Reports 31st January 2004
Men's 1st XI draw 3-3 with Peterborough Athletic II
Men's 2nd XI get a 1-0 win against Peterborough Athletic III
Men's 3rd XI are hit for an 8-0 defeat by March Town IV
Men's Veteran XI go down 9-4 to Bedford Veterans
Peterborough Athletic Men's II 3 - 3 Cambridge South Men's I
H/T: 3 - 3
Scorers: Rob Garrett (2), Rob Barton
In this eagerly-awaited clash between Division 4 NW's top two teams, a depleted South side missing Massey, Tostevin, Erlebach, Fleck, Carey, Rose and Hay showed tremendous courage to fight back from 3-1 down after twenty-three minutes to claim a share of the points and remain the only team Athletic have failed to beat to date. Of the eight goals conceded by Athletic so far, South have scored five and the other ten teams have managed just three between them in twelve games, which speaks volumes for South's attacking depth and never-say-die attitude. But despite hauling themselves back to 3-3 by half-time, South could not have survived without a superb defensive display in the second half, in which, backstopped by on-fire keeper Steve Parker, they successfully kept out seven shorts and two penalty flicks.
It was clear from the start that Athletic's front men, benefiting from early ball supplied by a hard-hitting defence and midfield, were going to cause big problems and Parker had already had to make three diving clearances before the five minute mark had been reached. Promisingly, though, Vijay Agarwala gave the Athletic defence pause for thought with a long run full of poise and power before his cross was cleared, and brother Sanjay again demonstrated why most teams have found him a handful on the left wing this season after being put away by a typically thunderous Jim Thorpe clearance.
Another well-worked manoeuvre linked through Chris Graveling and Rob Garrett showed South had some teeth and, on seven minutes, Rob Barton just missed the home goal after a feed from Sanjay Agarwala. However, the Athletic defence had little difficulty in penetrating the ring and, two minutes later, a cross from another burst up the right wing was only half blocked, leaving a well-placed attacker to punch the ball away from six yards.
Yet South, undaunted, bounced back immediately and, after a good run by Matt Readman, Rob Sprawson threaded a ball in from the right and Rob Garrett seized on a loose offering in the circle to slot home into the bottom corner as the goalie dived in vain. Athletic then won their first short, despite solid work at left defence from Vijay Agarwala, and a real stinger was well gloved down by Parker, who then swept to the right out of danger. On a second short two minutes later, Parker read the switch and made an excellent left-foot save and clear before an incoming Athletic forward undercut a fierce shot high into the net (and out through a hole in the back) to make it 2-1 after seventeen minutes.
At this stage, Athletic were knocking the ball long distances with ominous ease and control, and Thorpe and Readman had to work overtime to stem the tide. When Sprawson and Garrett finally managed to get some breathing space in the middle and put Barton clear, the latter was heavily legged up as a reminder that physique as well as skill was needed to make progress upfield.
Despite doughty work by the resilient Keith Simpson, Athletic won a third short on twenty-two minutes and Parker again thwarted a crafty switch with a big pad save. But he had little chance with the next short, when another clever shimmy to the left by the striker opened up a gaping hole gleefully exploited with a crashing shot to the backboard.
At 3-1 down after twenty-three minutes and with South struggling to get the play beyond their own twenty-five, things looked grim. Then Simpson was harshly called for a further short after another of Athletic's trademark crossfield hits, but South survived and Sanjay Agarwala made good ground with a teasing dribble on the left side before brother Vijay sent Graveling up the middle on a threatening run which ended in a well-disguised reverse-stick pass to Garrett. On this occasion, Garrett - a revelation on the right wing - shot wide but, after Parker had crucially tipped a rocket against the bar to save a fourth and possibly fatal goal, the league newcomer used his obvious pace and long reach to create panic in the Athletic defence. First, he forced South's first short following fraternal collaboration by the Agarwalas, and then, after Sprawson's big drive had been cleared off the line, he got into perfect position to touch Simpson's free hit into the bottom right-hand corner and narrow the deficit on thirty-two minutes.
