CAMBS LEAGUE DIV ONE

St Ives Ladies 3rd XI (0) vs Market Deeping Ladies 1st XI (4)

Yet again torrential rain greeted Market Deeping Ladies at St Ives this week as they began their first game in six weeks. 
St Ives were quickly on the attack but Deeping’s game was strong, thoughtful and consistent. The defence was impenetrable and the attack and midfield worked tirelessly to spread the ball around the pitch. Deeping looked anything but out of shape.
Ten minutes in the first goal came from a polished short corner routine, struck hard to the right post and deflected in by Sarah Smith.
Deeping then missed several chances before a battle in the D ended with Karen Goddard pushing the ball between the keeper’s legs.
After half time St Ives attacked aggressively but Deeping’s defence remained tight, bossed by the unyielding Amy Ellington who made tackle after tackle.
Deeping used the wide space created by Faye Logan and new player George Hurford and dominated play. After a string of short corners was unsuccessful, Jenny Brassington made a mazey run, passed to Goddard who switched it to Smith who finished tidily.
The fourth goal was almost a replica, sealing Smith’s hat trick and Deeping’s victory. 
St Ives fought hard throughout and produced some good saves from Laura Gwilliam.

CAMBS LEAGUE DIV TWO

Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI (0) vs March Ladies 3rd XI (5)

Despite heavy rain, Christmas hangovers and mince pies, and having only ten players Deeping Ladies 2nds started with good spirit. They also gave three newcomers their first full game.
Rachel Spencer, playing right forward, tracked back to defend in midfield, as March scored three times in the first half.
Undismayed keeper Kirsten Hackett lifted her game in the second half behind a tiring defence.
Grace MacDonald (player of the match) and Rachel Gale gave 100% as usual, defending and holding up March in midfield.
Good passing between Sophie Goodrum and Anya McKenzie set off attacking runs up the pitch, but March defence stood strong. Goodrum worked hard to cover all over the pitch as the team tired.

MENS DIVISION 3 NW

Market Deeping 1st XI (3) vs Bourne 2nd XI (3)

Bourne made the most of not having their first team playing in this slip date match to give some of those players a run out before the start of the second half of the league season proper.
Despite this and the Christmas lay-off, Deeping were marginally the better side over the 70 minutes and but for a last minute snooze in defence would have deservedly have won.
Bourne started stronger but were pegged back after about 10 minutes when Deeping’s first concerted attack resulted in Paul Tancred opening the scoring pouncing on a rebound off the keeper.
Deeping’s problem was that Bourne’s extra strength in midfield was telling and only a few minutes later they equalized when one of those midfield players was allowed too much time and placed his reverse stick shot into the far corner.
Deeping then started to get into their stride more, with Tancred causing the Bourne defence a lot of problems and Nick Maxey making the Bourne midfield think a bit harder.
Deeping re-took the lead when Tancred put Andy Kind in behind the Bourne keeper for a tap-in.
The second half was more even, but Bourne equalised again from a short corner after a goal line mix-up, only for Deeping to re-take the lead from Tancred again mid-way through the second half.
Deeping were now controlling the strong Bourne attacks without too many problems and with better finishing should have scored two or three more times until the last minute when they conceded a sloppy and disputed equaliser.