KERSHAW LEAGUE ELY City Reserves moved into fourth spot in the Premier Division table by defeating a Wickhambrook side that had little intention on playing football. City coped with the physical approach of the visitors however, controlling the game from

KERSHAW LEAGUE

ELY City Reserves moved into fourth spot in the Premier Division table by defeating a Wickhambrook side that had little intention on playing football.

City coped with the physical approach of the visitors however, controlling the game from start to finish and scoring twice in each half.

Richie Murfitt opened the scoring for Ely, and Andrew Lee struck either side of the interval before substitute Rory Hutton wrapped up a 4-0 win in the closing stages.

Fordham remain in the bottom three of the top section after losing at home to a young and committed Waterbeach side.

Waterbeach hit the bar within two minutes, and they took the lead soon afterwards.

Fordham enjoyed their best spell prior to the break, but were unable to equalise.

The visitors capitalised on a defensive blunder to score their second goal straight after the restart, and then established a 4-0 lead before Fordham player-manager Matt Almond - on as substitute - hit the post and then grabbed a late consolation goal.

Littleport Town travelled to Hundon and went down 4-2 after conceding three goals in eight second-half minutes.

Hundon initially led against the run of play, but 'Port immediately got back on terms when Nigel Smith scored with a shot on the turn.

Town ought to have established a first-half lead, but Will Ludbrooke hit the bar and missed two other great opportunities to score.

He eventually did find the target at the start of the second period, but Hundon responded quickly with a three-goal salvo that secured the points.

"It was a funny old game that could have gone either way," said 'Port boss Dave Cullum afterwards, adding: "For the effort we put in, I thought we deserved more. The scoreline really flattered them."

Goalscorer Smith, midfielder David Cullum (jnr) and central defender Dave Beeton led the team by example, but to no avail.

Haddenham Rovers lost 3-1 at Bluntisham Rangers in Senior Division B despite taking a 15th-minute lead through Phil Harle, whilst in Senior Division A there was another emphatic win for Soham Town Rangers Reserves - this time 5-1 at the expense of Somersham Town.

PERCY OLDHAM CUP

SECOND ROUND

GREAT Chesterford are without a league win this season, but on Saturday the Senior Division B side claimed a second successive scalp in the Percy Oldham Cup - this time Soham United.

Tom Christie put the hosts in front, but his subsequent profligacy proved costly for the hosts as Chesterford led 3-1 shortly after the break.

Christie's second of the game reduced the deficit to a single goal, but the visitors struck two more on the break to run out 5-2 winners.

"We just got bullied out of it to be honest," admitted United boss Andy Parker afterwards.

JOHN ABLETT CUP SECOND ROUND

FORDHAM Reserves progressed at the expense of Division 4B leaders Fenstanton Reserves, coming from a goal down to win 5-2.

They trailed 2-1 at one stage, but Fordham eventually came through with goals from Clive Boucheron (2), Mark Hacking (2) and young Nick Agombar.

Ely Crusaders also progressed against lower-ranked opposition, but manager Johnny Fuller described his side's performance as "shockingly bad" as they struggled to overcome Dalehead United 2-1 in extra-time.

Substitute Phil Shepherd nodded home with his first touch after coming on as second-half substitute, but the visitors levelled in the final minute of normal time.

Shepherd clinched the tie in the first period of extra-time however, charging down the goalkeeper's attempted clearance before firing into an empty net.

The same scoreline saw The Vine Reserves lose at City Life despite a goal from Pierce Mason, and in the derby clash between Burwell Swifts beat Mepal Sports 2-0.

David Fordham fired into the roof of the net after receiving Carl Saxby's pass to open the scoring, and Michael Edwards added a second before the break when Lol Maskell's 30-yard free-kick was proved too hot for the goalkeeper to handle.

Mepal had a player dismissed after the break, and Swifts also went down to 10-men when goalkeeper Pete Brown was injured.

REG HAIGH & ARTHUR PECK CUP SECOND ROUND

BURWELL Swifts Reserves are through to the quarter finals after an easy 4-0 success at Estover Park.

Lee Anderson's right-wing cross deceived the goalkeeper and sailed into the far corner of the net for the opener, and Tom Thatcher latched on to Mark Taylor's through ball to make it 2-0 at the interval.

