East Div 3NW

St Ives 1st XI (2) v Market Deeping 1st XI (3)

This was another good performance from Deeping that didn't quite hit the heights. They dominated for long periods in the first half, but always looked vulnerable on the break. A fine performance from the ebullient St Ives goalkeeper didn't help.

The newly shaven headed Henry Winfield-Chislett celebrated raising £400 for Children in Need by scoring the first for Deeping from a rebound off the keeper. Shortly after acting skipper Paul Tancred pounced on another rebound to smash home the second, but even now the floodgates refused to open.

Before half-time St. Ives had showed that they would threaten, and Jason Purllant in the Deeping goal made a couple of sharp saves. Deeping struck again early in the second half, as Tancred made room to flick home another rebound, but he missed out on his hat trick when the keeper saved well from a good penalty flick.

Despite a couple of brilliant one-on-one saves from Purllant, St Ives then scored twice, the second with five minutes to go, leaving Deeping with a nervous finale which they handled pretty competently.

The chuntering Treve Wagstaffe had a fine game at right back and Paul Byrne did exceptionally well pressed into service at left back. As usual, Andy Brassington ran the midfield. Deeping stay third in 3NW – but a long way behind the top two.

East Div 5NW

Market Deeping 2nd XI (7) v St Ives 4th XI (3)

What a difference a week makes – after struggling to hit the target at Wisbech unpredictable Deeping regained their goal-scoring touch on a semi-frozen pitch to go back to the top of the 5NW table as other matches were postponed.

Deeping were assisted by a St Ives team who arrived short of an umpire and therefore had to play with only ten. Fortunately for the Deeping side, St Ives naively chose to leave the left hand side open for Mike Gregson, Phil Tokens and the ever youthful James Sharpe to maraud forward at will and supply the inspired Stephen (Muddy) Waters with an abundance of chances. Market Deeping started the game positively and an early run down the right almost resulted in a shot on goal within the first few seconds of the game.  The early pressure soon told and an overlapping Phil Tokens fired in a cross slotted home first time by Steve Waters.

Market Deeping were soon further ahead with two more from Waters, both fine finishes at the end of good Market Deeping moves.  Waters' strike partner, James Sharpe, added a fine individual goal of his own before half-time, following a bad defensive error at a free-hit.  St Ives pulled a goal back before half-time following a defensive error by the Market Deeping defence.

The second-half started much as the first half had finished with further strikes from Sharpe and Waters at the end of good moves.  There could easily have been more goals for Deeping as the St Ives keeper made some fine saves in the half.  With around ten minutes to go St Ives pulled another goal back.  From the restart Market Deeping went forward again and forced a free-hit just outside the penalty area.  From the resultant free-hit Magnus Windsor skillfully deflected the ball past the keeper into the corner of the net.

As the game drew to a close St Ives forced a succession of penalty corners at the final whistle.  St Ives pushed all their team forward, bar the keeper, and at the third time of asking slotted home a late consolation goal.

A final score 7-3 sends Market Deeping back to the top of the table, due primarily to other games being postponed due to frozen pitches, and takes Steve Waters goal tally to 18 for the season.

The difference between the sides was down to the speed of attack and clinical nature of the Deeping finishing. Most of the problems for Deeping's defence came from St Ives very able and experienced midfield but spirited defending from Mike Allam, Pete Smith and Anthony Barnes restricted them to three goals.

Deeping have a great opportunity to consolidate their league position in the run up to the Christmas break

East Div 7NW

St Neots 5th XI (0) v Market Deeping 3rd XI (8)

Another comfortable win as Deeping's lads and dads opened up a seven point lead at the top of Div 7NW. They didn't quite hit the heights of the previous week, but their finishing was excellent. The goals were shared around too, with seven names on the scoresheet.

After ten minutes of total Deeping dominance Tommo Allam calmly placed the ball in the net from a rebound. This was quickly followed by Kevin Baker sweeping home after good work by Jack Seaton down the right. Seaton's Dad Russ then hammered in short corner that had the post defender jumping out of the way.

The game was put beyond doubt when the younger Seaton calmly pushed home Ben Walden's bobbling cross (as Walden was apologising for making it difficult). Just before half time Steve Windsor nutmegged the keeper from a Kev. Richardson short corner to make it 5-0.

The second half was more subdued as the pitch froze and an icy mist rolled in off the Ouse to cloak the pitch. There was some great passing from Simon Taylor and Deeping kept the pressure on, but good St. Ives goalkeeping restricted them to a goal from Ben Walden, a second from Russ Seaton and probably the best goal of the game, young Tom Richardson's powerful strike from a switched short corner. The keeper merely twitched as it speared into the corner.