Under-8 Ely Crusaders 8 Mepal 4 A DETERMINED Crusaders performance gave them victory against a previously unbeaten Mepal side. The result could have been much closer, but for an inspired first quarter by Ely goalkeeper George Leech, whose brave display

Under-8

Ely Crusaders 8 Mepal 4

A DETERMINED Crusaders' performance gave them victory against a previously unbeaten Mepal side.

The result could have been much closer, but for an inspired first quarter by Ely goalkeeper George Leech, whose brave display limited Mepal to a 2-0 lead, with Kassem Lloyd and Joshua Fenner on the scoresheet.

An early reply by Crusaders' man-of-the-match Sam Scarborough put Ely back on track and this was followed up by an Alex Brown double, to give Ely the lead. Mepal's Harrison Jones equalised, but another Scarborough strike put Ely 4-3 up at half-time.

Shane Whatley scored with a fierce free-kick for Mepal, before Ely stretched their advantage to 6-4, through Jordan Marston and Sam Felton, and a Lewis Hook double ensured that Ely ran out with a very well earned win.

Ely Crusaders: Barrett, Brown, Butler, Felton, Frodsham, Funnel, Hook, Jeckells, Leech, Marston, Scarborough, Spittles.

Mepal: Dean Baxter, James Knox, Joshua Fenner, Joe-Joe Corlito, Thomas Smith, James Rayson, Kassem Lloyd, George Rayner, Ashley Howlett, Jacob Waters, Harrison Jones, Shane Whatley.

Soham United 3

Witchford Colts 2

SOHAM United came out on top of a very closely-contested match.

Twice Witchford took the lead, 1-0 and 2-1, but an excellent hat-trick by Joseph Bell won the game for Soham.

Soham's captain for the day was Owen Bailey and man-of-the-match went to Ryan Norton for a superb defensive display.

Stretham 3 Soham Town 3

SPORTING'S 100 per cent record was ended with a lacklustre performance.

Stretham started well with a Max Bovingdon solo goal, but Soham hit back quickly with two breakaway goals.

Soham kept up the pressure, but Stretham fought back and Bovingdon tapped in his second. An own goal from a corner gifted Stretham the lead, before a great free-kick earned the visitors a deserved draw in the dying minutes.

Under-9

Witchford Colts B 0

Burwell Tigers 7

WITCHFORD'S new team enjoyed their first ever game of football.

Despite suffering a defeat, there were plenty of positives throughout the game, particularly the excellent display in goal from man-of-the-match Louis Green.

Witchford: Louis Green, Oliver Richards, Oliver Short, Daniel Scott, Joseph Ambrosio, Adam Howe, George Thoday, Nathan Ellis, Joshua Stevens, Luke Higginson and Solomon.

n Any under-9 teams wishing to play Witchford Colts B should contact Glenn Gulliver on 01353 663348.

Under-11

Soham United 2

Ely Crusaders 10

FREE-SCORING Ely cruised to a comfortable away win against local rivals.

Crusaders attacked from the start and Tom Biscoe gave them the lead with a well-taken shot from a tight angle.

Tyler Thurston doubled Ely's lead when he picked up a superb Thomas Walker pass and went on a solo run to score. Thurston completed his hat-trick with two more goals before the break.

The second half continued in the same manner and a Harry Beeton thunderbolt and a delightful chip from Scott Callaghan quickly put Ely 6-0 up.

Soham worked hard and pulled one back, but Ely responded quickly with Thurston's fourth goal after an excellent run from the half-way line.

Soham then scored a penalty but Ely put the game beyond doubt with Tom Matcham, Thurston and Alex Germeney all scoring.

Ely Crusaders: Oscar Haines, Ryan Marston, Tom Matcham, Harry Beeton, Tyler Thurston, Scott Callaghan, Thomas Walker, Tom Biscoe, James Callow, Jake Day, Sam Dix, Alex Germeney, Kyan Gillett, Luke Hall, Lewis Jones, Rowan Shergold and Joe Steggles.

Burwell Swallows 6

Haddenham Rovers 2

HADDENHAM were made to pay for missed opportunities on Sunday.

Burwell created early chances and they broke through the defence and scored two goals.

Haddenham started to get on top towards the end of the half and good passing in the midfield allowed Robert Nangle to break through and score, but Burwell clinched another goal before the break.

Haddenham fought hard in the second half but missed numerous opportunities, with Hannah Dewey, Daniel Piggott and Nangle all combining well without success.

Piggott then forced the Burwell keeper to spill the ball into the net from a cracking corner kick, but Burwell went on to score three more. Rovers' player-of-the-match was Hannah Dewey.

Haddenham: Laurence Martin, Edward Emmerson, Chris Threadgold, Michael Heath, Robert Nangle, Felix Peck, Liam Roberts, Daniel Piggott, Hannah Dewey.

Under-12

Little Downham Eagles 9 Ramsey Colts B 0

EAGLES returned to winning ways with a comprehensive victory.

Goals from Aaron Canham and Courtney Pettifor gave Little Downham a 2-0 lead, before Canham got his second, with a neat finish, and Nathan Grainger scored his first of the season.

Daniel Mould was next to score, with a shot from a tight angle, and Ezra Collins made it six before half-time.

Eagles continued to dominate in the second half and Canham extended their lead when he pounced on a poor goal-kick for his hat-trick.

After further pressure, Grainger unselfishly squared the ball to Canham to score again and the same two players combined to score the final goal of the game, with Grainger playing a lovely ball over the defenders for Canham to run on to and slam home for his fifth and Eagles ninth.

Thomas Horwood won the man-of-the-match award.