Thatcher then slotted home a Lee Hobbs pass for number three, and John Irvine's cross was sliced into the net by a home defender for the final goal.

Little Downham Swifts Reserves are out following a 6-2 drubbing at Earith United.

DIVISION 2B

STRIKER Simon Law returned from his lengthy suspension with a brace of goals as Pymoor FC beat Over Sports Reserves by the odd goal in five.

His opener made it 1-1 after a long throw from Ed Hale, and Hale himself made it 2-1 before the visitors again redressed the balance.

With time running out, Law managed to scramble Pymoor's 3-2 winner.

The Vine also took three points after winning by the same scoreline in the home clash with Godmanchester Rovers Reserves.

Grant Spencer scored twice after linking up well with Jon Cutter, but The Vine - for whom Stuart Barbour and Wes Hilditch dominated midfield - were pegged back.

Mark Higginbottom put them back in front with a sensational lob, but the hosts needed an acrobatic save from goalkeeper Scott Connop to preserve their advantage.

Witchford '96 lost at Milton Reserves by virtue of yet another 3-2 scoreline, but Sutton United - and Matthew Keys in particular - made hay in their visit to Lode.

They led 5-1 at the break, and although the hosts scored again at the start of the second half the visitors eventually ran out 8-2 winners thanks to goals from Keys (4), Russell Mansfield, Wayne Newman, Sam Oliver and Steve Townsend.

Andy Marriott struck twice for Isleham United at Somersham Town Reserves and in fact gave his side an early lead, but the hosts were too strong and ran out 5-2 winners.

Stretham Hotspurs gave the leaders Hemingfords United Reserves a run for their money, but eventually went down by the only goal of the game.

DIVISION 3B

HADDENHAM Rovers Reserves claimed their second 2-1 win in succession, beating Newmarket Town A 2-1 by virtue of a Daniel Duffy double.

Little Downham Swifts went down 4-1 at Brampton Reserves.

DIVISION 4B

THERE were seven different goalscorers as Littleport Town A beat fellow strugglers Cottenham United B to leapfrog three places above them.

The goals in a 7-2 win were shared by Nikki Cornwell, Mick Edwards, Scott Dews, Rob Wilson, Andy Blackman, Darren Lawrence and Jamie Doswell.

Wicken Amateurs were also successful in this section, but had to fight hard for their 2-1 success at West Row Gunners Reserves.

The hosts led after an even half-hour, but the Amateurs equalised soon after as Sam Richardson followed up Nathan Sheriff's shot against the post.

There were chances at both ends in the second half, but Danny Wight struck the decisive blow for Wicken, running from midfield before slotting the ball home.

The Gunners hit the bar and had two efforts cleared off the line as Wicken clung precariously to their lead in the closing minutes.

SUNDAY FOOTBALL

CUP MATCHES

ELY Park Rangers are through to the Second Round of the Cambs FA Sunday Challenge Cup thanks to a last-gasp winner from Steve Tuck against Fen Ditton.

Jamie Alsop had earlier scored twice, but the visitors looked like forcing extra-time until Tuck's late intervention.

Fox Burwell also had a narrow win, accounting for the only goal of the game in their VB Trophies League Cup Second Round tie at Elmdon.

LEAGUE MATCHES

LITTLE Downham United came from two goals down to claim their first Division 4A points of the season at home to Bar Hill A.

A Laurence Tonkin own goal helped the visitors - who are on minus three points - into a 2-0 lead, and they restored their two-goal cushion after Alistair Braybrooke had pulled one back for United.

Tonkin atoned for his earlier blunder by scoring at the right end, and an own goal got Downham back on terms before a late goal made it 4-3.

Wicken Maids Head won 4-2 at Alma Reserves in the same section, whilst in Division 3A Will Ludbrooke's goal failed to prevent Wilburton Albion from suffering a 2-1 defeat at Lakenheath Eagles.

Local rivals QPR Ely and Village Inn drew 0-0 in Division 2A, whilst in the Tucker Gardner League Division Two Ely Pymoor Rangers lost 4-2 at Little Thetford Lions.

Stephen Evans put them in front, and Dale Spring made it 2-2 at one stage with what he described as "probably the best goal I've ever scored."

Luckily he doesn't have too many to choose from...