East Div 3NW

Cambs. City 3rd XI (4) Market Deeping 1st XI (3)

After more than a year unbeaten in the league, Deeping finally lost out to a skilful well-organised Cambs. City team who rotated their 16-man squad without losing shape or impetus.

Deeping were without goal machine Paul Tancred and their efforts up front were summed up by the fact that a hat trick from veteran full back Simon Wilmot accounted for all their goals. Deeping's passing and marking was especially poor, and they conceded goals in the first minute of each half, which gave Cambridge the upper hand throughout.

So much for the negatives - Deeping can take heart from the fact that while they were clearly the poorer side they always threatened to get back into the game and could have nicked a draw. They were level in the first half when Wilmot nutmegged the Cambs. 'keeper with a short corner - and went in 2 -2 after two copybook far post Cambs. goals touched in from about 12 inches out, and a bravely but correctly awarded penalty flick by the Cambs. umpire that Wilmot slotted home.

The second half was virtually all Cambridge , until Wilmot's best short corner was cracked home with seven minutes left. Deeping then gave it their best shot and rattled Cambs., but they held on for a deserved win.

Deeping's second promotion quest is still on, and they can and will do better than this, but it seems likely that Club Skipper Jason Purllant will be looking at some changes at this week's selection meeting.

East Div 5NW

Market Deeping 2nd XI (4) v Cambs. South 2nd XI (2)

Right from the start Deeping made their intentions clear - to pass the ball, with pace, and to press the opposition in all areas of the pitch.  Goal machine, Steve 'Muddy' Waters, opened the scoring midway through the first half, with a trademark first time sweep of the ball just to the left of the keeper.  A number of other good chances were created but not taken. Waters' partnership with Ben Walden is looking good for the future. 

However, Cambs. South came back into the game shortly before the interval with a softish goal from the left, which evaded the stretching Ray Isaacs in goal and Phil Tokens on the right-hand post.  At half time the 1-1 score didn't reflect Deeping's dominance.

The second half started much as the first with some excellent passing and movement from Market Deeping, and this soon created a second goal for the goal machine Waters. 

The team played some good moves down the right, with an accurate cross finally coming in, which was dispatched by another of his trademark first time sweeps.

Market Deeping continued to press for more goals and a penalty corner routine paid-off - as Jez Phipps slotted the ball gently through the keeper's legs.

Deeping poured on the pressure and another quick breakaway created the chance from which Waters completed his hat trick. Graham Barnes made the space down the right, drew the keeper, and then laid ball square to the Waters.

With the job done and the points in the bag Market Deeping eased off the gas and allowed a Cambs. South team, who never gave up, to claim a consolation goal. Deeping's best overall team performance of the season so far bodes well for their promotion ambitions.

East Div 7NW

Spalding 4th XI (3) v Market Deeping 3rd XI (3)

Deeping were whistling the 'Great Escape' after a shapeless first half performance against a talented young Spalding side new to the league.

Arguably Deeping fielded one of their strongest possible third teams but a bit like their first team, Deeping's passing skills deserted them. They weren't helped by some over-protective umpiring which punished any clumsiness by Deeping's super-heavyweight defence in the vicinity of Spalding's featherweight but aggressive strikers. Once Deeping had learned to play to the whistle they improved, and after being one-nil down at half time, they again flooded the midfield and began to take command.

Chances came and went until they leveled from the unlikely source of antique sweeper Steve Windsor who drifted up for a short corner and used the pace of Phil Yetzes inch-perfect pass to turn the ball into the net as he lurked on the penalty spot.

Through the rest of the match Deeping had a good goal disallowed in favour of a short corner and spurned two simple goal line chances. Then Spalding suddenly surged back to score twice in five minutes and the game seemed lost. However calm older heads prevailed and Russ Seaton slammed home a penalty corner before switching a second chance to Simon Taylor who cracked home his first goal for Deeping.