Ely City Women produced a disciplined display to secure a scrappy 2-0 victory away at Stanground Cardea Res, battling both the elements and a stubborn home side on a windswept afternoon in Chatteris.

The visitors started on the front foot and were rewarded inside six minutes. Good work down the left from Treasure Nwanebu earned Ely a throw, and when the ball broke kindly on the edge of the area, Megan Dunlevy needed no second invitation, smashing home to give Ely an early lead.

Cardea attempted to respond with direct balls forward, but Ely goalkeeper Lant Stevenson was alert early on, racing from her line to smother danger after a long ball caught the wind. Ely continued to press aggressively, with Nwanebu and Chaz Murombo pinning the hosts deep and forcing mistakes in their back line.

A dangerous corner from Danni Youngs on 12 minutes caused chaos in the box, the keeper punching down under pressure before Tash Lane saw a follow-up effort blocked and then cleared. Moments later, Ely were left frustrated when a long-range effort appeared to cross the line after the keeper fumbled, only for play to continue and Murombo to blaze over from close range.

The pressure eventually told on the half-hour. Excellent work on the right between Youngs and Nwanebu ended with a teasing cross. Murombo cleverly dummied, allowing Beth Horsfield to step in and volley calmly past the keeper for 2-0.

Ely still had work to do before the break, Stevenson again producing a brave block at the feet of a Cardea forward just before half-time to preserve the two-goal cushion.

HT: Stanground Cardea Res 0 - 2 Ely City Women

The second half was a test of game management. With the wind worsening and the temperature dropping, Ely found it harder to judge through balls for the forwards. On the hour, substitute Kaci Gibson was quickly into the action, throwing herself in front of a powerful edge-of-the-box effort and Ellie Cooper completed the clearance as Cardea threatened on the break.

Ely continued to look dangerous on the counter. Lane lofted a delicate ball over the top to release Nwanebu, who unselfishly squared instead of shooting, only for the chance to be cleared. At the other end, Ely were forced to dig in, with Lane, Dunlevy and Lou Harwood all making key interventions as Cardea went increasingly direct. Harwood was booked subsequently as she slipped into a late challenge.

The back line stood tall. Cooper dominated aerially and on the ground, while an excellent Kerry Dyer showed her recovery pace to rob a winger and clear under pressure. Tempers briefly flared on the side lines late on as Cardea appealed for handball in a scramble, but Ely kept their composure.

Late drama followed at both ends. Dyer, Gibson and Cooper combined to snuff out a dangerous break in the 88th minute, and moments later Murombo nearly sealed the game, rounding the keeper only to see a fine save deny her. Cooper then took a booking for stopping a counter before it reached the box, a captain’s foul that underlined Ely’s commitment to keep Cardea out.

As the game grew scrappy, Ely City Women held firm, seeing out the final minutes to claim a clean sheet and a well-earned three points.

FT: Stanground Cardea Res 0-2 Ely City Women

Team: Stevenson, Dyer, Cooper (C), Cullen, Horsfield, Youngs, Harwood, Lane, Dunlevy, Murombo, Nwanebu.

Subs: Gibson, Chandler, O'Hara

POTM: Kerry Dyer