CAMBS LEAGUE DIV ONE
St. Ives Ladies 3rd XI (0) vs Market Deeping Ladies 1st XI (0)
Half term holidays and injuries claimed six of Market Deeping’s 1st team players this week so the trip to St Ives 3s was a test of their team sprit and ability to adapt.
New member Emily Reeson and 2nd team regulars Anje McKenzie and Kirsten Hackett more than stepped up to the challenge.
From the start play was fairly even, both teams pushing forwards on the attack and covering well in defence. Deeping seemed to have a slight edge as they distributed the ball wider and kept better structure but then St. Ives broke quickly to release their main play maker on goal. Keeper Hackett got out to meet her and forced a rushed shot which was saved.
Deeping kept possession well for the rest of the first half and broke through the St. Ives defence, only just failing to score on numerous occasions.
A hungrier Deeping team returned to the pitch for the second half. A superb strike from the tireless Jenny Brassington shaved the outside of the left post and was followed by a string of short corners that Deeping were unable to convert. The St. Ives defence was out fast and saved every routine Deeping tried.
Hearts were in mouths for the last ten minutes of the match as each team became more and more determined to score. St. Ives finally won a short corner and took a strong but high shot at goal. A rebound from the post dropped in the open goal mouth but Amy Leverton calmly made the clearance of the match to keep the sheet clean.
Deeping’s hard work has taken them top of the Cambs. league Division one by one point after Newmarket were beaten. .
CAMBS LEAGUE DIV TWO
Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI vs March Town Ladies 3rd XI
Division 3NW
Market Deeping 1st XI (0) vs Cambridge City 4th XI (2)
Deeping were extremely unfortunate to lose to the 3NW league leaders in a game that was closer than the score might suggest. The first half was tight but City scored late in the half. The second half saw Deeping bombard the City goal but they found a keeper in top form. City breakaways were the only rare threat but infuriatingly they scored a soft goal from one of these, before Paul Tancred then Chris Mann hit the same post in the space of five minutes and the City keeper’s heroics continued. It was at least a greatly improved performance by Deeping.
Division 4NW
St. Neots 3rd XI (3) vs Market Deeping 2nd XI (0)
The scoreline was a disappointing result for the men’s second team. After pressing for much of the first half, Deeping were unlucky to go in at half time trailing by 1-0 with the central defence of Graham Brewer and Phil Tokens looking otherwise impregnable. Try as they might the ball would not cross the line. Various short corner opportunities went begging as Johnny Stephenson created numerous chances breaking out of midfield.
A more equally balanced second half lead to two more goals for St Neots who upped their game. Some good saves from Deeping’s keeper from the well-drilled short corner routine kept the score down.
With a little luck Deeping may have scored but it wasn’t to be and they need to return to winning ways this coming weekend to prevent being drawn into a relegation battle.
Division 6NW
City of Peterborough 6th XI (3) vs Market Deeping 3rd XI (0)
This wasn’t a bad performance from Deeping’s lads and dads against what will undoubtedly be the team to beat in 6NW. The defence was well marshalled by Simon Taylor and Kevin Richardson and there were solid and sensible performance from Tom Richardson on the right and Andy Gregson and Paul Van Den Bent on the left.
This was all backed by a fine performance from vintage keeper Ray Isaacs which helped to keep the score in bounds. Deeping welcomed back Graham Barnes from injury, which was fortunate when they lost Matt Brown right at the end of the first half. Barnes, Deeping’s second oldest active player, then did a great job in midfield, but the main threat continued to come from the Deeping umpire’s nominated man-of-the-match, the racing Phil Arnold, who continues to impress with his tireless running
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