Little Downham: Martyn Dawes, Ezra Collins, William Fuller, Courtney Pettifor, Daniel Mould, Jack Ure, Daniel Burdin, Thomas Bradney, Nathan Grainger, Aaron Canham, Thomas Horwood, Dylan Minar.

Godmanchester Rovers C 0 Littleport Town 10

IN-FORM Littleport produced a superb performance and claimed another convincing away win.

Joseph Murfitt gave Port the lead early on with a volley and this gave them confidence. Port doubled their lead when Ben Hawkins set up Nico Bishop for his first of the game. Murfitt then scored again, before Bishop struck twice to complete his hat-trick to give the visitors a 5-0 half-time lead.

The second half saw the home side under constant pressure. Murfitt finished off his hat-trick and this was followed by a Hawkins penalty and a fine team goal, finished by Luke Thompson. Bishop finished the scoring with two more to take his match tally to five.

Littleport: Sam Barker, Kiaran Phillips, Ben Jewitt, Jake Kennedy, Charlie Bowditch(c), Arron Heaps, Ben Hawkins, Ashton Oakes, Luke Thompson, Joseph Murfitt, Nico Bishop, Liam Ball, Jed Oak-Leigh.

Under-13

Witchford Colts 7

Newmarket Town B 1

HAT-TRICKS from Myles Forber and Daniel Simons ensured that Witchford picked up a superb win in their first home game of the season.

Colts got off to a great start, scoring early through Forber, after some fine support work by Tom Skilbeck.

The home side continued their fine passing football, whilst always looking solid at the back, and took a 3-0 lead into the break with the red-hot Forber completing his hat-trick.

Witchford continued to dominate in the second half and Daniel Simons made it 4-0 when he received a fine Skilbeck pass and slid the ball under the goalkeeper.

Simons then scored again, with a fine poachers goal, before completing his hat-trick with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Skilbeck completed the scoring with a finish from an acute angle.

Ely Crusaders 10 Ely City 1

CRUSADERS came away with a comfortable victory as these two Ely teams met for the second time in as many weeks.

Crusaders continued where they left off and the scoring was started within the first 30 seconds with Luke Hayes calmly slotting home after rounding the keeper. Cameron Robb then scored with a lob. The Crusaders' front-men continued to press and a great cross from Robb was volleyed home by Hayes.

Alfa Balde had a header cleared off the line before a penalty was fired home by Robb.

City managed to get one back on the break but, just before half-time, Balde gave Crusaders another goal.

Hayes scored two more, early in the second half, the best of which came from a great solo run, before Robb completed his hat-trick, after a solo run of his own and Balde scored his second. Hayes finished the scoring when he brought the ball down well and went round the keeper to take his tally to five.

Crusaders' man-of-the-match was Jake Hopkins.

Crusaders: George Bannister, Joe Dalton, Jake Hopkin, FD, Alex Minall, Lewis Buxton, Nick Kyndt, Alfa Balde, Ryan Lowe, Cameron Robb, Luke Hayes, Jacques Odell Rourke, Ashley Hammersley, Daniel Twinn, Alex Oxborough, Jake Molton.

Under-14

Soham Town Colts 4

Ely City Colts 0

A FIRST-HALF hat-trick from Elliot Drewery ensured that Soham maintained their unbeaten run with this comfortable win on Sunday.

Soham dominated the first half and cruised to a 3-0 lead after Drewery's brace.

Ely looked more determined in the second half and came close when Ryan Howell hit a screamer that scraped the crossbar and then Matt Waites had an effort cleared off the line.

Soham, however, managed to increase their lead when Ryan Brook's shot struck an Ely defender's hand, and Simon Murfitt stepped up to emphatically blast home the spot kick. Soham's man-of-the-match was Elliot Drewery.

Soham: Ben Nicholas, Josh Heaps, Simon Murfitt, Dalton Isaacson, Dan Sadler, Craig Allen, Joel Frey, Dan Whitwell, Dan Brook, Ryan Brook, Elliot Drewery, Charlie Wills, Michael Rola, Francis Rowlands, Owen Grainger.

Under-16

Littleport Town 9

Cambridge Musketeers 1

DAN Bell scored five as Littleport's sensational start to the season continued.

The game started in dramatic fashion when the visitors took the lead with a dubious penalty but Littleport were undeterred and set about creating a series of opportunities.

Brave goalkeeping kept the home side at bay until Sean Monigatti netted after a cross came in from the left.

Littleport went on to dominate the remainder of the half with precise passing moves, particularly down the wings, and two goals from Bell gave them a 3-1 lead at the break.

Littleport continued to stretch the visitors's defence in the second half and the goals quickly rained in.

Bell grabbed a second-half hat-trick, the most impressive of his goals being a thunderous shot into the roof of the net, and Monigatti scored his second with a neat header.

John Bartlett then weaved his way past several defenders before striking a powerful shot into the net off the underside of the bar.

Ryan Middleton completed the scoring with a finish from close range and this put the final touch on a display that had been full of accurate passing and deft touches.

Littleport: Rob Wilson, Sam Frost, Lee Fuller, John Kelly, Matt Fuller, Nick Seaman, Luke Williams, John Bartlett, James Elliott, Dan Bell, Sean Monigatti, Sam Males, Ryan Middleton, Tom Evans.

CHEQUE IT OUT: Ely City under-14s player Ryan Howell presents a cheque for £200 to his manager David Bailey, which has paid for the new away kit. Ryan raised the money by undertaking a sponsored motorcycle course with former world champion Ron Haslam. Ryan was the youngest person to complete the course and passed with flying colours.