With a heavy worn pitch from previous days games, Ely tried to get the ball down and play as good link up from Christine Cullen and Danni Youngs gave Kelly Docwra a chance, but her effort was blocked away.

The home side were always going to be dangerous, and had the first chance on 10 minutes as good exchange of passes between the winger and forward got them in behind the defence but luckily the forward sliced wide of Tiff Toynton’s goal when she should have at least tested the keeper.

Ely started to build some possession, as Beth Horsfield blasted well over from a Cullen long throw before Ely got their opener a minute later.

The keepers clearance from the initial goal kick was picked up by Youngs, to play to Docwra, she played in Bella Pillow who took a touch and beat the keeper at her near post on the angle.

But the home side instantly drew level, as straight from kick off, they hit it long. The ball was missed on the bounce by Vic Bailey and as Kerry Dyer was in a foot race with the centre forward, the Walden player lifted over the top of Toynton to equalise.

Shocked from the instant response, Ely went in search for their own hit back, as first Cullen combined with Docwra, Youngs and Lane but it came to nothing.

Lane then found Cullen in the channel through on goal, but a beautifully timed challenge stopped an attempt on goal.

Just as it seemed Ely were getting on top, the home side took the lead as another mistake saw the ball played out to the winger, the Ely defence drawn out of position left the centre forward free to tap in at the back post from the cross. And it got worse for Ely just before the break, as the home side scored to make it 3-1. The Walden corner wasn’t cleared and as it got played back in, Ely failed to clear and it was stabbed home past Toynton. Lane had a chance to halve the gap before the whistle, but her curled effort from distance crept wide.

HT; Saffron Walden 3 - 1 Ely City Women

Second half, Ely tried to play higher, but Walden tried to suffocate any ball in to feet or behind them.

Little fouls were being given away by them that broke up any early Ely fluency.

With that, little direct action on goal fell to either side, Ely left frustrated by Walden slowing every play down from set pieces as the time ticked over. On the hour mark, the home side were opened up as Kaci Gibson and Lane combined down the right, Lane’s ball in behind found Youngs, who was shoved over- Docwra picked up the loose ball and whipped the ball across the near post but the Keeper saved well down to her right. Walden kept Ely still to minimum chances, but looked dangerous on the counter themselves as they looked to manage the game. But just as Docwra thought she had snatched at a good chance when one on one, she put that right being played in by Youngs and smashed home into the far counter for 3-2.

Things got heated as the home side refused to give back the ball, as Ely wanted to go again. A stoppage incurred as the referee tried to calm tempers.

The final 15 minutes of normal time was Ely possession and trying to work in behind, but the home side were resolute and their game plan of breaking every bit of momentum Ely had with fouls or stopping the game when they could caused Ely frustration. Into injury time and Ely were trying everything, as Docwra fired a free kick over the bar and Horsfield hit a wayward effort when had more time to go through on goal.

After 8 added minutes, the referee draw the game to a close at, much to the delight of the home side.

FT; Saffron Walden 3 - 2 Ely City Women

Ely were so much better second half, but gave themselves too much to do as the home side held on to their half time advantage.

A mixture of mistakes, lack of luck and some questionable gamesmanship just left City Women ruing a bad day at the office.

Fair play to Walden, they pressed the first half and the 3rd goal gave them a cushion. Second half was more hanging on to what they had and frustrate any Ely control.

Subs; Lupson, Gibson, Jackson, King.

Chris Gibson
cjgibsonuk@hotmail.com