It was a mixed opening day for Pelicans in the East Men’s League, with two wins, two defeats and a draw to show for their efforts.
In the Premier Division, hosts Cambridge City were 2-0 up after 37 minutes before Sam Phillips pulled one back. However, hopes of a recovery were dashed when the hosts struck twice more.
In Division Two North West, Pelicans’ second team emerge victorious at Cambridge South Seconds thanks to a goal in each half from Chris Page and Toby Phillips. The hosts hit back but Pelicans held on to win 2-1.
A seven-goal thriller in Division 3NW went against the hosts, with Cambridge South Thirds beating their Pelicans counterparts 4-3.
Cambridge went two goals up but Graham Brooks pulled one back, only for the visitors to restore their advantage.
Gavin Johnstone then struck twice in five minutes in the second half to make it 3-3 before the visitors struck what proved to be the winner in the last seven minutes.
Ryan Lewin scored twice in Pelicans Fourths’ 4-1 success against Newmarket Thirds in Division 5NW. David Gilbert and Lee Dowers got the other goals.
Honours finished even in Division 6NW, where the King’s Lynn club’s new development team drew 2-2 with Ely City Fourths. Junior players put the host two goals to the good but Ely hit back after the break to grab a point.
Goals were hard to come by in the East Women’s League.
The three teams who got on the pitch managed only three between them but that was enough to avoid defeat, with a win and two draws, while the third team were handed a 5-0 ‘walkover’ against Newmarket Thirds.
In Division One North, the newly-promoted first team drew 1-1 at relegated Cambridge University Seconds thanks to a late equaliser from Emily Pluck.
That scoreline was repeated in Division 3NW at City of Peterborough Fourths, where Phoebe Metcalfe also left it late to level for Pelicans Seconds.
One goal was enough to secure all the points for Pelicans Fourths, with the development team winning 1-0 at Huntingdon & Northstowe in Division 5NW.