Athletic threatened again with a direct run from midfield but Readman stuck to his man like superglue and ran him into a corner before prising the ball free and clearing. The clearance was snapped up by Sprawson, who drove forward up the right, and it was that man Garrett again who telescopically rounded the defence and pulled the ball back to Barton, who stuffed it home without frills to level the score at 3-3 a minute before half-time. So, barely five minutes after staring almost certain defeat in the face, South had clawed themselves back into contention and set up an enthralling second half.
After a rain-lashed team talk, South came out fighting, with Barton, Graveling and Sprawson all to the fore in advanced positions down the right wing. After Thorpe, Readman and John Benedikz - the latter showing particular coolness under fire - had worked the ball out of defence, the fleet-footed Garrett again eluded Athletic's back division and Sprawson won South's first, and last, short of the half after 38 minutes. His firm strike to the right post was stopped and kicked clear, though, and Athletic forced the ball downfield through a dangerously unchecked dribble to win the first of six shorts in a ten-minute spell which saw South constantly under the cosh. But keeper Parker brought all his long experience to bear at this critical stage, blocking a fierce drive from the first corner and diving brilliantly to his right to stick away the goal-bound follow-up for a long.
Simpson then made a key tackle on the edge of the D and Graveling toughed it out under a hail of pressure in the corner before Athletic worked it round the goal-line for another short. This time, Parker brought off a stunning airborne pad save from a real snorter and, moments later, nullified a dangerous switch play with a right-footed save and clear.
After a brief respite thanks to Readman and Simpson, Parker was again forced to clear with his stick before blocking a fourth short with the aid of Simpson on the line. The fifth and sixth shorts failed too, and Readman, Simpson and Graveling had just managed to gain a little possession when, in a sickening accident, the Peterborough captain broke his leg after falling awkwardly in a challenge just inside the D.
Following a subdued thirty minutes in which the emergency services attended, it was decided to continue the game and Parker was immediately faced with a penalty stroke which would return the lead to Athletic if they scored. But, as in the previous fixture between the teams, the South keeper was equal to the task and confidently beat away a hard rising shot after a flying dive.
Though Vijay Agarwala then found some open space on the left, a rapacious Athletic were soon back in the D and Parker reacted brilliantly to kick away a half-sighted deflection. Another dive and stick save was followed by a classic block from point-blank range; the ensuing scramble saw another penalty stroke awarded but this time Parker did not have to save as the taker over-compensated and hit the post to keep the score, almost miraculously, at 3-3.
Although beleaguered, South managed to get Sprawson free for long enough to set Barton up for a shot - which went just wide - on fifty-seven minutes, but the Athletic forwards closed in once more. Readman tenaciously diverted an angled attack into the corner, Benedikz tackled convincingly and Thorpe cleared with grim determination but Parker again had to be on his mettle to clear a reverse-stick shot. Readman, relishing the cut and thrust, released Barton to no avail but, moments later, the big forward made a determined run to beat the home keeper way out on the left and an upset goal suddenly looked on the cards. However, Athletic somehow cleared this, and another break from Sprawson, and homed in again on South's D.
The visitors' defence, though at full stretch, conceded only one further short, in the sixty-fourth minute, when Parker made another top-class save from a rasping lifter and Simpson coolly swept the rebound out to the wings. Parker was still not finished, having to kick away another reversed hit in the sixty-seventh minute, and South even managed to escape the yoke long enough for Garrett to threaten victory with another pacy right-wing run two minutes from time, but the whistle eventually blew to end a breathless and, amazingly, goalless second half, giving South a point that may well be crucial in the long run.
Although under severe pressure from a very strong Athletic side for much of the game, the whole South team, and particularly the defence, showed great mental resolve and composure, especially in the second half, and were never afraid to counter-attack even when the match seemed almost beyond them; the attitude remained positive throughout, with encouraging contributions from everyone on the pitch. This was a result from which South could take great heart, and it is to be hoped that the same level of commitment and fortitude can be maintained over the next two, critical, months.
