Saturday March 8th, 2008

CAMBS Div 1

Market Deeping Ladies 1st XI (5) vs St. Ives Ladies 3rd XI (1)

In their last regular fixture of the season, Deeping, Champions of Cambs Div One finished in style with a 5 - 1 win over St Ives 3rd in a league cup match.
Goal scorers were Janet Eagle-Smith (2), Kirsten Hackett (2) and Sarah Smith.

CAMBS Div 2

Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI

EAST 3NW

Market Deeping 1st XI (9) vs Long Sutton 2nd XI (0)

This result means that Deeping need just two points from nine to take the NE14 3NW championship with three tough games to come.
Deeping beat Long Sutton 17-0 before Christmas and the goal difference between these two sides, top and bottom of the league is now 225 goals. Deeping were without several regulars for this game and perhaps heeding skipper Richard Woods’ call for simple hockey to see them through to the championship, Deeping played this game at a steady unspectacular pace. Long Sutton defended tenaciously as they were steadily unpicked and they can take some pride in their tackling and stopping in the D under constant pressure.
Deeping scored steadily throughout the game but they will have especially enjoyed the sublime touch their 15 year old forward Jack Seton showed when touching the ball home past an inspired Long Sutton keeper. They never really caught fire, and were held at bay by some great saves.
Goals came from a Paul Tancred hat-trick, Ali Rowledge, Russ Seton, Jack Seton, and Andy Brassington (2), while a late penalty flick goal from full back Simon Wilmot means that every regular field player in the team has now scored in this remarkable season.

Div 4NW

Spalding 2nd XI (2) vs Market Deeping 2nd XI (2)

A much changed Deeping team behaved well through an unaccountably bad tempered encounter. Spalding picked up two yellow cards for dissent, and came back from one-nil down, only to see Dan Medd snatch a late equaliser for Deeping.
Deeping started the brighter of the two sides and took an early lead through a Simon Burnell short corner strike. Burnell skilfully made a little space and was then given an age to pick his spot.
Organised and disciplined at the back, Andy Gregson and Tom Richardson worked well to mop up any threat, and when they did break through the Deeping lines, Spalding found ‘keeper Joe Wray ever alert, quick off his line to the top of the D, and successfully using this high risk tactic to drive Spalding’s forwards wide.
Another new Deeping partnership saw Graham Barnes alongside Nick Maxey, bringing a calmness to the midfield, while Dan Medd looked dangerous when attacking on the right.
It remained 1-0 at halftime, and a keener Spalding came out for the second half. Their equaliser, when it came, was a blow, as Deeping had just started to look as if they had weathered the onslaught and were starting to retain more of the possession. Then Deeping were caught a man short at the back, and Graham Doades escaped his marker to score.
Despite being down to ten men for the second time in the game, Spalding then scored a messy second as Deeping failed to clear their lines. With about ten minutes left, it looked unlikely that Deeping would come back and for several minutes Spalding continued to control the game.
Then Deeping launched a final burst of attacking hockey and a superb Burnell pass somehow evaded several defenders and found the calling Medd completely unmarked on the right of the D. Ice cool he picked his spot immaculately to score only his second of the season. Deeping probably deserved their point for their most disciplined and organised performance of the season.

EAST Div 5NW

Market Deeping 3rd XI (0) vs Cambridge South 2nd XI (1)

Heartbreak for Deeping as they narrowly lost a 5NW game that could have gone either way but may have a massive effect on Deeping’s relegation battle. Deeping beat South Cambs 1-0 in Cambridge before Christmas but the rare absenteeisms from the 1st XI trickled down and Deeping fielded a very odd looking side for this game. Nevertheless they played decent hockey against a much improved Cambs South.
The short corner count was even, but Kevin Richardson’s best effort went inches wide and a single on target strike from Cambs South found the net. Good defensive play from Deeping restricted the opposition and the midfield looked dangerous when Deeping broke in numbers. Unfortunately lack of pace hobbled Deeping when they attacked.
Once again there were some surprising results from their relegation rivals and Deeping need to somehow find six points from three remaining games - but they play two of the top three teams.