Ely City ended Tiptree United s run of 11 straight league wins on Saturday, and at the same time put the first blemish on the Essex side s 100 per cent home record. The top-of-the-table clash was end to end, with City taking the lead after just seven minu

Ely City ended Tiptree United's run of 11 straight league wins on Saturday, and at the same time put the first blemish on the Essex side's 100 per cent home record.

The top-of-the-table clash was end to end, with City taking the lead after just seven minutes. Tiptree only half-cleared the lines following a long-throw, and Andy Chatters fired home past Smith, who was unsighted in goal.

Tom English equalised for Tiptree with his 22nd goal of the season, but the visitors led again four minutes later when Tony Brown rose highest to head home a corner.

Lewin Ward then made it 2-2 in the 31st minute having struck the foot of a post only a few minutes earlier, and that was the score at half-time.

Ely survived an early English miss at the start of the second half before starting to look dangerous themselves.

Simon Warren's effort was saved by the feet of Smith, who then tipped over a shot from Dave Daniels before Warren had another attempt blocked.

Daniels was then denied by a combination of Darg and Smith following a great cross by Chatters, and City created further half-chances before Noble fired straight at the goalkeeper for Tiptree.

The match was a good advertisement for Division One until an incident flared up which involved nearly all the players.

Ward and Warren received yellow cards after the referee had restored order, and Tiptree's Manning was red-carded after an assistant referee spotted a separate incident.

Tiptree remain 10 points clear of City at the top of the table, having played two games more than their nearest rivals.

n Soham kept up the pressure on Needham Market at the top of the Ridgeons Premier Division with a 2-0 victory over local rivals Newmarket Town.

They went ahead as early as the second minute, with Darren Jimson's long throw being flicked on to Andy Furnell who rifled a left-foot volley into the top corner of the net.

Soham goalkeeper Lea Jordan made a great save from Zdrenka's 12th minute header, and former Soham player Stephen Bell squirted the ball wide of the near post after capitalising on a Michael Simpson mistake.

Soham began to dominate however, and in the 26th minute good work by Simpson and Furnell enabled Jimson to slide home his 10th goal of the season.

Jimson limped off soon afterwards, and after creating several more chances Soham suddenly looked vulnerable either side of the break.

Rangers' goal survived intact though, and they once again took control against their struggling opponents.

Scott Carter and Charles Libam both had opportunities to increase Soham's lead, with Libam hitting the post as Newmarket 'keeper Paynter became increasingly busy.

In fact it was only his inspired performance that prevented the home side from winning by a much bigger margin.

n Soham Town Rangers are one of three Ridgeons League clubs to have applied for promotion from Step 5 Leagues to Step 4 next season.

Needham Market - the current Premier Division leaders - and Dereham Town are the other Ridgeons League applicants.

Rangers travel to Norwich United in the league on Saturday.

# Ely City entertain Gorleston in the First Division on Saturday, and on the following Tuesday make the reverse journey in the Quarter Finals of the Ridgeons League Cup. Both games are crucial, but promotion remains Ely's number one priority.