Cambridge South Men's II 1 - 0 Peterborough Athletic Men's III
H/T: 0 - 0
Scorers: Andy Lewis
MoM: Andy Lewis - a threat to the opposition throughout
An excellent win to avenge an earlier defeat was down to good team work, persistance, tight defence, and creative use of all attacking avenues. Peterborough were allowed few shots, with Andy Bleach moved to sweeper, particularly effective.
Cambridge South were unlucky not to score more from the frequent crosses and corners, but justice was done when man of the match Andy Lewis bundled home a loose ball a la Greaves amidst a goalmouth scramble for the only goal of the game.
And everyone else played well too - there were no weak links.
March Town Men's IV 8 - 0 Cambridge South Men's III
H/T: 2 - 0
Scorers:
MoM: James Bridge - for another solid game and constantly harassing the March midfield throughout the full 70 minutes
Cambridge South turned up to play March off the back of a series of bad results and despite showing some good attacking moves, and holding the home team for much of the first half, were unable to impact on the March goal.
South arrived with a strong team, including Rob Barton, Rob Garrett and acting captain John Benedikz, fresh from their match with the first team.
The match started with neither team really getting to grips with the other. The ball was swept rapidly from end to end, and the defences of both sides were put under pressure. It was March who broke the deadlock after twenty minutes with a scrappy goal shovelled home from close range after the South defence failed to clear the ball. Switching Will Marston to centre back and Rob Garrett to centre mid led to South showing more attacking flare and being more solid at the back. Rod Richardson and Daniel Raffle completed the South defence, with Rod especially playing a solid game.
Jack Chalk, playing during a temporary return from university, proved to be a handful for the March defence and on several occasions sprinted down the wing and took the ball into the circle. This led to confusion amongst the otherwise disciplined March defenders, but alas neither strikers Barton or Shantanu Golar could prod the ball home. These pull backs onto the penalty spot were some of the best scoring opportunities South managed and had they been converted the game would have been very different.
Throughout the first half especially, James Bridge was the outstanding South player with his dedicated talking and fierce attacking play he supported the team and dominated the area around him.
South's best chance occurred when a ball through the middle found Rob Barton who having beaten the defence rounded the keeper only to be cynically tripped by the beaten man. Having won the resulting penalty flick Barton stepped up to take responsibility took the flick and placed it carefully four yards wide of the post. March scored their second just moments before the half time whistle.
Riding on a high after taking a reasonable, and slightly undeserved, lead into the second half March turned on the pressure. Within seconds of the restart March caught the defence napping and scored a simple goal. As the fourth goal went in South's heads went down and cracks in the team began to show. Fitness also played a part as gaps appeared between the hardworking midfield and stretched defence. March made use of their youth by using young fit players to take the ball down the wings and avoid the strength of the centre of South defence. This tactic was successful with the simple pull back and back post shot working well on a number of occasions.
Despite being down South continued to attack and Finn Johnson, who played another good game at right mid, continued to drive into the March circle.
Ultimately six second half goals flattered March however they had managed to do the basics, passing and supporting each other, well.
Honourable mentions go to messrs Chalk, Barton, Benedikz and Garrett. Chalk for regularly getting round the back of the March defence and Barton and Garrett for doubling up after the toughest first team game of the season.
Cambridge South Men's Veterans 4 - 9 Bedford Men's Veterans
H/T: 1 - 3
Scorers: Dave Maynard (2), Steve Fleck, Keith Davidson
A "home game" at Bedford resulted in a 9-4 score line. It may sound like a heavy defeat but the game was evenly balanced for most of the seventy minutes.
A ten man South team took an early lead after Dave Maynard hammered home following a good flowing move. Bedford soon equalised after being awarded a penalty flick after a defender inadvertently was hit on the foot on the line with stand-in goalie Geoff Butcher was left no chance.
The game was then fairly evenly balanced but a period of pressure from Bedford saw them take a 3-1 lead by half time.
At the start of the second half the rain came down and South played some excellent hockey and within five minutes had equalised the scores following two well worked short corners from which Dave Maynard and Steve Fleck scored. However South then seemed to ease off and allowed Bedford to score five soft goals from open play and another goal from one of the few short corners that they won. South picked themselves up and scored a fourth goal from Keith Davidson.
So an good effort from ten men and the score should have been very different.