Saturday February 9th, 2008

CAMBS Div 1

Market Deeping Ladies 1st XI (3) vs St Ives Ladies 2nd XI (0)

CAMBS Div 2

Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI (3) vs Ely Ladies 2nd XI (0)

EAST 3NW

Market Deeping 1st XI (4) vs Rutland 1st XI (1)

Deeping stretched their lead at the top of 3NW with a workmanlike performance against a young Rutland side. They began at their usual fast tempo – fast if not flowing. The midfield battle was close but Deeping gradually took control, and took the lead when Jason Purllant took a rebound off the keeper and wrapped himself around the post while scoring. Paul Tancred smashed a cross home from the top of the D to cement the lead, but a goalkeeping error on a short corner let Rutland pull one back.
Deeping’s dominance grew in the second half as Henry Winfield-Chislett rebounded the ball off the prostrate keeper before finally finding a way through.
The last goal was classic simplicity as Ben Dalgliesh broke up the wing and crossed for James Sharpe to sweep home. There was just time for Ali Rowledge to miss a sitter before the close.
The news then came through that closest rivals Ely (with a game in hand) had lost, opening an important seven point gap at the top of the league

Div 4NW

Peterborough Exiles 1st XI (2) vs Market Deeping 2nd XI (5)

It was a great boost for Deeping to see the talented teenager Jack Seton back to his goalscoring best after breaking a finger playing rugby before Christmas. He bagged a brace for Deeping and with goals from Phil Tokens, Phil Arnold, and Jack’s father, Russ Seton, Deeping eased past 4NW bottom side Exiles.
Deeping’s pace in the early stages caused all sorts of problems before Seton opened the scoring, playing a one-two with Graham Brewer before slotting home from an acute angle. Phil Tokens, released from the shackles of his usual defensive duties to maraud down the left flank, found himself in acres of space to sweep home the second, before young Seton took his tally for the season to five with another cool finish.
Exiles had previously been restricted to a handful of breakaways, but with just a couple of minutes remaining in the half, they were thrown a lifeline back into the game when the umpire spotted a push by Dave Grammer leading to a penalty flick.
The second half saw Exiles step up a gear, and Deeping were guilty of losing their heads as individual battles took precedence over the pass and move hockey which had given them such a lead.
Phil Arnold settled the nerves, knocking home the rebound from a Russ Seton short corner.
Deeping were then forced to see off a succession of short corners themselves, but conceded a second goal when a scramble in the D saw the ball ricochet past keeper Adi White. Exiles rallied, but a catastrophic error at the back saw Deeping’s two goal cushion restored. A routine 16 yard hit out was tapped to an Exiles player who simply wasn’t ready, having stopped to tie his laces. Russ Seton gratefully accepted the gift, pouncing on the loose ball to effectively finish the game.

EAST Div 5NW

City of Peterborough 6th XI (2) vs Market Deeping 3rd IX (1)

Deeping are improving fast as this narrow defeat to the second placed side in 5NW showed.  At half time skipper Simon Taylor rallied and reorganised the midfield to snuff out City’s dominance, but by this time they were already 2-0 down. Taylor had gone close for Deeping from a short corner.
The goal machine Steve Waters kept up his remarkable scoring record, pulling one back for Deeping in the second half and chances falling to Alex Gale, Ben Walden and Simon Burnell all went begging. Deeping look as if they can beat the mid-table sides if this post-Christmas team stays together, and the target is now an upper half of the table finish.