CAMBS LEAGUE DIV ONE

Market Deeping Ladies 1st XI (2) vs St Ives Ladies 3rd XI (0)

Deeping ladies tried out a new formation against St Ives 3rds this week, based on some bad experiences in the last couple of games. They were determined to demonstrate their star quality again with a solid win.
From the off St Ives showed they would not be a pushover, with a strong centre back bossing the D and a decent goalkeeper, but Deeping’s superior organisation soon shone through. Player for player it was quickly obvious they were by far the stronger side as they passed cleverly around the pitch and used the spaces to keep possession. Every player worked to their strengths while knowing there was support around them.
Faye Gregory continued to make blinding runs down the right, both her and player of the match Gemma Catlin drilled several dangerous crosses into the goal mouth where Becky Allam was often on her own.  St Ives defended brilliantly and Deeping were beginning to get frustrated when a powerful well angled cross pulled the keeper out of position, and George Hurford timed her swept shot perfectly to score Deeping’s opening goal just before half time.
Deeping were buoyed by the lead and some beautiful hockey followed after the break.  They won a string of short corners and put into action the half time plan to bring Julie Bowers up to offer an alternative striker. The tactic worked as St Ives hesitated fatally and a blinding strike gave the home team a well deserved second goal.
This was a return to form for Deeping and congratulations are due to coach Julie Bower for steering them through a tricky change in approach.  Deeping will work in training on not squandering those vital short corners.

CAMBS LEAGUE DIV TWO

March Town Ladies 3rd XI (2) vs Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI (1)

March were well organised and pacey and quickly put Deeping under pressure. Debbie Bowen and Karen Jenkins worked well to keep the ball out of the Deeping ‘D’ before some mistakes in the Deeping ‘D’ saw March score.
Deeping pushed hard to get back in the game and excellent passing from man of the match Amy Gwilliam and excellent running from Anya Mackenzie saw several attempts on goal. Unfortunately March broke out and scored a second goal.  At half time the score was 2 – 0.
The second half saw some excellent passing between Emily Reeson and Amy Gwilliam put the March ladies under pressure but some the March goalkeeper made some efficient saves.
The Deeping defence was astounding as they all worked together to prevent the ball getting close to the ‘D’.
Karen Jenkins soon found Emily Reeson who swiftly passed it up the pitch to Amy Gwilliam, Anya Mackenzie was waiting ready, leading to an extended spell of pressure on on the March goal and several unsuccessful short corners. Finally McKenzie scored.
Everyone was tiring now but the Deeping ladies carried on attacking and defending hard to keep the ball in the March ‘D’, and right up to the final whistle when a short corner was awarded, Deeping’s players pushed up the pitch to try to equalise.

Division 3NW

Long Sutton 2nd XI (0) vs Market Deeping 1st XI (4)

Understrength Deeping played a Long Sutton team so decimated by injuries that the start of the game was delayed while they rustled up sufficient players. Deeping dominated from start to finish but only led from a rare (possibly unique) Richard Woods goal at half time.
Odd Long Sutton breakaways were dealt with competently by Jason Purllant in the Deeping goal.
Woods who is having a great season went close in the second half from a short corner, as Deeping finally battered a superb Long Sutton keeper into final submission.
Finally Andy Brassington touched home a shoulder high Paul Tancred shot from close range before Tancred himself decided to completely subvert and disregard the planned short corner routine. This confused the Sutton keeper sufficiently and Tancred roofed his flick. An extremely clever Henry Winfield-Chislett lob over the keeper finished the scoring just before the final whistle.

HA Vase Round 2

Market Deeping 1st XI (5) vs Harlow 1st XI (1)

Deeping raised their game in the HA Vase on Sunday as they ground down and finally comfortably beat a useful young Harlow team from East 4SE. The game was close initially and only a brilliant stick save from Jason Purllant maintained the deadlock. Infuriatingly a simple error gave Harlow an opening goal minutes later.
Deeping continued to attack in numbers and were being caught on the break. However a lovely series of short wall passes between Deeping’s two former National League players close to the left corner of the goal led to Paul Tancred supplying Russ Seton who drove home from an acute angle.
The Harlow keeper soaked up Deeping pressure and they looked dangerous on the break before pounced to give Deeping a 2-1 halftime lead.
The second half saw Deeping increasingly dominate; building on a fine performance by man of the match Pete Jeffery in defence and the solidity of skipper Simon Wilmot at sweeper. Andy Brassington and Seton moved the ball around rapidly in midfield and Ali Rowledge, Paul Tancred and Henry Winfield-Chislett began to torment the Harlow defence. Winfield-Chislett’s flick wrong-footed the Harlow keeper to give Deeping breathing space, then the ball was worked to Tancred in space and he gave the keeper no chance. He completed his hat trick with his back to the goal, making room and cleverly reverse-sticking home.

Division 4NW

Market Deeping 2nd XI (0) vs St. Ives 3rd XI (1)

Deeping were disappointed to lose a close game by the odd goal again.

Division 6NW

Market Deeping 3rd XI (4) vs St Neots 4th XI (2)

Only two sides have beaten Deeping this season so they were delighted to avenge one of the defeats.
The opening exchanges saw St Neot’s slightly on top but it was clear that when Deeping broke out their sheer pace was going to cause problems. Matt Brown, Anthony Barnes and Ben Dagliesh were in combatative mood and they constantly won their midfield battles causing problem for St Neot's. Good defence and good goalkeeping kept Deeping at bay before they eventually pounced on a dodgy back pass and Ben Dalgliesh put Russ Seton in for the opening goal, calmly taken. Shortly afterwards Seton ripped home a drag-flicked short corner and Deeping appeared to be cruising. However they nodded off in defence just before half time and St Neot’s took a rare chance well.
This was repeated just thee minutes into the second half and the sides were level. Tom Allam who had had a quiet game up to now then picked up on a half chance and made room to somehow beat the keeper as he dived. Within a few more minutes he picked up another defensive error and worked an unselfish one-two with Ben Dalgliesh who carefully slotted home.
St Neot’s were beaten but towards the end a mainly good-tempered game went downhill when a clumsy barging St Neot’s tackle lead to some Deeping petulance and no less than three yellow cards during a five minute hiatus in the game. Deeping must moderate their behaviour after finishing the game with just nine men to St Neot’s ten.
Deeping will stay second in Div 6NW.