Cambridge City beat Enfield 1-0 to move off the bottom of Eastern Region Women's Football League Premier Division

Cambridge City moved off the bottom of the Eastern Region Women's Football League Premier Division in dramatic style thanks to a injury-time breakaway goal by top scorer Faith Harrison at the FWD-IP Community Stadium on Sunday.

The only goal of the game came 30 seconds after opponents Enfield missed a penalty and the action did not end on the final whistle as a fight broke out in the away dressing room, which resulted in the visiting captain and goalkeeper both being red carded.

It was also a fine defensive performance from City as they kept a clean sheet for the first league game this season. Stand-in goalkeeper Phoebe Newman put in an excellent performance, as did captain Isabel Beeson, who was solid in defence and was often a creative threat for the team going forward.

The victory leaves the Lilywhites four points from safety with four games remaining, but the performance will nevertheless boost manager Stewart Nicholls and his side in the run in.

City could have scored inside the opening two minutes when Beeson drilled a free-kick into the Enfield area but nobody was alert enough to finish.

Beeson then almost got the opening goal herself when she whipped in another free kick which the visiting goalkeeper could only parry, but again no-one could get the final touch.

At the other end Newman got her fingertips to a corner as the Enfield forwards were about to pounce but she and the defence were holding firm again a strong and physical opposition frontline.

City’s best chance of the half fell to Anais Winney, who saw her free-kick tipped around the post, while at the other end Enfield had a chance to score on the stroke of half-time but the striker headed over when well-placed.

Nicholls introduced Natasha Coe after the break for her first appearance in two months after a back injury and she immediately used her strength to dispossess her opponent and feed Harrison, but the City goalie was out quickly to clear.

Enfield then came closest on 57 minutes when a neatly worked free-kick routine hit the crossbar and bounced to safety. Minutes later City conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position and Newman used her legs to block a powerful drive. The City stopper then saved again, this time with her hands as she scrambled across the face of goal to keep the ball out.

Then deep into injury time the Enfield winger surged into the City penalty area, only to be upended by Beeson, who stuck a leg out and upended the player. However, Beeson’s infringement went unpunished as the resultant penalty was blazed over the crossbar.

And the resulting goal kick made its way to substitute Poppy MacLeod on the right and she hit a slide-rule pass to Harrison to score with a trademark calm finish to give the team its first win at the new stadium in Sawston.

The sending offs after the final whistle will mean the Enfield players are suspended for when the teams meet again in City's next game on 6 April.

Boss Nicholls said: “Last week, we said not enough players were putting their bodies on the line but this week was completely the opposite.

“I thought Phoebe was player of the match with two great saves to keep us in the game.

“I said two seasons ago Faith will be magic because of her pace. It's so hard to defend against on a constant basis all game. Her goal was a great run with a full blown cold and struggling to breathe and a composed finish as always.

“I thought Anais worked her socks off and won so many balls. She is showing people why I wanted her at this club.

“Isabel is growing every game. I would like to see her a bit more on the ball. But she is a leader, and this is why we coach to see these players improving every week and growing as a team.”