Saturday 6th February 2010

CAMBRIDGE Ladies Premier League

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

A bad day at the office for Deeping’s ladies as a fast young University side wouldn’t let them settle and took their chances superbly. Despite a two-nil half-time deficit, it had been close, and Deeping had made one or two chances. An early second half goal from Cambridge took the wind out of Deeping’s sales and a superb save from a roof of the net bound Janet Eagle-Smith shot made it look like it wasn’t going to be Deeping’s day.
Even when Gemma Catlin’s powerful strike beat the excellent Cambridge keeper from a short corner the Cambridge side quickly grabbed a fourth goal.

CAMBRIDGE Ladies League Division 1

Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI (1) vs Newmarket Ladies 2nd XI (8)

A heavy defeat on paper doesn’t reflect the hard work, courage and skill that Deeping’s second team put into this game. They had absolutely no luck and while three of the Newmarket goals could be attributed to defensive errors, nothing 50/50 seemed to go Deeping’s way and several Newmarket goals took wicked deflections.
A good Newmarket short corner routine was Deeping’s first half undoing despite some good saves from their new young keeper Hanna Williams. Emma Burt was prominent in defence, with Katriona Kennedy tormenting the Newmarket midfield and defence whenever she got the ball. Eirfat Mustafa has been an excellent signing with her skilful right side play and determination to get back and support the defence.
Deeping had several second half chances the best resulting from Charlotte Baxter driving through the entire Newmarket defence.
In the end Deeping got a small consolation from Nicky Buckby’s cleverly deflected short corner goal from Kennedy’s shot.

DIVISION 2N

St Neots 1st XI (0) vs Market Deeping 1st XI (8)

Deeping’s first target at lowly St Neots, yet to win a game this season, was to keep a clean sheet. Practically from the push back they worked the ball back around the defence to skipper Richard Woods who no doubt still had the words of his pre-match team talk ringing in his ears as he presented the ball to an opposition forward. Fortunately a good double save from Deeping’s keeper saw off the problem.
For much of the rest of the game it was one-way traffic with a Nick Brocklehust hat trick, doubles from Russ Seton and Ali Rowledge and a goal from Andy Kind. Two yellow cards blotted Deeping’s performance and discipline will no doubt be on the coach’s agenda for next week.

DIVISION 3NW

Cambridge University 3rd XI vs Market Deeping 2nd XI

Deeping’s 2nd XI were forced to concede to Cambridge University 3rd after traffic problems on the A14 made them late for the game.

DIVISION 5NW

Market Deeping 3rd XI (3) vs Newmarket 1st XI (2)

In his wonderful book on the joys of coarse cricket Spike Hughes says he designed a club tie and badge with VII and XIII on it – basically because his pick up side never arrived with XI players. Third team skipper Kev Baker may be ordering something similar. Having made desperate texts and phone calls all week to raise a side – calling in players as late as Friday night at 8pm - he was not confident of even having a team for this game. So to find himself with 15 fit players at the ground, and to use 14 of them successfully, was a rare treat.
And how well they played. Building on a solid base of ex Peterborough Exiles players at the back, Deeping’s young guns ran around and through Newmarket’s defence, threatening to score at any moment. Newmarket regained an element of control and squandered a couple of short corners before Deeping broke out and Matt Brown released the incredibly hard-working Ben Walden who smashed a powerful cross into the D.
It was Time Machine time as Muddy Waters suddenly re-appeared as his younger self and ripped the cross into the net in one fast flowing movement.
Deeping then wasted a penalty flick after a very deliberate foot on the line from a short corner, but made amends as Jaz Phagora netted another penalty corner before Newmarket replied with one of their own.
Deeping mainly held the upper hand through the second half and when a short corner ran free to man of the match Waters he swept tidily into the corner of the net.
It should have been game over, but with less than two minutes to go, a long through ball was left alone by Deeping’s keeper. Unfortunately it hit the post and rebounded directly onto the stick of a Newmarket forward who gratefully pushed home. Deeping kept their heads for the last minute to gain vital points.
They face the runaway league leaders at Boston next week.