Saturday November 8th, 2008

CAMBS Ladies Premier League

Market Deeping Ladies 1st XI (0) vs Cambridge South Ladies 1st XI (0)

From the outset, Market Deeping seized the initiative and relentlessly pressured the Cambridge South defence and powerful crosses from the right by Gemma Caitlin and Amy Gwilliam presented the forwards with some early chances.  Through the half Deeping won several short corners which led to shots on target but the Cambridge keeper was on form.
Cambridge had one or two breaks against the run of play but could not find an opening in the tight Deeping defence as goalkeeper Angela Cox had little to test her with sweeper Ellie Allam, closing down and clearing the majority of threats.
After dominating the first half of the game, Deeping felt frustrated at not having taken the lead and restarted with renewed purpose.  But so did Cambridge South and for the early part of the second half the Deeping defence had to work hard to contain their attack.  During this period every Deeping player remained focussed and battled to regain possession. Throughout the half both teams had opportunities to break the deadlock from open play and short corners.
In the closing stages of the game, Deeping had another short corner which was struck well and on target by Jan Grace but the keeper met the ball with a powerful kick clearance. Deeping continued to drive forward and Jo Ward had a late opportunity at top of 'D' but the Cambridge keeper made another good save.  Deeping felt that the fulltime result did not reflect the balance of play and a disappointed they will need to make every shot count in their future matches if they are to make an impression on the league this season.

CAMBS Ladies Div 2

Ely Ladies 2nd XI (2) vs Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI (4)

Deeping started well and after some excellent tackling in the D won successive short corners, with two near misses from Rachel Gale and Charlotte Baxter. Ely then won a short corner, which was cleared brilliantly by Fay Shepherd.
Deeping worked the ball up the wings and finally won a third short corner, thanks to some great battling from Sophie Goodrum. This was converted by Laura Sharp.
Some scrappy tackling in the midfield led to a lifted ball, injuring Erin Carmody. Charlotte Baxter and Fay Shepherd continued to control midfield and a long through ball reached Laura Sharp who scored her second. More first aid was needed when a dangerous ball was lifted into Charlotte Baxter and Carmody came back on to take her place making some good runs up the wings.
A clever ball from Fay Shepherd reached the unstoppable Kat Kennedy, who won another short corner for Deeping. A quick ball to Rachel Gale produced an accurate strike to make it 3 - 0.
Ely then pinched a goal for 3-1 at half time.
Sophie Goodrum narrowly missed at the right post after yet another excellent run. Ely broke after a Deeping corner to score another goal, but this was recovered in the last seconds of the game by the racing skipper Buckby’s goal.

CAMBS Mens Div 2 N

Saffron Walden 1st XI (3) vs Market Deeping 1st IX (3)

Deeping went into this game full of confidence after last week’s demolition of Sudbury 2nds but they were brought down to earth by what looked a good Saffron Walden side, despite their lowly  league position.
Deeping started off well but soon gave away a flick which was put away. Deeping responded when Treve Wagstaff flicked in a short corner then Ali Rowledge timed a run to perfection to deflect home a free hit from John Plant. Paul Tancred then missed a penalty flick leaving it 2 - 1 at half time.
The second half didn't start well for Deeping who started to deviate from the game plan. This let Saffron Walden into the game, and after they scored from another flick it was 2-2 and everything to play for. Deeping still looked the better team and up stepped Paul Tancred to put the ball in the back of the net to make it 2-3. Saffron Walden then scored with five minutes to go to make it 3-3.
Hopefully Deeping will have learned some valuable lessons from this game and with City of Peterborough visiting Deeping this week they will hope the mistakes don't happen again.

CAMBS Mens Div 4 NW

Market Deeping 2nd XI (4) vs St Ives 3rd XI (0)

There was some great news for unbeaten Deeping 2nd after this game, when they heard that (subject to immaculate administrative behaviour for the rest of the season) their lost points had been restored to them, putting them second in their league. The first team’s six point fine remains in place.
Deeping had already produced their best performance of the season by some margin in a game in which they should have scored more goals. The St Ives ‘keeper was in fine form but Phil Arnold set the tone from the outset, harrying and hassling the opposition defenders; forcing turn-over after turn-over and keeping them pinned in their own 25 for much of the opening period.
Arnold opened the scoring with his fourth of the season, and Russ Seton soon doubled Deeping’s lead.
At the other end, St Ives’s goal threat was nullified by an impressive new-look back line of Terry Musgrove and Simon Wilmot, while Deeping’s midfield engine of Simon Burnell and stand-in skipper Mike Gregson was full of running.
At half time Deeping were good value for their 2-0 lead, and though St Ives threw everything at them in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, Deeping were well disciplined and organised, while stand out performances from their two men of the match Seton and Richard Garratt helped Deeping to weather the storm before once again imposing themselves on the game.
Simon Burnell then picked up the goal his overall performance deserved and Arnold grabbed his second while Jack Seton and Mike Gregson also went close.

CAMBS Mens Div 6 NW

Market Deeping 3rd XI (3) vs Wisbech 4th XI (1)

Deeping thirds also got three points returned to them putting them in a powerful position as they, like all the men’s teams, remain unbeaten. They made it three wins in a row seeing off league
leaders Wisbech 4ths.
Both teams were prepared for a tough, competitive game, and it was Wisbech who started the better, pinning Deeping in their own half for most of the opening quarter.
Slowly Deeping settled and began applying pressure themselves with some bright passing moves and after a couple of slow motion attempts, Tom Allam opened the scoring for
Deeping, digging the ball out from under the keeper and stabbing it across the goal line from short range.
Deeping's confidence grew and shortly before the break Nick Maxey smartly flicked home from a short corner for the home side's second.
Making good use of the unusual luxury of a 15 man squad Deeping managed to maintain the upper hand through most of the second half.  Within ten minutes
of the restart, a quick Deeping counter attack effectively put the game out of Wisbech's reach.  Winning the ball back in midfield, Paul Byrne moved the ball
wide to Ben Dalgleish who drove down the right wing before pulling a cross back from the byline to the top of the 'D' where a waiting Alex Gale converted sweetly with a powerful slap shot.
Wisbech didn't give up and somehow managed to miss an open goal following a fast break before pulling one back late from a free hit just outside the 'D' as poor Deeping marking left a Wisbech forward wide open in front of goal.
Both teams then missed short corner opportunities before the final whistle. With the restored points Deeping go top of 6NW with a game in hand.