Sunday February 25th 2007

Hockey Association Vase - Round 3

Andover 3 Market Deeping 2
Deeping’s lengthy return from Hampshire may have been speeded up a little as they kicked themselves all the way back to Lincolnshire. Despite a most unpromising start they dominated Andover for long periods and only their inability to convert more short corners let them down. The short corner count was massively in their favour but Andover’s crisp finishing punished Deeping.
As in their second round defeat at Weymouth last year, Deeping conceded a remarkable early goal – this one from a first minute short corner that was lobbed high over Deeping’s keeper entering the net on the way down. Deeping should have scored their own penalty corner minutes later.
Ball watching and consequent poor marking soon let Andover in for a second and the game looked over.
It was clear by now that eccentric umpiring would play a part in the game. Deeping benefited from several strange decisions in their favour but as the game progressed and got more bad tempered they were disappointed to see some Andover players benefit from lenient use of the green card. After a vicious stopping “tackle” in the D wasn’t adjudged a penalty flick, skipper Wilmot finally converted a short corner, viciously smashed into the net under the influence of righteous indignation.
Just before half time Andover broke quickly and got a third despite two despairing efforts to stop it on the line.
The second half however was all Deeping’s and a string of short corners followed as the outstanding Pete Jeffery broke out from defence and Deeping’s wingers and the crafty Paul Tancred tormented the Andover defence. Wilmot struck one just inches high of the backboard but then Tancred drag flicked home.
A brief spell of Andover pressure followed but Deeping again got hold of the game and were still pressurising Andover when the final whistle went. An outstanding performance against strong opposition deserved far more.

Saturday February 24th 2007

CAMBS LEAGUE DIV ONE

Cambridge South Ladies (2) vs Market Deeping Ladies 1st XI (1)

CAMBS LEAGUE DIV TWO

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

St Neot’s arrived with no umpire and Deeping were therefore awarded the points and the game was played as a friendly.
Deeping started the game strongly and passed well but it was soon clear that the teams were evenly matched. St Neot’s opened the scoring with a well-struck shot from their powerful sweeper.
Deeping kept their heads up and there was some excellent tackling from Chrissie Stoodley and excellent stickwork from Emily Reeson. An quality pass found Anya Mackenzie and she moved it to Emma Sear waiting on the post and with a little push into the back corner she scored her first goal for Deeping.
After a half time tactical talk, the Deeping ladies came back glowing with confidence and the quality of play showed that everyone had been listening, as they began calling, running and passing confidently.
Deeping now dominated play and missed several chances before a break from St Neot’s, and a mistake in the Deeping defence, gave them their second goal.
Deeping’s ladies kept their heads up, kept pushing forward and the extra pressure produced several more unsuccessful attempts at goal until an excellent hard pass from Rachel Gale found Anya Mackenzie who equalised with minutes left of the game.
Deeping will not only benefit from three points but will relish a strong performance against a team well above them in the league.

Division 3NW

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

There was no clue to Deeping’s strong performance at Andover the following day in this disappointing league performance. Ali Rowledge got Deeping’s goal.

Division 4NW

Wisbech 3rd XI (4) vs Market Deeping 2nd XI (2)

A surprisingly strong Wisbech side duly won a bad tempered encounter against a very under strength Deeping team. Good keeping from Adi White, and after he was injured Steve Allam, kept the score in bounds with Graham Brewer outstanding in defence beside Stewart Dacre and the combatitive Jason Purllant. Deeping were 3-0 down at half time after their best chance unfortunately fell to the out of practice Steve Windsor on the stroke of half time. He swept the ball just wide.
Brewer made a powerful run early in the second half and as Deeping appealed for a stroke Muddy Waters swept the ball home. Sadly Wisbech got a fourth shortly after and the game ended in real acrimony before Simon Burnett scored a late consolation penalty flick for Deeping.

Division 6NW

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

Deeping have had availability problems for the last few weeks and it showed as they struggled to stay with a fit and talented young March team. Despite this they initially took a two-goal lead as Kevin Richardson punched home a short corner then Ben Dalgliesh’s attempted cross was deflected into the goal by a March foot. Gradually March got back into the game with some really good passing, fluent movement and a cleverly taken quick free hit and with five minutes to go they were 3-2 up.
Deeping were lucky to launch a couple of really effective attacks and Joe Wray saw a brilliant save - then hit the post - before he was presented with an open goal and swept the ball home.
Deeping still have a substantial points gap in second promotion place but badly need a win to kick start them again.