With cup final week approaching, it would have been forgiven for the Robins to have one eye on the cup alongside this game, but their approach was impeccable. Megan Dunlevy and Vic Bailey came into the side as the management looked to give minutes all round.

From the off, on a warm afternoon at Mepal Recreation, Ely grabbed the tempo of the game as they looked to hit home early.
On 3 minutes, Tiff Toynton’s long kick downfield saw Beth Horsfield collect wide. She drove inside past her defender before firing her shot across the keeper and into the back of the net for 1-0.
Horsfield then dominated her wing and became a supplier, as firstly Amy Lloyd and Dunlevy went close from a corner, before a cross deceived Poppy Green and Danni Youngs running in.
Ely pressed Mepal back and the Robins midfield dominated with Natasha Lane exchanging passes with Lloyd before seeing her shot just drift over.
Ely exerted their dominance further when they doubled their lead after 15 minutes. Lloyd and Lane again at the centre of it combining before Lloyd’s defence splitting pass found Youngs, she drew two defenders before squaring to Green to blast home.
Lloyd and Youngs combined again, this time Lloyd’s pass-through saw Youngs take a touch, but she couldn’t gain control after a bobble and it went to the keeper. Green soon went close, as she out muscled her marker but shot straight at the Mepal Keeper from a tight angle.
Mepal did attempt to break Ely, a long ball over the top split the defence and the striker in a foot race beat Toynton to the ball but poked wide from 20 yards. The same occurrence happened again minutes later, but Kerry Dyer was quick in to retrieve before any danger loomed on the Robins goal.
Those close calls saw a devastating response from the away side, as Ely scored 4 goals in 10 minutes.
On 35 minutes, a free kick 35 yards out allowed Lloyd to swing in a dangerous ball and as Bailey jumped, the ball hit the Mepal defender who headed past her own Keeper for an unfortunate own goal.
Two minutes later, Youngs set up her strike partner for Ely’s 4th as she cut inside the right channel and whipped a ball back across the 6 yard box and Green flicked cleverly home.
on 40 minutes, it was 5-0. Horsfield again from a corner delivered a flighted ball to the edge of the 6 yard box, where Youngs leapt and flicked a header over the top of the Keeper and into the far corner. It was nearly 6 on 43 as sub Erin Chandler hit the bar, before Horsfield’s point blank effort was saved. But the 6th arrived on the stroke of half time, as the ball was recycled in and Green this time returned the favour to her partner up top as Youngs headed home her second from the cross.
Second half, Ely rang the changes but remained in control. Youngs almost got her hattrick on 47, but shot straight at the Keeper, before the home stopper then denied Green.
Ely remained pressing high and El Cooper and King had to be alert to head away balls over the top before Ely camped themselves in the Mepal half. Chandler went close again, as the ball fell for her 6 yards out, but a combination of defender and Keeper kept the ball out on the line, before Chandler’s dangerous delivery eluded the on rushing Bella Pillow.
Into the closing 10 and Horsfield had a shot blocked by a defender and Dunlevy struck the foot of the post as Ely looked to finish the game with another goal. Two dangerous deliveries from Lloyd saw Chandler and Dunlevy nearly finish with headers, then Lloyd herself fired just wide.
Lloyd did get the goal her performance deserved on 90 minutes, a well worked short corner between Dunlevy and Chandler saw the latter with a pinpoint delivery – Lloyd stooped in and headed into the roof of the net from 6 yards for the 7th goal. Cooper had a chance for 8, but she headed wide much to her frustration as Ely closed out the final whistle unscathed as they prepare now for the final midweek.

XI; Toynton, Dyer, Bailey, Cooper, Horsfield, Lane, Harwood, Lloyd, Dunlevy, Green, Youngs.
Subs; Cullen, Pillow, Lupson, King, Chandler.

Report bwitten by Chris Gibson