A SHREWD performance from Ely saw them score victory over a struggling Peterborough side on Saturday.

Hockey

Ely Ladies 2

Peterborough 0

A SHREWD performance from Ely saw them score victory over a struggling Peterborough side on Saturday.

Hannah Scotney’s side were far from their best but managed two goals on the counter attack to pick up their fourth win this season.

Ely started the match on the back foot after a poor warm-up but they managed to repel Peterborough’s early attacks with some resolute defending.

As the minutes ticked by, Ely began to find their feet and, after breaking up a Peterborough attack, Ely seized possession and launched a counter attack that ultimately saw them open the scoring.

A through-ball from Bond found Dani Fletcher, who rounded a defender and shot through another to put Ely a goal up.

Ely’s second second goal came just minutes later as another counter attacking move was finished superbly by Kay.

The hosts lost their momentum early in the second half and found it difficult to get forward but Ely continued to defend well despite a pressing Peterborough side, denying a number of short corners. The ladies second team also won their game 4-1 against Cambridge City at home.

Ely’s men, meanwhile, travelled to Cambridge on Saturday hoping to build on the draw against Norwich City the previous weekend.

With the same formation that had earned the draw last week, the Ely side looked confident as the game started, but soon found themselves on the back foot against a very quick university side.

The hosts opened the scoring after 10 minutes, following some quick passing and moving off the ball. Shortly after the first goal, Cambridge were awarded a controversial penalty flick which was duly converted to leave the score 2-0 at half-time.

After the restart, Ely’s frustration was further compounded by a third goal from Cambridge that looked like it would finish the game.

But Ely were not finished; following some impressive play, Stu Clarke broke through and drilled an accurate cross into the Cambridge D. Jack Upton latched onto it and scored giving Ely a glimmer of hope. The team seemed immediately lifted and kept the pressure on, soon winning a short corner. Skipper Chris Purllant received the ball at the top of the D and fired a drag flick into the back of the Cambridge goal, making it 3-2. Ely’s third goal came shortly after as Matt Holden converted at close range to bring the scores equal.

Cambridge seemed shell-shocked as Ely pushed for a winner with only a few minutes left on the clock but the home side had the final say as they broke forward and snacthed a winner in the dying seconds.