Saturday February 28th, 2009

CAMBS Ladies Premier League

Market Deeping Ladies 1st XI (4) vs Cambridge South Ladies 1st XI (1)

Deeping’s ladies had exactly the right response to last week’s unfortunate 1-0 defeat as they hammered bottom side Cambridge South to go second in the Premier league.
Just two minutes into the game a brilliant cross from Amy Gwilliam was picked up by Kirsten Hackett and after a scuffle on the goal line, the ball eventually crossed the line off the keeper’s helmet. A minute later Deeping produced some smart short ping pong passes between Janet Eagle-Smith and Sarah Smith which lead to Sarah Smith taking the ball around two defenders and smashing it into the right hand corner.
Two up in just four minutes, Deeping didn’t rest. From a short corner Gemma Catlin smashed the ball straight through the keeper’s legs. South responded with a goal that eluded unsighted Deeping keeper Angela Cox as it passed through a forest of team mate’s legs.
Deeping’s player of the match Amy Gwilliam set up some amazing chances from superb crosses at the top of the D but Deeping didn’t profit.
The second half saw South come out hard, determined to scrap some goals back, but Deeping’s defence was as usual calm and collected, Ellie Allam leading the formation and Rachel Gale doing some important covering for the Deeping goalie.
Ann Carter marked main players out of the game, allowing back-from-injury Natasha Newitt to pick up left field balls and carry them up the pitch to the forwards.
The final goal came from a run from Becky Allam who crossed to Sarah Smith off an opposition player’s feet – leading to a short corner.
Again Catlin received the ball and her slight miss-hit bobbled over the opposition sticks and into the net.
This was a very important win for Deeping that has done wonders for team morale.

CAMBS Ladies Div 2

Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI (3) vs Wisbech Ladies 3rd XI (1)

After a poor performance the previous week, Deeping had done some hard talking at Monday night training and had pledged to get back to basics. Unfortunately some adequate first half play from a slightly sluggish Deeping saw comparatively few chances made against a very moderate 10 player Wisbech team.
Skipper Nicky Buckby came closest with a well-struck attempt from a one on one with the Wisbech keeper, after a super pass from Sophie Goodrum. Then horrible hesitancy in the Deeping D saw Wisbech pinch a goal.
Deeping’s attitude at the coach’s half time talk was impressive. They didn’t just think they’d win - they knew they would.
Somehow they came back onto the pitch with a superb shape, closing the midfield gap between defence and forwards, and passing simply and sensibly. Deeping’s player of the match Laura Thompson seemed to pick up every loose ball in midfield and virtually every Deeping player upped their game. Grace MacDonald’s surging runs started to find more space and the unflashy defence of Emma Sear and Charlotte Baxter was impeccable.
Deeping got the bit of luck they deserved when Goodrum’s shot cum cross hit the keeper’s pads, the post and trickled into the net.
Then at a short corner the outstanding Kat Kennedy drove through the defence to score - and when Goodrum again found Buckby unmarked she slid her shot neatly into the corner.
Deeping stay second in the league but face a tough battle at runaway league leaders Rutland next week.

CAMBS Mens Div 2 N

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

Deeping skipper Richard Woods was delighted with this Div 2N performance against what he felt was possibly the best side they had played all season.
When Deeping traveled to Saffron Walden earlier in the season they threw away a 2-0 lead and were adamant that they wouldn’t let it happen this time.
However the young Saffron Walden side started the match the better and tested the Deeping defence throughout. But just before half time, Deeping had a rare attack and the hard working Andy Kind rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home to give Deeping the lead going into half time.
The second half started just like the first with the visitors looking the stronger but once again Deeping's defence stood firm until a short corner was tipped into the goal.
Deeping changed formation and made a few changes to try and get the win. They were still looking for two more points when they failed to convert the last short corner of the game.
Deeping will travel to Peterborough this week knowing a win would make the league table look a lot prettier. One team has already been relegated from this league so Deeping will also be aiming to get maximum points from their games in hand and continue to stay well clear of the drop zone.

CAMBS Mens Div 4 NW

Market Deeping 2nd XI (6) vs St Ives 3rd XI (1)

Would comparatively lowly St Ives 3rd pose a potential banana skin at home for unbeaten Market Deeping 2nd?
Having played three at the back last week with good results, Deeping continued with an attacking formation but soon found they were struggling to impose themselves on the game. The defence looked disorganised even panicky.
Ironically when Deeping went down to 10 men they began to get a grip on the game. Simon Biggs was yellow carded for a deliberate foot and this forced Deeping to revert to their more familiar four at the back.
They suddenly looked much more comfortable and began to see more of the ball. It wasn’t long before Neil Burford opened the scoring for the home side, tapping home at the far post at a Deeping short corner.
Within minutes another short corner allowed Deeping to double their lead when after several shots the ball broke to one of Deeping’s joint men of the match Paul Byrne, lurking at the top of the D, and he smashed a shot in at ankle height.
A third goal before half time flattered Deeping, but it came from the best move of the match. A sweeping break started from the Deeping 25, and quick, incisive passing, intelligent running, was rewarded with a smart first time finish from Ali Rowledge.
The second half saw Deeping weather the storm as St Ives threatened to force their way back into the game, but Deeping grabbed a fourth as a short corner broke down through Simon Burnell, before Rowledge doubled his tally for the game with a superbly-taken goal; a cross from the right deflected up into the air with joint man of the match Rowledge the sharpest to react, knocking the ball down one handed between the goal keeper’s legs to score.
Biggs was then given the opportunity to make it six when the excellent Henry Winfield Chislett, involved in most of Deeping’s best moves, rounded the keeper only to be brought down. Biggs stabbed the resulting flick with aplomb low down to the goal keeper’s right.
St Ives finally scored the goal their play more than deserved when a short corner was struck across the face of goal for Kevin Donnelly to sweep home at the far post with just minutes remaining.

CAMBS Mens Div 6 NW

Wisbech 4th XI (5) vs Market Deeping 3rd XI (0)

A rugged first half performance from Deeping was not rewarded when they conceded three goals to the runaway league leaders in less than five minutes of second half madness.
Both teams lined up mainly veteran sides with comparatively few of the youngsters usually seen at this level. Deeping were forced to defend from the off but they did this competently, conceding only one well-worked goal and making their own chances to equalise at the other end.
Then as the second half began they totally failed to mark in the D at a free hit and Wisbech got a second, followed seconds later by an error strewn comedy goal that barely crossed the line. In minutes that was three after some equally haphazard defence and as Deeping pushed up to try to get anything from the game they were caught on the break with virtually the last hit of the match.