levelled the scores after a poor kick out by the keeper that hit Baker. Alex Meeken then headed well off the home goal line.

On 70 minutes a good move saw Russell score but the goal was disallowed for off-side. Conroy and Haylock then combined well to put Haylock away but he was upended just outside the area and the free-kick by Dawson across goal amounted to nothing.

Walsham won a corner with just five minutes remaining and centre back Karl Saffrey put a fine header into the net for what turned out to be the winning goal and a disappointing 2-1 defeat for the Royals.

Team: E Reynolds, A Meeken, H Creamer (A Cox 88), B George, I Dawson (G Williams 86), L Flower, K Haylock, K Baker (J Spooner 89), D Conroy, J Haverson, C Russell.