CAMBS LEAGUE DIV ONE

Saffron Walden Ladies XI (3) vs Market Deeping Ladies 1st XI (5)

After their deadlocked nil-nil draw last week, Deeping Ladies decided to put some more firepower up front. It worked - after only seven minutes a great move gave Karen Goddard the opportunity to pick up a rebound and score.
Walden came back hard from the pushback. They had several powerful strikes at goal saved by Laura Gwilliam, before an unlucky touch from the Deeping defence deflected a shot in and evened the score.
Deeping immediately responded - Ellie Allam, whose clever moves created space throughout the game, passed quickly down the left to Sarah Smith. Smith crossed to Goddard, who drilled it in at the post.
The new three-player attack was clearly a force to be reckoned with, and Deeping really began to make the most of their new structure.
The defence covered well - and intense midfield support frustrated the opposition and made space for Jenny Brassington to move the ball up the pitch. A final neat pass to Sarah Smith set up Deepings for a well-deserved third goal.
After half time Deeping looked even better, and the game remained in their control as they pressed tightly, making it almost impossible for Walden to play any balls out of their defence.
After a hard-fought battle between Faye Logan and the Walden goalie, in which the ball crossed the line unseen by the umpire, a Walden hit out was expertly picked up by Brassington who made an astonishing run from the half way line and cleverly passed around the last defender for an expert finish from Smith.
“Player of the Match” Logan, who had used the space on the right incredibly throughout, finally had her chance when she ran into space and called for a cross, stopped it effortlessly and belted a power shot into the goal.
Walden continued to battle back and a couple of good runs left the final score at 3-5. Deeping maintain the top spot in Cambs League Div 1 and have a big home game against South Cambs next week.

CAMBS LEAGUE DIV TWO

Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI (1) vs Huntingdon Ladies 2nd XI (2)

The ladies development squad are beginning to play some decent hockey. They started out strongly with good passes and clear calls for the ball.
Huntingdon countered well, but Deeping’s defence looked pretty solid as they soaked up the pressure. Deeping’s main threat was clearly going to be fast break outs and some excellent runs and tackling from Emily Reeson saw the ball move quickly up to the other end of the pitch.
A sudden break from the midfield, gave Deeping the chance they wanted and some good passing from Janet Eagle-Smith in the D saw Anje McKenzie slip the ball past the Huntingdon keeper to give Deeping an early lead.
Confidence grew and Deeping clearly had more goals in their sights. Huntingdon came back strong and the Deeping defence had to work harder. Player of the match keeper Kirsten Hackett commanded the D, kicked cleanly, and made some tidy saves to keep Huntingdon out.

Some good clearing from Hannah Windsor and Debbie Bowen saw the ball back up the field although this did not last long and Huntingdon were soon attacking again. The Deeping defence were under sustained pressure and finally a defensive error let Huntingdon in for an equaliser. The rest of the half was close and tight, Deeping still looking good on the break
The second half saw Deeping struggle to lift their game again to the level of the first half, but Shelley Wimbourne’s sheer determination shone in defence as she snuffed out right side attacks. Deeping continuously gave the ball back to Huntingdon and eventually, late in the game another minor defensive error let Huntingdon in again.
Deeping continue to improve and have learnt a lot that can be easily rectified in future games.

Division 3NW

City of Peterborough 4th XI (1) vs Market Deeping 1st XI (5)

Skipper Simon Wilmot was described as “looking rusty” on his return from honeymoon, but his presence seemed to stop the rot and revive the old Market Deeping team that has toyed with promotion from this league in previous seasons. After three straight defeats that looks beyond them this year but what a relief this win brings with it.
There was nothing to indicate the turnaround in the first half when City defied the dominance of Deeping to score a soft breakaway goal. Deeping made three half time changes and brought on Ali Rowledge who was determined to prove to people why he should have started the game.
The newly introduced pace of Ali Rowledge and Andy Kind was just too much for city. Excellent performances from Treeve Wagstaffe and Paul Tancred saw an early second half strike from vice captain Russ Seton - a well-worked short corner being flicked in the bottom corner. The floodgates opened and goals came from Andy Kind and Andy Brassington - backed by two from the flying Rowledge. He rounded off a man of the match performance by scoring after a four-pass move from one end of the pitch to the other.
Deeping headed out for the first social of the year wearing big daft grins

Division 4NW

Market Deeping 2nd XI (5) vs Wisbech 3rd XI (2)

Doubts may have been creeping in for Deeping’s promoted 2nd team after three losses on the trot, but to demonstrate their commitment the players all turned up early for some short-corner routine practice.
This win over the Div 4NW basement team will have calmed the nerves no end. History suggests that you need 20 points to survive in this league and Deeping are nearly halfway with 12 games left.
The game started with frustration - Deeping created some good early pressure, but it was Wisbech who scored first, following a shot from the right, with the parried save pushed home.
Deeping soon took control of the game with some good pressure created with good quick passing. The scores were soon leveled by Henry Winfield-Chislett as, following a mazy dribble from the left, he slotted past the keeper.
Wisbech’s influential midfielder was then shown a yellow card for a bad stick tackle and Deeping quickly made use of the man advantage to go ahead. Steve Waters collected his fifth goal of the season, sweeping home a shot from the left.
Ben Walden put Deeping a further goal ahead before half-time slotting home from close range.
Deeping lost Graham Brewer just before halftime after he was hit on the ankle by a fiercely struck short corner but were able to replace him with Jason Purllant who linked well with Dan Medd.
Deeping were soon further ahead as Johnny Stevenson scored his first goal for the club with a well-struck shot from Deeping’s much improved short corner routine. He came close to scoring a second short corner shortly afterwards.
Wisbech pulled a goal back late in the game, but Deeping simply responded with a fifth goal, the second for Winfield-Chislett.

Division 6NW

Market Deeping 3rd XI (3) vs March Town 4th XI (2)

Most games at this level rely on mistakes for goals to be scored and good goalkeeping or poor finishing to keep the score in bounds. This was a bit different as five quality goals were scored but as many as eight goal bound efforts were kept out by excellent defending. Deeping, playing at their very best, went ahead after ten minutes as the outstanding Phil Arnold burst into space and smashed the ball at the second attempt past the March keeper.
A string of short corners followed and the heroics began as the same March defender made the first of his six goal-line stops. Eventually Simon Taylor made space to force the ball home.
A lovely fast sweeping move from March saw a well-taken goal, then Andrew Gregson capped a fine game by taking a goal-bound March shot cleanly on the reverse stick while running flat out.
Deeping could have had two penalty flicks before the break down of a corner saw the ball accurately returned to Kevin Richardson and the big centre back finished like a quality centre forward.
The second half saw Deeping continue to batter the March goal and yet more March goal-line clearances. March missed a good chance then nicked a goal back from a short corner on another rare attack.
The nerves could have set in but Deeping continued to attack, driven on by sweet passes from Arnold and Kevin Baker in midfield, and when necessary relying on what now looks like an exceptional defensive line-up of Taylor, Gregson, Richardson senior and the calm Tom Richardson at right back. March’s threat subsided for a deserved Deeping win.