Saturday 20th March 2010

CAMBRIDGE Ladies Premier League

Market Deeping Ladies 1st XI (3) vs Wisbech Ladies 2nd XI (0)

Deeping returned to their best form, with arguably their best performance since Christmas, at Fortress Voyager. Wisbech are a very decent mid-table outfit but Deeping dominated throughout the match, with their defence largely untroubled. Deeping looked organised and passed the ball intelligently. The rarely-available Mandy Pearson terrorised Wisbech’s defence, finding loads of space to pick up good through balls from Kirsten Hackett, Tash Newitt and Ellie Allam - leaving Laura Thompson Wright free on the top of the Wisbech 25 where she made efficient use of all the space to hold up and pass the ball.
Pearson struck a fine hat trick, and after the seemingly tireless Janet Eagle-Smith missed a good early chance, Pearson opened the scoring midway through the second half from a penalty corner. Deeping were gobsmacked not be awarded a penalty stroke as a Wisbech player fell on the goal line and stopped a goal-bound shot with her body – a penalty corner resulted.
The second half saw Deeping instantly on the attack and Pearson slipped the ball to Thompson-Wright who looked to have pushed home before a diving defender illegally stopped the ball. The penalty was awarded, and after a pause, a reluctant Pearson strolled up to neatly slot home.
Pearson scored again in open play as she bounced off a couple of illegal tackles. A feisty Fay-Bob Shepard nearly drove through the whole Wisbech defence from the halfway to score but was denied as she went to shoot, and after a minor but unpleasant blood bin injury to Thompson-Wright the game petered out. Deeping were very unhappy to see Cambridge University concede their home game to Newmarket – sending them to the top while Deeping stay third – as it was a surprisingly strong Cambridge side that inflicted their worst defeat of the year. With one game left it seems that Deeping may have to settle for their current position.

CAMBRIDGE Ladies League Division 1

St Ives Ladies 3rd XI (1) vs Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI (0)

Deeping lost a vital game at St Ives but they still have games remaining to secure their place in Div One.

DIVISION 2N

University of East Anglia 1st XI (6) vs Market Deeping 1st XI (1)

It’s itchy bum time for Deeping who, despite lying in mid-table of Div 2N, will now have to rely on other results to be absolutely sure of avoiding relegation. Nick Brocklehurst scored yet again as Deeping decided to make their last performance of the season one of their worst.

DIVISION 3NW

March 2nd XI (2) vs Market Deeping 2nd XI (2)

Deeping couldn't quite manage to finish the season with the win their play deserved here, letting a two goal lead slip to take just a point back home. Alex Gale opened the scoring for Deeping in the first half, sweeping home from close range after yet another penetrating run from man of the match Neil Burford.
Burford was undoubtedly back to his form of last season, terrorising the March fullback, bulldozing his way into the opposition D almost at will to set up a succession of chances.
Deeping were looking pretty comfortable at 1-0 when Phil Tokens was somewhat harshly yellow carded for obstruction, but Deeping managed to see out the period with 10 men, and with Tokens back in the play, set about March, creating a flurry of chances through their wide play with Barnes and Gale on the left and Medd pushed up from his usual right back berth, linking well with Burford on the right.
It was Burford who capped an impressive first half with a superb individual effort on the stroke of half time, picking the ball up from deep and bursting through the March defence before rounding the 'keeper and smashing home from a tight angle.
The second half saw things pretty even in the opening stages, Burford and Gale along with Seton, pushed up into attack from central midfield, continued to create chances, but at the other end Deeping were indebted to Phipps and Musgrove, both making crucial last ditch clearances to maintain the away side's lead.
Wray in the Deeping goal was forced to make a good right pad save as March built up the pressure with a succession of cheap short corners, but eventually the pressure had to give; March converted a short corner for 2-1, and with Deeping increasingly frustrated at the umpiring decisions going against them, March continued to hold the ball in Deeping territory, and before long a second short corner tied things up at 2-2.
Graham Barnes was yellow carded for dissent following the equaliser, but despite the disappointment of the result, Deeping must look forward to next season. Relegation is never a positive step, but the side have learned much from this season.
They will look to rebuild under new captain Phil Tokens (if elected) as they begin life back in Div 4NW

DIVISION 5NW

Market Deeping 3rd XI (9) vs Spalding 3rd XI (0)

A very strong Deeping side that is belatedly back in the habit of scoring goals met an under strength Spalding side with almost inevitable consequences. The goals from Muddy Waters (3) Ben Walden (2) Jaz Phagora (2) and Paul Tancred (2) included some beauties but also some very soft efforts that trickled home.
It may all still be too little for Deeping who have fought their way out of the relegation slots with one slip date to play. Three points then should see them home but they may still need other results to go their way as thanks to the fixture backlog, six of the 12 clubs in 5NW could still join St Ives 4th in the relegation slots.