Saturday 27th March 2010

CAMBRIDGE Ladies Premier League

Cambridge City Ladies 3rd XI (3) vs Market Deeping Ladies 1st XI (0)

CAMBRIDGE Ladies League Division 1

Market Deeping Ladies 2nd XI (1) vs March Town Ladies 1st XI (1)

Promotion and relegation is not yet clear in Cambridge Division one. After their first team lost 3-0 in an ill tempered encounter in Cambridge to finish third in the Premier league, Nicky Buckby’s hugely improved second team had a frustrating day against March. Bottom placed March had clearly come for a point and they soaked up pressure throughout a game which Deeping dominated. With March defenders happy to play the ball off the sideline rather than let Deeping have a touch, they had to work hard but their fitness and pace caused March endless problems. Infuriatingly March broke out after 20 minutes and catching Deeping’s defence on the hop they made practically their only chance of the game which was superbly taken by their centre forward.
Deeping’s dominance continued and halfway through the second half the excellent Kat Kennedy got around the back of the March defence and her bobbling cross was well finished by the lurking skipper Buckby.
Despite their lack of goals Buckby’s babes at full strength looked a very good side and virtually every player would merit a mention. The point they gained may yet be vital and they have one more game to play in two weeks time. The prospects for next season, wherever they play, look promising.

DIVISION 2N

Market Deeping 1st XI

DIVISION 3NW

Market Deeping 2nd XI

Sunday 28th March 2010

DIVISION 5NW

Market Deeping 3rd XI (7) vs Cambridge South 3rd XI (2)

A number of relegation issues were concerning Deeping as they entered the slip date last weekend of the season. The first was resolved in their favour when UEA lost on the Saturday ensuring Div 2N hockey for the first team next year (and local derbies with Spalding and Bourne) and the third team completed their great escape on Sunday, when they beat a useful Cambridge South side convincingly at Bushfields.
Improved availability since Christmas has turned Deeping’s fortunes around, and it was noticeable what a difference the pace of Matt Brown made when he was not ruled out by work commitments. An ailing Tom Richardson was not at his best on Sunday but the Oakham schoolboy would have probably nailed a first team place if he had been regularly available and his goals since Christmas have secured vital points.
Deeping have concerns about their lack of young players for next season but the hundreds of years of experience in their defence soaked up most of South’s attacks and South’s defence who tackled brilliantly, still had no answer to the marauding pace of Paul Tancred and Ben Walden when Deeping broke fast as Cambridge pushed forward in search of goals.
After an evenly matched first ten minutes, Tancred opened the scoring. This was quickly followed by a penalty flick as the ball hit a foot and cannoned into the goal. Tancred slotted this but South replied quickly with a very well-worked goal and Deeping’s defence looked uneasy under pressure until Tancred added a third and Walden tapped home from close range. As Tancred surged into the D his stick was hooked and held and another penalty awarded. Set piece expert Jaz Phagora stepped up to slot home. Tancred added a sixth.
Deeping relaxed and rolled players in the second half and South pulled one back after a mazy dribble from their centre forward. Tancred kept trying to set up the ever improving Richard Arnold for his first goal but Deeping’s midfield passing was often careless and they got into the D less often. Tancred scored again before injured skipper Kev Baker, ever present in the side all season, came on for the last five minutes of an extraordinary season.