Saturday 6th March 2010

CAMBRIDGE Ladies Premier League

Market Deeping Ladies 1st XI (2) vs Saffron Walden Ladies 1st XI (1)

As with Ely, problems on the A14 played their part as Saffron arrived very late for this fixture, just about getting a team on the pitch in time. The first half was quite messy, with lots of midfield bustle for Deeping amounting to very little. Deeping however came away with the lead after the ball ran loose to Janet Eagle Smith and she swept home tidily.
A greatly improved Deeping responded to coach Robynne Scott’s half time talk to improve their shape and complete many more passes. They still held the ball up too long and seemed reluctant to pass backwards, but the Allam sisters were commanding and the injured Amy Gwilliam seemed to find more and more space down the right, fed by powerful attacking runs from Kirsten Hackett at right back. So untroubled was the Deeping defence that it was seemingly from their only attack of the half that Saffron Walden broke away and somehow scored. Retrieving the ball from the net may have been keeper Angela Cox’s only touch of the half so far.
Deeping looked rattled for the next few minutes and seemed to be running out of time when they regained the advantage and won a string of short corners. Finally one of these was worked wide to the excellent player of the match, Sarah Smith who got it back to the lurking Gemma Caitlin. She evaded a couple of tackles, took a stick tackle high her own stick and with the umpire playing advantage forced the ball to Laura Thompson-Wright Her touch was enough to wrong-foot the keeper and trickle into the net.
Deeping survived a couple of last minute attacks from Saffron to hang on for a win they well deserved.

CAMBRIDGE Ladies League Division 1

Rutland Ladies 1st XI (4) vs Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI (0)

Deeping were 4-0 down at halftime but rallied well to prevent any further damage

DIVISION 2N

Sudbury 1st XI (1) vs Market Deeping 1st XI (3)

Acting captain John Plant was playing down the importance of this win, describing it as a “crucial game for Sudbury” - but it was a vital win for Deeping too, as they mountaineered into mid-table in 2N with two games still to play.
Sudbury, knowing that a loss would make them certain candidates for relegation, decided that they would throw everything at Deeping from the off. Deeping were ready to take this chance of moving into mid-table security.
Sudbury started the strongest, all fired up but unable to penetrate Deeping’s defensive line. Their high pressing was to be their downfall, and Deeping managed to find Nick Brocklehurst who was running riot up front and he found his new strike partner, Andy Kind who took advantage of Sudbury's poor defending with Deeping’s opener.
But it was this season’s “find”, Ali Rowledge who took command of the game. At last he is adding a cooler head to his scintillating pace and his game just gets stronger and stronger. There is certainly nobody quicker than him in the league, and once again he popped up in the right place at the right time to convert Deeping's second.
The second half continued in the same manner, Sudbury had to press and Deeping broke away. Rowledge received the ball at the half way line and shot off like a rocket before deciding to play havoc with his skip’s heart by waiting long enough for the Sudbury defenders to catch up before slotting the ball into the back of the net.
Sudbury managed to get a consolation goal, and Rowledge completed an unwanted “hat trick” as a shot ricocheted off his stick and looped up over keeper Tim Beaver's head into the net.
Deeping now lie sixth in 2N, but as other lower sides have games in hand, they will want to win their last two games.
M of M: Ali Rowledge

DIVISION 3NW

St Ives 2nd XI (1) vs Market Deeping 2nd XI (0)

Defeat saw Deeping's lingering hopes of surviving relegation finally snuffed out with two games of the season remaining. The two promoted teams from 2009 were well-matched, with neither team really on top for any considerable spell of the game, both sides surrendering possession far too cheaply.
St Ives grabbed what proved to be the eventual game winning goal, early in the match, a short corner, charged down, ricocheted off a defender's thigh and went to a defender guarding the post, only for St Ives to snatch possession and finish from close range while Deeping looked for a whistle which never came.
From that point both sides played some neat passing hockey, the St Ives forwards interchanging well and causing problems with their running, without creating many real goal scoring opportunities. But both sides were guilty of squandering possession, and as the number of unforced errors rose, the game struggled to flow.
The second half saw a vast improvement from Deeping, though unforced errors were costing them possession too easily. St Ives were unable to take advantage and Wray in the Deeping goal was reduced to spectator for the most part, having no more to do than kick away a few over-hit through balls.
St Ives looked content to soak up the pressure, but Deeping managed a few chances, especially late in the half as they ventured forward in greater numbers, but failed to find the elusive equaliser. Deeping will rally for the final two games of what has been a disappointing season following the high promise of last year's promotion.

DIVISION 5NW

Market Deeping 3rd XI (5) vs Ely 3rd XI (2)

Yet again Deeping players loyally turned out in greater strength than skipper Kev Baker expected, no fewer than 14 getting some time on the pitch, as they showed what they might have been capable of through this disappointing season. Shrugging off the horrendous defeat of the previous week they crushed second-placed Ely on a day when everything went against the Cambridgeshire side. They started with nine men after problems on the A14 that affected many games, and they never really settled. They won few 50-50 umpiring decisions, had players sent off for dissent and worst of all, found that Deeping had not only their strongest side on the pitch but that it included Paul Tancred who was unable to play away from home due to domestic duties.
Tancred popped-up in practically every position on the pitch, and opened the scoring for Deeping from a short corner. Muddy Waters then got free as Ely pushed up and was unable to avoid the golkeeper’s lunging stick. Tancred slotted home the resultant flick, after the keeper was sent off for dissent, and he added a third in open play as Deeping’s excellent passing around the edge of the D bore fruit.
If it was the Tancred show in the D, Deeping’s back division worked tirelessly to keep Ely out, but they did grab a soft goal from a short corner before half time. In midfield the tireless running of skipper Baker proved inspirational.
Ely grabbed a second soft goal 10 minutes into the second half, which was no more than they deserved, but they were still forced to chase the game, looking for three points. Deeping were playing better and better in midfield as they broke, and rolled around their pacy substitutes. A tired looking Ely conceded a string of short corners and after a couple of excellent saves Tancred got a drag flicked fourth, followed by an “anything you can do” drag flick success for Jaz Phagora.

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

More good news for the third team on Sunday as they won their slip date fixture with Wisbech, a result which may sneak them out of the drop zone depending on other slip date results this week.
Deeping opened the scoring with a Tom Richardson drag flicked corner but went 2-1 down by halftime. However another brace of goals from Paul Tancred and one from Muddy Waters saw them sneak their sixth win of the season. With St Ives 4th (played 20) seemingly nailed on for relegation Deeping now sit among a bunch of bottom end sides with games in hand and will be playing two of their relegation rivals in six pointers before the end of the season.