Saturday March 7th 2009

CAMBS Ladies Premier League

Market Deeping Ladies 1st XI (2) vs Cambridge University Ladies 3rd XI (1)

For long periods Deeping played some of their best hockey of the season in this important Cambs Premier league fixture against a well-drilled and skilful Cambridge team. Deeping’s stately but clever defence soaked up loads of pressure, with good kicking and calm stopping by Laura Gwilliam in a rare appearance in the Deeping goal, backing them up.
Good passing from the back, notably from the much battered Gemma Catlin released the Deeping halves and forwards and their rampaging runs based either on good passing or some nifty stick skills constantly rattled Cambridge, who also relied on some good goalkeeping.
Then a short accurate passing sequence between Beck Allam, and Janet Eagle Smith released skipper Sarah Smith and her pace allowed her to pickup the ball just outside the D go around a defender and draw the keeper before placing the ball in the right hand corner of the goal.
Then the dangerous Amy Gwilliam intercepted the ball on the half way line with an amazingly accurate tackle, and sent Kirsten Hackett up the right wing. Her perfect cross was narrowly missed by Eagle-Smith, who looks increasingly dangerous now she’s fully back from long-term injury.
In a close first half Deeping maintained the edge by sheer hard work. Few teams will have forwards who form the first line of defence but still get up to attack and the midfield tackled tirelessly too, often double-teaming Cambridge players.
Something was clearly in the half-time drinks. Deeping roared back into action with the racing Gwilliam threatening to tear Cambridge apart with her stick skills and making a good chance just seconds after the restart. This was accompanied by some smart, short, accurate passing – Ellie Allam, and Natasha Newitt slicing down the left. Deeping had changed shape with Catlin getting a break at sweeper and the excellent Gemma Anderson moving up into midfield.
After a couple of decent chances Smith and Eagle-Smith were again involved in the build-up as the ball ran wide to Gwilliam and with Eagle-Smith loudly calling from the penalty spot Gwilliam made no mistake leaving Eagle-Smith to bury the 2nd goal.
Cambridge came back strongly. They had a goal disallowed after umpire consultation, then scored a horribly scrappy effort through their badly injured skipper who spent the whole game lurking in Deeping’s D. The pressure continued at several short corners but Rachel Gale calmly swept the ball off the goal line onto an attacker’s foot when it seemed they must score. Deeping then relieved the pressure in a timely way by dominating the last five minutes.
Meanwhile Laura, the elder Gwilliam pinched man of the match from her sister and several other worthy candidates with her outstanding keeping. Deeping are now clear in second place in the Premier league with a game in hand.

CAMBS Ladies Div 2

Rutland Ladies 1st XI (5) vs Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI (4)

Nicky Buckby was one of the two Deeping skippers who were pretty pleased despite losing close matches. Runaway league leaders Rutland have been crushing most other teams in the league but second placed Deeping ran them very close in a very entertaining and high scoring game.
Rutland started the better and scored in the first minute of the game. A slightly shocked Deeping replied almost immediately with an excellent strike from Sophie Goodrum. However the home side dominated the first half going 4-1 up midway through the first half.
Despite the score, Deeping worked hard and were soon rewarded with a second goal from Goodrum, after Laura Thompson running down the right wing passed to Kat Kennedy who crossed the ball in to make it 4-2 at half time.
In the second half Deeping defended well and were supported by a very hard working midfield of Deb Wilding, Laura Thompson and Charlotte Baxter.
Rutland scored again but Deeping continued to threaten with quick breaks from Kennedy, Buckby and Goodrum. This produced several short corners and an excellent strike from Deb Wilding found the net.
Skipper Buckby made it five - four with a close range finish.
Deeping’s player of the match goalie Ally Swift kept them in the game with some magnificent diving saves. Deeping lost, but will take many positives from this match.

CAMBS Mens Div 2 N

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

Deeping knew they would be in for a tough time today with C.O.P fielding some of their former National league stars. As the match started Peterborough dominated the game with Deeping only getting the odd look in on the counter attack.
James Sharpe opened the scoring for Deeping against the run of play with a short corner after 15 minutes. Peterborough hit back twice shortly after to make it 2-1 at half time.
Deeping made a few changes at half time and sought to chase the game and get a goal back. It duly came from Russ Seton.
Deeping now tried to play for a draw but Cop's quality showed through as they nicked the game with a third goal.
Despite the loss Deeping can be very proud with the way they played today but just came up against a better team

CAMBS Mens Div 4 NW

Long Sutton 2nd XI (1) vs Market Deeping 2nd XI (5)

A Neil Burford hat-trick helped unbeaten Deeping see off a young Long Sutton team and move to the top of the league with two games in hand over their closest rivals.
Deeping started slowly but when Nick Maxey and Simon Burnell carved Sutton open down the left, it was down to Neil Burford to tap in from close range and open the scoring.
Burnell then continued his rich vein of form, making it four goals in three matches, this one from the penalty spot after being fouled in the D when clean through on goal. The Long Sutton ‘keeper did manage to get a piece of the ball, but such was the power on the flick that the ball still crossed the line.
Mike Gregson then looked to have scored with a lovely reverse flick finish only for Deeping’s ‘fox in the box’ Burford to poach it on the goal line.
Deeping now looked comfortable, and though not playing their best hockey, it was the Sutton ‘keeper who was the busier of the pair, including one superb top corner stick save. Sutton got the goal their play deserved, a close range finish after some smart attacking play, which crept inside the post despite the diving efforts of the hard working Nick Maxey.
Sutton looked to have scored again a second after a half cleared short corner was reverse sticked into the top left of the goal. It was disallowed as the initial shot following the corner has to hit the back board.
Burford then killed the game off with his third of the match after questions as to whether the shot was touched inside the D.
That left just enough time for centre back Graham Brewer to risk a rare foray up front to take a pass from Maxey in his stride before calmly slotting the ball home.
Simon Biggs – a calming influence as ever in the back line - and Chris Mann who worked his socks off in central midfield shared man of the match.
Long Sutton’s young side still promises much for the future providing a timely reminder to Deeping of the age of the players in their lower sides…

CAMBS Mens Div 6 NW

Market Deeping 3rd XI (3) vs Wisbech 5th XI (1)

Ben Dalgliesh continued his long journey back from a severely broken leg as he struck two vital second half goals for Deeping.
Deeping duly despatched a young and not especially strong Wisbech team but their finishing and passing in and around the D is still giving cause for concern.
Deeping were fairly dominant in the first half with Graham Barnes offering a senior’s master class in passing in the midfield. Still occasional defensive lapses gave Wisbech a sniff of success, their young legs always troubling the veteran Deeping backs. Deeping’s efforts foundered on a good young Wisbech keeper but they did have a “goal” correctly disallowed just before half time for a back of the stick deflection by a forward.
Early in the second half Wisbech took a chance well. Ben Walden immediately calmed any Deeping nerves, cleverly getting a touch on a well hit cross to fool the keeper. Wisbech were rarely in it after that but Deeping struggled to score until a smooth passing sequence saw Tom Allam’s effort at the far post disallowed after consultation.
Then Dalgliesh finished off an excellent Deeping passing move from close range for his first, before lunging his six foot five frame across the goal mouth full length to sweep high into an open net for his second. Deeping still harbour hopes of promotion, especially as second placed March 4th were thrashed by ever improving Spalding and play top of the table Wisbech this week. It may all come down to their late season game at March - but they must start to take their chances when they make them.