Saturday 21st November 2009

CAMBRIDGE Ladies Premier League

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

Deeping made five forced changes from their victorious side of the previous week and unfortunately came up against a powerful Wisbech second team who tackled hard but fairly and seemed to win every fifty-fifty ball. Deeping dominated the first few minutes but perhaps the writing was on the wall as the first Wisbech attack yielded a soft goal after a couple of errors by Deeping’s stand-in keeper.
Deeping made a few first half chances – and missed a couple of penalty corners - in response, but Wisbech were very dangerous on the break and should have had at least one more goal before halftime.
Deeping tried to force the pace in the second half, but couldn’t get control of a Wisbech side that simply wouldn’t let them settle. It didn’t help the situation that one or two of Deeping’s regulars had off days too.
As Deeping chased the game, they were caught twice on the break late in the half. Even later in the half, with just a minute to go, Robynne Scott spun and dribbled her way into the Wisbech D and scored a fine solo consolation goal with a powerful shot.

CAMBRIDGE Ladies League Division 1

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

Deeping crept further out of the Cambs Div One relegation positions by edging past mid-table St Ives at their new Voyager School base. Emma Sear making a rare return to her old goalkeeping days kept St Ives at bay with the help of Leanne Fane. Charlotte Baxter got the vital goal and Grace MacDonald with her charging runs into the St. Ives half was their MoM.

DIVISION 2N

Market Deeping 1st XI (2) vs Sudbury 1st XI (2)

Deeping failed to cling on to a one goal lead as a late, brilliantly worked Sudbury short corner got them a share of the spoils. Deeping had scored with about ten minutes left, and won’t be happy with dropping two points. They have to learn to keep the ball when they’re on top.

DIVISION 3NW

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

St Ives had the lion’s share of the scoring chances, but for a beleaguered Deeping side struggling all season long with availability and injuries, this was a point well gained. In fact they even led for some time after showing great character to come from behind to lead 2-1.
Deeping were forced to defend for prolonged periods, and their dogged backs-to-the-wall style proved hard for the opposition to break down. But, once again, short corners proved costly. Deeping cannot afford to concede 8 to10 short corners and expect to win games.
St Ives took the lead in the first half through a well drilled penalty corner, but Deeping held out to half time. Tom Burnell and brother Simon both came close, but Deeping chances were few and far between.
Deeping then equalised with a Ben Dalgliesh strike. He calmly held off his man to wriggle into the D and strike low and hard into the ‘keeper’s right corner.
Chris Mann then gave Deeping the lead hitting home unmarked following good work down the right through Dalgliesh and Jack Seton.
Deeping defended with heart and body (despite being down to 10 men for a time due to Tom Burnell’s yellow card), with their back four and ‘keeper Joe Wray getting sticks and bodies in the way wherever possible but St Ives’ second goal came from a short corner.
They had apparently snatched a winner with a third, drag flicked high into the top left corner, only for it to be ruled out for the ball not having left the D.
It was a point St Ives more than deserved.
MOTM – Tom Burnell

DIVISION 5NW

Ely 3rd XI (3) vs Market Deeping 3rd XI (1)

Yet again Deeping were depleted for this challenging fixture but rare appearances from Andy Gregson and Anthony Barnes at least gave them some youthful legs and the team responded with a very good performance. Defending tenaciously against a rugged, skilful and well organized Ely side, but finally cracked when a short corner was accurately placed into the net by Ely’s centre-forward. Minutes later the same player was found unmarked in the D and he swept home.
Deeping rallied but it was somewhat against the run of play when early in the second half Jaz Phagora picked up the rebound from his short corner shot and flicked home. For the next ten or 15 minutes, Deeping thoroughly rattled Ely and were slightly unlucky not to go level.
Ely gradually ground their way back into the game and their centre forward completed a quality hat-trick with about five minutes left.