Saturday December 1st 2007

CAMBS Div 1

Market Deeping Ladies 1st XI (2) vs Sawtry Ladies (0)

Deeping attacked from the off and immediately pressurised Sawtry around their D.  After several near-misses Faye Logan put an excellent reverse strike into the back of the net.
Deeping have come a long way this season and strong individual skills and close teamwork saw the ball move rapidly around the pitch. When Sawtry were able to get through the home team’s midfield they were met by a solid Deeping defence, with Kirsten Hackett doing well in her first full match at left back.
The second half saw Deeping continuously thwarted on the goal line despite some superb efforts from joint player of the match Gemma Catlin. 
However, Catlin’s co-player of the match, Sarah Smith, was able to take Deeping further into the lead with an outstanding reverse stick hit over the keeper into the top left hand corner.Some brilliant keeping by Sawtry’s goalie prevented Deeping from extending the lead, and almost the only pressure on Deeping was a couple of successive short corners. 

CAMBS Div 2

Cambridge Ladies 2nd XI (3) vs Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI (1)

On a cold Saturday morning Market Deeping 2nd played top of the table Cambridge Ladies 2nd in Division 2 of the Cambridgeshire Ladies league. Deeping currently lie 6th in the league, but they will be encouraged by the closeness of this game and the improvement from their game earlier in the season.
The game was played at speed, with the ball being passed well among both teams, but it was 2-0 to Cambridge at half time. Deeping were missing key players in goal, in the back line and in midfield. Despite this they kept their heads up and with some players well out of their usual positions, played with passion, grit and determination, and always looked likely to get something. This came in the form of Anya McKenzie’s goal midway through the second half and Cambridge were left narrowly hanging on to their lead. But then they took advantage of one of their few opportunities, with another well executed finish. The player of the match was teenager Rachel Gale, with an impeccable performance at sweeper, defending the Market Deeping back line and distributing the ball well. 

EAST 3NW

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

Deeping retained their lead at the top of Div 3NW with a competent if subdued performance at Peterborough. Skipper Richard Woods was absent due to social commitments but he’ll be content with the result.
The game started at a very fast tempo with Deeping dictating the pace and putting early pressure on the Peterborough keeper. They were very quickly rewarded by this early pressure when a hit into the D deflected off Chris Mann’s stick and wrong-footed the keeper.
This settled the nerves and Deeping played some better hockey from then.
Two more goals followed very quickly from Peter Jeffery and Paul Tancred
The second half was started at the same pace with Phil Arnold scoring quickly for Deeping after some great work from the midfield
Peterborough briefly threatened when poor marking and scrappy defending lead to them beating the Deeping keeper with a hopeful shot from the top of the D.
Deeping didn’t let this faze them and restarted the game with the same confidence and added another to their tally of 77 goals before Christmas when
Henry Winfield-Chislett scored.

Div 4NW

Market Deeping 2nd XI (2) vs St Ives 3rd XI (1)

Deeping are having a far better season than last year but it’s an odd one By their own admission they have won their share of games that they should have lost, and by the same token, lost a few they should really have won.
They made hard work of this game of two halves. St. Ives lost the toss, and as a result they were forced to play into the sun and were soon on the back foot. Most of their chances came through short corners, as did Deeping’s.
They have struggled to put out a consistent side this year, which is a significant factor in their lack of goals from set pieces, but it was a rehearsed short corner routine which finally undid St. Ives, Paul Byrne scoring with a well struck shot from the left of the D.
Deeping looked comfortable, and were playing some decent passing hockey, but a 1-0 halftime lead didn’t look sufficient. Deeping’s defenders found themselves struggling in the glare of the sun and the game seemed to be slipping away from them. Then the skilful Simon Burnell was moved up front alongside Steve Waters, and one fast break out down the right looked hopeful before the ball ran out of control. When Deeping caught St Ives in an almost identical fashion a few minutes later, there was no mistake and Burnell calmly pushed home from close range after rebounds from Byrne and Waters’ shots.

EAST Div 5NW

Horncastle 1st XI (3) vs Market Deeping 3rd IX (1)

Another decent Deeping performance went unrewarded as they battled against promotion favourites Horncastle. Stripped of some of their regulars they were indebted to a competent goalkeeping debut by novice Stephen Chambers, who shone in his borrowed kit after just four hours of training.
Anthony Barnes worked incredibly hard in midfield and defence and Deeping’s rotating full-back line up mixed doughty defence and desperation to good effect. It was infuriating that Deeping’s passing let them down and they gave the ball away too often after it was cleared - the defence deserved better. Deeping kept the score to 2-0 at halftime and managed a ten minute rally which forced a brief string of short corners. Ben Walden cleverly deflected Kevin Richardon’s well-struck effort over the keeper to give Deeping hope, but shortly after Horncastle scored a third.
The game petered out after a remarkable incident which saw the players standing and sitting by while the umpires had a lengthy discussion over a decision. It was a reflection Horncastle’s sportsmanship and the good nature of the game that Deeping then saw Horncastle deliberately hit a short corner off the back of the pitch apparently to register their unhappiness with one umpire’s string of decisions against Deeping.
Promoted Deeping now face a vital game with bottom side Cambs. Nomads 4ths to end this half of their first season in NW5.