Having seen their last two weekend's fixtures postponed, Ely looked to get back on it and keep their form going.
Erin Chandler came in for the ill Amy Lloyd and Danni Youngs returned to the line up after missing the last game versus Haverhill.
City opened the scoring on just 3 minutes, as Kelly Docwra’s corner found Poppy GREEN at the back post and she bundled the ball home.

They could have doubled their lead with two opportunities minutes later; first Youngs wiggled her way through and saw her shot saved, before an identical corner routine from the opener saw Green’s header blocked.
On 12 minutes, Tash Lane picked up the ball on half way, evaded two challenges before sliding the ball through to YOUNGS. She beat the offside trap, drew the keeper and slotted past her for 2-0.

Ely continued to dominate as Docwra hit the bar, before Youngs hit post and bar within a 10 minute spell. Youngs then drew another good save from the Sirens keeper as Ely pressed for a 3rd. Erin Chandler caused havoc down the left side, attacking her fullback as she picked up the ball. She linked up well with Lane but her dangerous cross was blocked away for a corner.

That corner was swung in by Docwra and Green dispatched on the volley into the bottom corner.

And on the stroke of half time, after having her own corner strike the cross bar, DOCWRA grabbed her goal, Beth Horsfield playing her in to easily cut in and bend round the advancing Goalkeeper.

HT; Manea Sirens 0 - 4 Ely City Women

Second half, the wind noticeably picked up as Ely adapted their game to the conditions.

Making a string of substitutions, Ely pressed their line high with Lane and Lou Harwood commanding the centre of the field. Docwra and Green both went close with deflective efforts before City got their 5th just after the hour mark. Kaci Gibson, Lane and Harwood combined to switch the play to Docwra- who flicked in HORSFIELD; she took a touch and steered in from 6 yards.

The stormy winds picked up again as the light deteriorated too, the game got scrappy. Manea tried a long ball over the top, but Gibson slid in to deny the forward before Ellie Cooper broke up a through ball on the watching Tiff Toynton’s goal.

On 75 minutes, the 6th arrived and GREEN’s hat trick completed as the tireless Youngs picked up the ball before playing in her strike partner Poppy, who rolled the ball home from the penalty spot.

Youngs went close herself twice, firing just wide after finding space to turn in the box and then her snapshot near post shot saved.

Ely’s 7th soon arrived with 8 minutes to go, Lane swept the ball into DOCWRA who carried the ball off the left, cut inside and smashed home from 18 yards to rubber stamp the victory.

There was still time for Cullen to fire over from 10 yards out and Youngs shot just wide from a tight angle.

The final whistle went and Ely City Women made it 7 out of 7, pushing their goal difference up too. Both teams should be given massive credit for playing through the weather conditions with the standard of football that was produced.

FT: Manea Sirens 0 - 7 Ely City Women

Team; Toynton, Dyer, Bailey, Cooper, Horsfield, Chandler, Harwood, Lane, Docwra, Green, Youngs.

Subs: Gibson, Cullen, King, Pillow.

Grinding out a result in the conditions second half. Damage was done in the first, with some devastating play.
Dominance in both halves with such an aggressive press, using the wind as that extra bit of pressure to push Manea back.
The front line didn’t give Manea a chance to get out.. Could and should have maybe had more on the scoresheet, the bar stuck multiple times but a clean sheet, goals and 3 points!