Off to a flyer

RIDGEONS LEAGUE

FIRST DIVISION

Ely City 6 Cornard United 1

ANDY Chatters' 46-minute hat-trick put Ely well on the way to an easy win in their first game as league-leaders this season.

Three goals were scored in the frantic opening seven minutes of Saturday's encounter.

Nick Impey gave the hosts a fourth-minute lead with a good turn and finish from eight yards, Cornard hit back, straight from the re-start, but, after Robbie Mason beat two men and crossed well, Chatters fired Ely back in front.

Mason and Impey then spurned good chances before Chatters curled in a delightful free-kick from 20 yards to give City a

3-1 lead at the break.

The Ely captain completed his hat-trick with a decisive penalty a minute into the second half.

Ely continued to play well on a deteriorating pitch and Mason twice came close to increasing their lead; his second effort was an audacious lob that landed on the roof of the net, before Brady Stone cleared off the line at the other end.

Super-sub Tom Beech came off the bench to make it 5-1 when he beat the offside trap and slotted the ball into corner when he appeared to be losing his balance.

Midfielder Dave Smith completed the scoring with a fine finish from 12 yards after good work from debut-making substitute Anthony Blandford.

But a 1-0 away win from Swaffham Town at Great Yarmouth keeps them level on points with Ely at the top of the table.

Ely boss Dennis Lightning said: "The lads told me it was hard to stand up on that pitch, never mind play football, so they played extremely well considering the circumstances.

"We're playing exceptionally well at the moment and the goals are flying in, but we have to keep it up because the league is very tight."

n Ely play Thetford on Saturday and

Cambridge City in the Cambs Invitation Cup on Tuesday. Both matches are at

home.