CAMBS LEAGUE DIV ONE

Market Deeping Ladies 1st XI (6) vs Cambridge South Ladies XI (1)

Cambridge South lay third in the league and on paper were a tough challenge for Deeping. They made the first break but Deeping soon woke up and took possession, quickly winning a first short corner.  The practice at this week’s training paid off as a slick injection was stopped well and passed in for a strike by Catherine Flitton which slammed straight in at the right post.
Deeping carried on pushing forward and another short was won within minutes.  Again the routine was strong and this time the strike was stopped on the line by a Cambridge foot.  Karen Goddard stepped up and secured the goal with a superbly taken penalty flick.
As the whistle blew for half time Deeping took a third short corner and this time an excellently positioned Becky Allam tipped it in at the post to make it three from three.
As expected Cambridge came out hard after half time but Deeping held their structure well and kept possession. Excellent play on the left from Ellie Allam and Amy Gwilliam - and magnificent teamwork from the defence - meant the visitors had no route through.
Another astute pass from the midfield gave Goddard the chance to storm up the right wing and Sarah Smith made a well timed run to make scoring a goal look easy.
And almost identical goal followed, this time with Janet Eagle-Smith taking the finishing role.
South managed to pull one goal back with a change of striker but in reply Deeping simply upped their pace and for the last ten minutes were by far the stronger team.
A final solo run from Jenny Brassington finished with a powerful strike that whistled past the keeper to seal the 6-1 victory that keeps Deeping Ladies at the top of Cambridgeshire Div 1.

CAMBS LEAGUE DIV TWO

St. Neots Ladies 4th XI (0) vs Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI (0)

If they gave out points in Cambridge Div 2 for sheer determination and effort, this newly-formed second team would be flying high. After last week’s greatly improved performance and narrow defeat, Deeping decided to work on their organisation and took a coach to the game. But a coach’s crazed bellowing means nothing if the player don’t respond, and this side has a great attitude, responding to every call and suggestion by listening, acting and upping their work rate. They thoroughly deserved their fourth point of the season as they restricted St Neots to a couple of serious shots and made fewer but better chances at the other end.
At the heart of a rugged defence, Shelley Winbourne was once again a rock, backed by the faultless Debbie Bowen at sweeper and a surprisingly mature performance by Erin Carmody at left back. In the centre of the park an ailing Rachel Gale nevertheless looked one of the best players on the pitch and the pace and powerful shooting of Anje McKenzie tormented the St Neots defence. This was backed by competent performances throughout the team, with some good passing in the second half from Nicky Buckby and Sophie Goodrun. Goodrun had the best chance to win the game in the last minute but her well-struck shot flashed wide.

Division 3NW

Market Deeping 1st XI (2) vs St. Ives 1st XI (3)

In a physical match a committed Market Deeping just failed to match the better skill and organisation of a well-run St Ives team.
St Ives started the match very strongly and had a number of half chances during the first half, but apart from goal-line clearances from Pete Jeffrey and Andy Brassington they made no real clear-cut chances, generally failing to break down the Market Deeping defence. Deeping also made some chances on the break in the first half but also failed to convert.
After the break Market Deeping came into the game more but then conceded the first goal from a well worked deflected free hit. The game was getting more physical not helped by some weak umpiring. Market Deeping were gradually causing more and more problems to the St Ives’ defence, and from a penalty corner strike from captain Simon Wilmot came back into the game.
This only served to urge on St Ives more and they re-took the lead from a disputed penalty corner that entered the goal high above the allowable height before they extended their lead by a similar goal that went all along the ground. Deeping then cut the lead from a well worked penalty corner converted by Paul Tancred but could not find the equaliser despite pushing hard towards the end of the game.

Division 4NW

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

Deeping expected a difficult test against a top side – they knew they had to concentrate on being disciplined, retaining shape and keeping the ball.
 The game started badly with Wisbech going in front within the first two minutes, but despite the early setback Deeping were soon back in the game. Jason Purllant finished off a move with a well-struck shot into the corner of the goal from the right hand side of the D.
Deeping were playing with great confidence and commitment producing some of best hockey of the season. They went ahead with an incisive move down the right, started by Will Winfield Chislett, crossed by Phil Tokens and finished crisply by Steve Waters.
Deeping then went further ahead when a short corner resulted in a saved shot which fell to Waters.  His reverse stick flick passed the keeper and hit a defender in the chest on the line. After a discussion between the umpires a flick was awarded which Purllant converted. 
Wisbech pulled one back just before halftime and then attacked right from the restart. The equalising goal came midway through the second half and they continued to press.
Deeping held out with central defenders Jeremy Phipps and Graham Brewer holding firm. 
In the breaks from this backs to the wall stuff, Deeping still had chances.  In the last minute Mike Gregson had a shot saved on the line by a defender.
Overall this was a fantastic team performance with some great passing and commitment, yielding a very good and useful point against a very good team.

Division 6NW

Spalding 3rd XI (3) vs Market Deeping 3rd XI (7)

A stunning performance from Deeping fulfilled so much of the promise they have shown this season and left even the die-hard members of the squad a little shell-shocked. Deeping arrived with a very strong 15 man squad but apart from this good availability, there was nothing to suggest the result in the first ten minutes. Spalding battered Deeping but they remained calm under pressure until suddenly against the run of play they scored from a Kevin Richardson short corner. Predictably Spalding surged back and scored from a well-worked passing move into Deeping’s D.
A piece of individual brilliance from the incredibly improved Phil Arnold put Deeping back in the lead. He took a through ball, cleverly beat two defenders, hesitated to let the keeper collapse, and flicked the ball home.
Jack Seton claimed a touch on Graham Barnes goal bound shot for a third to put Deeping 3-1 up, before a superb passing move saw Tommo Allam hit Seton in front of goal and the teenage phenomenon slotted neatly home.
Even at 4-1 at half time Deeping were wary of a strong Spalding opposition, and when they cleverly deflected a goal to stay in the game their fears were realised. But then Phil Arnold burst free and calmly passed the ball into the net from an acute angle to maintain the lead and two Richardson short corners completed the rout despite a late Spalding goal from former Deeping player Tom Shinkins. Full marks to the solid Deeping defence of acting skipper Simon Taylor, Andrew Gregson and Kevin and Tom Richardson.
n Congratulations to Shelley Winbourne who achieved her level one umpiring award at this game.