Saturday November 17th 2007

CAMBS League Div 1

Market Deeping Ladies 1st XI (3) vs Saffron Walden Ladies (0)

Deeping ladies were given a 3-0 walkover by Safron Waldon Ladies and stay top of Cambridgeshire Division 1.

CAMBS LEAGUE Div 2

St Neots Ladies 4th XI (3) vs Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI (1)

This was an incredibly disappointing game for Market Deeping ladies. With seven of their regular players down, Deeping struggled to gel as a team. St Neots had come out determined to win this match as only four weeks ago Deeping had beaten them 4-1.
The first half saw Deeping’s forwards striking at goal Deeping and they deserved more, dominating the game for long periods. The St. Neots defence remained calm, and never let Deeping settle and their keeper was outstanding.

The ball was then being sent back up the pitch, and the Deeping midfield became compressed into their own half. Neots scored from virtually their first real attack when the left wing got onto the end of a bobbling ball in the D and sadly for Deeping this was repeated a few minutes later.
The second half saw Deeping surge back, using the skills they had been taught at training. Eventually a slick short-passing move in the D saw Janet Eagle-Smith score.
Constant battling in midfield then saw St Neots equalise the pressure despite good work by Leanne Fane, and to rub Deeping’s noses in it, it was virtually Neots only attack of the half that saw a last minute penalty corner find the net. Deeping have learnt from this that regular training as a team is essential if they wish to work as a team on a Saturday.
 

EAST 3NW

Long Sutton 2nd XI (0) vs Market Deeping 1st XI (17)

The real challenges now begin for Deeping as they finish this half of the season with games against all the top league sides in the NE14 East league Div 3NW. The question is will the phenomenal goal-fest continue?
This week, in the words of Deeping skipper Richard Woods “it was only 4-0 at half time”.
That this was deemed unacceptable reflects some amazing performances against the lower sides in the last few weeks. But Deeping had started slowly against lowly Sutton by their own standards this week, with no sign of the 13 second half goals to come. At first they marked poorly and tried to force the ball too much.
Things had to change at half time and they did. Some very good hockey was played, and as a result there were no less than four hat-tricks – from Paul Tancred (24 goals in four games) James Sharpe, Russ Seton and the returning Jason Purllant (4). Chris Mann got two and Pete Jeffery got one, and while the slightly injured Henry Winfield-Chislett was mainly rested, he pinched another goal for his mounting tally.
Next week it’s back to reality for Deeping who must see off high flying Ely as they continue their bid for the league title. Over confidence may well be their biggest enemy.

Div 4NW

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

Deeping are enjoying a much better season in NE14 4NW, and this was yet another yardstick to measure their improvement against one of the division’s big guns. Deeping had already beaten the top two sides in the league, and they wanted to secure 3rd spot if possible. Taking a point keeps them in touch with those around them, but once again they failed to hold the lead in the latter stages of the game.
Deeping started shakily in defence, with skipper Graham Brewer prepared to own up to putting his team on the back foot with some sloppy play early on. Keeper Ben Hotchkin had to save his captain’s blushes on more than one occasion. But after riding their luck through that early period Deeping took the lead on the break. Good work down the right allowed Treve Wagstaff to make it 1-0.
Chances were spurned at either end, and Deeping held their lead going into half time when the umpires warned both teams about their physical styles of play.
The second half saw more Deeping pressure on the Spalding D, with goalkeeper Byron Edwards denying Deeping’s Mike Gregson with an outstanding save. Deeping continued to press, as Phil Arnold fired home what looked like the clinching goal.
Spalding looked beaten for the next 10 minutes, but they seemed to take energy form a midfield spat and scored from a soft bobbling shot as Deeping’s defence had another moment of panic.  

EAST Div 5NW

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

It’s likely that Deeping’s third team took more pleasure from toughing out this much awaited third win of the season than the firsts did while scoring 17. Despite late changes skipper Simon Taylor was able to field one of his strongest line-ups of the season. The first 20 minutes was tough, with Kevin Richardson and Jeremy Phipps unyielding in the Deeping defence despite heavy pressure, but Deeping made their chances at the other end, with last minute addition Steve Windsor twice going close.
Nick Maxey could probably play at any level in the club if work didn’t restrict his availability and he arrived just before half-time to have an immediate effect. His interplay with Ben Walden down the right wing gave Steve ‘Muddy’ Waters a seemingly impossible chance from an acute angle. Somehow the ultimate poacher forced the chance home.
The start of second half saw the veteran pairing of Windsor and Waters as twin centre forwards. These two know how to confuse defences, and their stately regular interchange from wing to wing seemed to phase South who became penned in their own half with the outstanding midfield of Anthony Barnes, Tommo Allam, Taylor and Maxey picking up clearances and feeding good balls back into the forwards. Deeping could easily have had another goal, especially with some sterner umpiring. This phase gradually petered out and it was again down to Deeping’s defence and the clean kicking of Adi White to keep Deeping in the game, as a string of short corners fell to South. Deeping know this season will always be a battle but they’ll face life in the NE14 NW5 league with renewed confidence.