Saturday January 19th 2008

CAMBS Div 1

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

Deeping ladies shrugged off the Cambridge Div One league break as they won their first league game of 2008. The first ten minutes of the game saw both sides fairly evenly matched, before Becky Allam broke the deadlock with the first goal.  Deeping’s defenders did not have much to do as the ball was played around the opposition’s “D”, putting constant pressure on Sawtry’s goal keeper.
A couple of breaks by Sawtry didn’t trouble Deeping. Jo Addison dominated the midfield and the superb teamwork of Faye Logan and Amy Gwilliam gave Deeping several more chances to score. Finally the determination of Jo Addison gave Deeping their second goal.
The second half saw Deeping retain possession through Ellie Allam and player of the match Gemma Catlin.  An excellent cross saw Janet Eagle-Smith just miss out on extending Deeping’s lead. Sarah Smith also had several excellent chances to score but Deeping were continually thwarted by Sawtry’s keeper.  Deeping dominated the second half giving Sawtry little to do but defend.

CAMBS Div 2

March Ladies 3rd XI vs Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI

EAST 3NW

Market Deeping 1st XI (4) vs Cambridge University 3rd XI (1)

NE14 3NW league table toppers Deeping ended 2007 with a poor performance and they had to make a rapid comeback for the New Year as they faced one of the in-form teams. Cambridge opened the match by pressing Deeping into their own half for the first 10-15 minutes of the match.
Deeping didn’t panic, and from out of the blue they popped up with two goals.  Russ Seaton forced home from close range then Chris Mann cleverly deflected a hard shot come cross from Paul Tancred into the net. The university were unfortunate to not score when the umpire blew for a short corner just before the ball travelled over the line before Tancred himself scored. Deeping were delighted to be 3-0 at half time against one of the best sides in the league.
While Deeping’s supporters were concerned about the young Cambridge side showing superior fitness late in the game, the second half started off much the same as the last with the University piling on pressure. Deeping dealt well enough with it in defence but were losing the ball too easily when they attacked. Then a Deeping attack saw a perfect long through ball from the midfield workhorse Andy kind put Paul Tancred through and he unselfishly switched the ball back to James Sharpe who made no mistake when one on one with the keeper. Cambridge didn’t give up and a messy moment in the Deeping defence saw the ball bobbled home from close range to make it 4-1.
Deeping finished the match controlling the game but they must think hard about the number of chance they made and missed. Next week they play the biggest of their traditional local derbies against Bourne 2nd.

Div 4NW

Boston 1st XI (2) vs Market Deeping 2nd XI (0)

This was an important game for Deeping if they wanted to stay in the top half of the NE14 4NW league, but this second loss of the season to promotion chasing Boston was not the hoped-for start to 2008.
A tough, physical, and aggressive game was nevertheless played in good spirit, and the first half was close with chances at a premium. Good Deeping pressure saw them go close through Graham Barnes, and Phil Arnold was unlucky with a reverse stick shot. Deeping suffered their share of scares in their own D, though Phil Tokens and Dave Grammer stood firm at the back.
Clearly the first goal would go a long way to deciding the final outcome and Boston took the lead through a well hit short corner from Gardner midway through the half.
The second half continued in much the same way as the first, both sides playing at high tempo without making many chances. Boston got the ball in the net, but the umpire disallowed it for a foul on the Deeping ‘keeper.
Deeping had a chance to equalise, Graham Brewer drawing the Boston ‘keeper into a decent second save after picking up the rebound from Ben Dalgliesh’s initial shot.
Another short corner led to Boston’s second goal, Whitman firing home after the initial strike had been blocked. Boston dug in to see out the win and go to second in the table.
Deeping sit only eight points off the top spot and only eight from relegation in what is a very close league.

EAST Div 5NW

Market Deeping 3rd IX (1) vs Boston 2nd XI (1)

Deeping thumped lowly Boston in their first ever NE14 5NW match but they were hit by late cry offs in this game and faced a much better Boston side in their first league game of 2008. In the end they performed well, and rode their luck which ran out with just a minute of the game left.
The first half saw Deeping get more of the ball and make more chances including several short corners but the machine wasn’t working. Boston made the better chances, going inches wide with the Deeping keeper beaten and were denied by some beautifully timed tackles from Andy Gregson.
Deeping broke dangerously throughout the first half, and that was how they scored shortly after halftime when Ben Walden’s perfect cross was smashed home by Steve Waters.
Boston dominated the game from then on and Adi White saved a penalty stroke to keep Deeping in the game.
When the influential Jeremy Phipps was forced to leave early for work reasons, Deeping remodelled their midfield for maximum defensive effect. Boston continued to miss narrowly from open play and several short corners, while Deeping defended in depth.
With just a minute to go Deeping conceded another short corner and this was well struck and sneaked in to give Boston just their seventh point of the season.
Deeping face a very testing trip to Skegness this week to play Alford 2nd who they also beat in league action last year.