It wasn’t to be for Ely City Women, who were cruelly beaten 1-0 in the Junior Invitation Cup Final, against Division One outfit Cambridge Rangers, thanks to a goal 10 minutes from time.

The Robins came into the game off the back of a league win last weekend, with promotion still on the cards and the luxury experience of their first ever cup final in their two-and-a-half-year existence.
The build-up and anticipation had grown around the club, after the men’s senior sides had represented the club valiantly in their own finals and it was now the time of the Women.

The game started at some pace, Ely winning possession early and going after the team two divisions up. As they have started nearly every game this season, they showed little respect for their oppositions higher ranking as they chased them down. Kelly Docwra picked up near instantly the win back of possession, playing the ball out to Beth Horsfield out on the right.
She danced in behind, but Rangers’ Laura Baldwin was quick across and put the ball out for an early corner.
The delivery was whipped in but cleared away at the near post as Cambridge tried to get out of their own half. Ely refused to let them settle, as Poppy Green was almost found in behind if not for a last-ditch leg out to deflect the ball away. Rangers did get the ball under and worked some possession in the Ely half, a long ball into Ely’s right back area saw Kerry Dyer alert to block away, before Lou Harwood and Ellie Cooper doubled up to clear the danger and reset Ely’s line. As the Cambridge side tried their own pressing game, Ely reverted to the counter, Robins keeper Tiff Toynton claimed a cross before launching the ball down field for Green to chase, she ran up against Laura Bird and forced a throw deep in her own half.
Good play by Natasha Lane, Danni Youngs and Amy Lloyd created another opening, Docwra found herself on the right, her dangerous cross just eluded Green arriving late at the back post before cleared by Rangers.
Cambridge started to push more in to the back line of Ely, as they again tested Dyer down her right, before Cooper denied the forward a clear shot at goal, before Toynton made two neat saves to keep the Robins in it.
The humidity and pace of the game heated up, as both teams continued to throw themselves into attack at every chance. The drinks break brought a much-needed break in play, as Sir Alsop huddled the Robins as water was taken on. The break allowed Rangers to regroup with a couple of changes, after the persistent pressure from the under dogs. Dyer again had to be alert to chase her player down and block a goal bound effort, before Toynton dove at the feet of an attacker through on her goal.

Ely stayed compact; Lane, Harwood and Lloyd rotating in their midfield berth. Cooper, who’s form this year has been so impressive had to be alert to head away a dangerous cross, before on the stroke of half time, Toynton stuck out a leg to deflect a bouncing effort past the post.

As the first half came to an end with neither team able to break the deadlock, it was a tireless back and forth tempo that had captured the atmosphere of the supporters as the Robins competed toe to toe with their opponent.

HT: Cambridge Rangers 0 – 0 Ely City Women

Into the second half, and the game resumed where it had left off. Rangers first out the blocks this time, as a hopeful long ball fell in beyond Cooper and Dyer, the Rangers forward Claire Kyndt collected and lifted over the advancing Toynton, but it dropped wide of the far post.
And as quick as that, best chance of the game for the Robins came from some outstanding play. From the back, Lane collected the ball inside right, exchanging passes with Lloyd. Lane’s channelled ball into Green saw Green drive inside before delivering a wonderful ball to Youngs outside the box, she took one touch inside the defender before volleying over the stranded keeper on her penalty spot, only to see it cannon off the crossbar and down before the goal line, before being hacked clear. Applause all round from the play as well as the effort ramped up the Robins supporters, as the youth teams behind the goal with the drum and chants echoed the Ely chorus! This pegged back Rangers, who looked shell shocked by Ely’s persistence, whilst Ely looked again to open them up. This time, after another good bit of play with Lloyd and Docwra, they found Youngs who turned provider out wide, her ball was lofted into the box but was cleared by Ellie Tod before Green and Docwra pounced on the cross.
The game was opening more, as Cambridge Rangers made changes to freshen up to try break the Robins resistance, who saw a massive a blow themselves as El Cooper had to be replaced after a block tackle left her in a heap inside her own box, with Em Cooper on to replace her as Ely reshuffled.
Rangers went after Ely’s reorganisation, putting one in over the top, to be called offside, before again sliding Kyndt in after good work from Tefer-Ng down the left, only for Em Cooper to clear.
Closing into the last 20 minutes, Ely through players forward. And after a hopefully loft into the box from Horsfield, the keeper came out to punch clear of the arriving Green, only for it to drop at the feet of Lane. The ball bounced across her before she could adjust to fire home, instead laying the ball to Docwra, who’s shot from the edge was blocked by the recovering Laura Bird.
As we approached the last 10 minutes, a cruel blow to the resolute Robins. A free kick from just inside their half from Rangers, was swept in behind. The first ball was cleared by Ely, as Docwra through herself in front of the initial effort, but Daniella Lewis on the edge of the area took a swing at the loose ball and her looping effort dropped over Toynton and under the bar to put the League One side ahead late on.
A devastating and deflating blow for Ely, who had bossed a lot of the second half proceedings – their support urged them on to go for broke in the closing minutes.
Green raced down the left, crossing for sub Pillow who couldn’t get across her defender, before Docwra surged through the middle but was crowded out by Smethurst. Rangers looked to counter as injury time proceeded, Gibson headed away with Em Cooper hitting it long for Ely to try salvage a late late show and send to penalties, but the ref called time to a pulsating final and a win to Cambridge Rangers.

FT: Cambridge Rangers 1 – 0 Ely City Women

Heartbroken. Dead on their feet. Floored and deflated, the Robins had given their absolute all on the pitch. But from the stands; applause, chants, cheering, pride from the traveling support, well over 100 Ely supporters alone, plus the neutrals.
What a game, what a brave and outstanding effort from Ely and credit to Cambridge Rangers, who showed why they have done so well over the last few years in Cambridge considering their local counterparts in City, United and that too of Histon recouping players. The Division one outfit had ground out the victory and lifted the trophy, but heads of those Ely City supporters lifted higher, as the Robins took in their lap of honour in front of them.

Heartbreak, but heroic honesty in the efforts. Promotion was the objective at the start of the season, a cup run would be nice was murmured by the coaching staff, so exceeding any expectations is something to be massively proud and encouraged by.

XI; Toynton, Dyer, El. Cooper, Cullen, Horsfield, Lane, Harwood, Lloyd, Docwra, Youngs, Green.
Subs; Pillow, Lupson, Gibson, Bailey, Em. Cooper.

Chris Gibson