Sunday January 29th 2006

EHA Vase

Weymouth 1st XI (6) v Market Deeping 1st XI (3)

Deeping’s brief cup run came to an end at Weymouth where the home sides finishing compensated for their defensive problems against Deeping’s pacey forwards. Both teams are flying high in their respective leagues, but there’s little doubt on this showing that Weymouth’s Hampshire Division One is vastly superior to Deeping’s 3NW.

Weymouth scored in the first minute – an extraordinary one-handed reverse-stick shot leaving keeper Jason Purllant gasping. Weymouth’s tactics were perfect – they flooded men into the Deeping half from the whistle, rattling the defence. But Deeping rallied and responded with long balls over the top that by-passed the Weymouth midfield. They equalised within minutes through Andy Brassington. Weymouth then demonstrated that they had a superb penalty corner routine, but Andy Kind put Deeping level after good work from Paul Tancred. For about ten minutes, Deeping were on top, and Kind missed a good chance and had another sound effort brilliantly cleared by a diving defender. Other chances went begging, too. With seconds to go in the half, a daft defensive error let Weymouth in for another short corner that they duly converted.

Sadly Deeping conceded again just after half time and the game was effectively over. Both teams then grabbed goals from out of character umpiring errors by the excellent officials, Henry Winfield-Chislett taking advantage to score for Deeping. Deeping at least had the upper hand for the last five minutes and will know that they took a much lower percentage of their chances than former Vase champions Weymouth.

Saturday January 28th 2006

Cambridge League Div 2

Wisbech Ladies 3rd XI (2) v Market Deeping Ladies (3)

Deeping ladies somehow travelled to Wisbech with only 10 players, so defending the table topping position in Cambs League 2 was going to be tough. Deeping pressurised from the start with Sarah Smith and Karen Goddard in attack, but the Wisbech goalkeeper showed she’d be tough to beat saving three successive shots from Smith. Eventually Jenny Brassington found a way past her pads. Deeping defended well upfield pinning Wisbech in their half and the pressure told as Janet Eagle-Smith made it 2-0 to the visitors. Wisbech then broke out and scored from their first Short Corner. Deeping kept the pressure on, despite feeling the loss of the 11th player and were rewarded with several short corners. Finally the ball found its way to Eagle-Smith who scored her second.

At half time Deeping found themselves down to nine players and had to restructure, leaving Goddard alone upfront. They still looked the stronger side, and the Wisbech keeper remained busy. With temperatures dropping, players started slipping dangerously as the all-weather pitch started to freeze. Umpires halted the game and between them and captains from both sides, the decision was taken to play a further five minutes (giving 20 minutes played in second half) due to concern over safety. Wisbech then made a fast break and scored, just before the final whistle.

East Div 3NW

Market Deeping 1st XI (5) v Peterborough Athletic 2nd XI (2)

Deeping had a reasonably comfortable workout against Athletic’s second string, and two short corner goals from Treeve Wagstaffe backed by one piece from Ali Rowledge, Andy Brassington and Pete Jeffery were more than enough. Deeping then headed for Weymouth and a third round National Vase encounter . They face their most important league match of the season at home to league leaders Cambs City 3rd next week.

East Div 5NW

Market Deeping 2nd XI (4) v Peterborough Athletic 3rd XI (3)

A shock was on the cards when Athletic took an early 2-0 lead and it took Deeping until half-time to claw one back, Paul Byrne slotting home from the middle of the D. They got the next bit right however, equalising two minutes after the break as Muddy Waters deflected in Pete Smith’s cross. Athletic were then allowed to retake the lead, before a typical piece of Waters quick thinking (if only the legs still matched the brain) saw him scream for a free hit to be taken quickly. It was and he duly equalised for Deeping past the stranded keeper. With minutes to go Mike Gregson broke down the right and crossed for Waters to bundle home from close range. Waters hat-trick called an end to his brief goal drought.

East Div 7NW

Wisbech 5th XI (1) v Market Deeping 3rd XI (2)

Should Deeping hang on to their top spot in 7NW at the end of the season they should drive over to Wisbech and share the champagne. Deeping did not deserve to get anything from this disorganised performance against a team they beat 11-3 at home. Two Deeping players got lost on the way and despite Deeping’s vast number of club umpires, they somehow contrived to use a first choice player on the whistle. Sporting Wisbech even had to lend Deeping goalkeeping kit to get the game started and even then Deeping had only ten men on the pitch for the first ten minutes.

Despite this they looked the better side for about 20 minutes, and after the team spurned several decent chances, Kevin Baker swept home to give Deeping the lead. Wisbech rallied strongly and hit the post before equalising on the stroke of half-time from a short-corner. From then on Wisbech dominated, and had their finishing been sound, a crushing defeat would have been on the cards.  They hit the post again and put several good chances wide. Then totally against the run of play and working on sheer will-power Baker somehow managed to get a second from a rare break out. It seemed Deeping might escape with a draw, but a combination of Wisbech’s heads going down and a little extra pressure from Deeping somehow meant they held on to stay top in Div 7NW.

They face a tough challenge from Spalding next week with a much weakened squad.