Reports 8th January 2005
Men's 1st XI break their losing run with a convincing 6-2 win over Broxbourne III
Men's 2nd XI balance the 1sts scoreline with a 6-2 defeat by Broxbourne IV
Men's 3rd XI lose 4-1 to March Town IV
Men's Veteran XI take a 7-1 pummelling from Cambridge City Veterans
Ladies' 1st XI dismiss Market Deeping I with a 4-1 victory
Cambridge South Men's I 6 - 2 Broxbourne Men's III
Scorers: Alex Pooles (2), Chris Massey, Chris Baker, Jonny Tostevin, Ryan Thomas
No report
Broxbourne Men's IV 6 - 2 Cambridge South Men's II
H/T: 2 - 1
Scorers: Finn Johnson, Mark Reilly
MoM: Tony Wiskich
This friendly fixture, against a Div 4 team, promised to be tough, but CSHC took a deserved lead after ten minutes as Finn Johnson squeezed the ball in to the net from an angle. At that stage the away team were more than a match for Broxbourne, with new midfield combination of Tony Wiskich and Ryan Thomas running amok, and distributing the ball well to the forwards and wings who were able to test the defence frequently. The South defence were solid and positive in clearing the ball away and getting sixteen yard hits beyond the ring.
Broxbourne were fortunate to grab an equaliser and just before half time they snuck in a bobbler from a short corner to take the lead.
The second half started okay, with another goal from each team - the South one came from a short corner, as Mark Reilly pounced on a Ryan Thomas cross/shot. Unfortunately after fifteen mins the wheels came off ; 50/50 balls became lost causes, attacks fizzled out with poor final balls, and Broxbourne took command. They scored a rapid double as South, battling to stay in the game, were caught in possession too many times in our own half. A final goal near the end rubbed salt into the wound.
The spaghetti bolognese and garlic bread afterwards were good, and the Broxbourne crew were understandably chirpy.
South 2nds will have to address those second half failings if we are to climb up the table. It's partly fitness, partly unfamilliarity (we have had 43+ players so far this season), and partly forgetting the basics when under pressure.
Cambridge South Men's III 1 - 4 March Town Men's IV
H/T: 1 - 3
Scorers: James Bridge
MoM: Sam Lansdell - for outstanding energy and being in two places at once. Honourable Mention: Andy Kennedy - for doing everything asked of him at the beginning: pass hard (even if it hurt Wilco's leg!), run off the ball, and make a shot
The stormy weather helped to blow away the Christmas cobwebs, but both sides started quietly in this re-arranged league match (too many mince pies over Christmas?). George Bucknall showed the rest of the team how we should be playing, putting himself in good attacking positions and showing composure on the ball. David Bridge, playing left midfield was also managing to find some space out wide. However, for the first twenty minutes or so neither side really looked like scoring. South's defence of Steve Morrell, Andy Passmore, Sam Lansdell and Neil Sneade looked to have all under control.
The deadlock was unfortunately broken by March Town. A fairly scrappy goal put them one up. South then had a nightmare fifteen minute period. George Bucknall took a knock and had to be subbed off, then David Bridge's back gave up. Luckily, South had two reinforcements (Tim Gass and captain Rod Richardson), but this was not enough to stop two March goals going in, in quick succession.
It was soon looking like another horrible drubbing for South, but in the nick of time several players picked up their game. Chris Clegg, playing at central mid, started to provide the forward players with some good balls. Andy Kennedy seemed to have the better of his marker on the right hand side and came very close to scoring from a quickly taken free hit. [The near miss still haunts him – Ed.]
However, it was James Bridge who managed to find the back of the net. Taking the ball into the D, he seemed to have the impossible task of having two defenders and a very large guy with a lot of padding (aka the goalkeeper) in between him and the goal. However, a reverse stick shot at an impossibly acute angle somehow surprised everyone and came to a rest in the goal. At 3-1 South suddenly had a glimmer of hope going into the second half.
Both teams picked up their game in the second half. Sam Lansdell and Neil Sneade were coming forward well from defence and Andy Kennedy and Wilco Dijkstra were putting some promising moves together. Generally, the team was passing much better. Tom James in goal was kept busy and made some very good saves, but it was unfortunately March Town that managed to polish off their win with another well taken goal.
South could take many positives from their second half performance, but the team could really do with chalking up a win sometime soon!
Cambridge South Men's Veterans 1 - 7 Cambridge City Men's Veterans
Scorers: Steve Fleck
No report
Cambridge South Ladies' I 4 - 1 Market Deeping Ladies' I
H/T: 2 - 0
Scorers: Gemma Thomas, Rosie Dias, Tash Cox (2)
After the Christmas break, Cambridge South captain Rachel Moyes had organized a friendly against Market Deeping as a warm up before the restart of the league next week. Deeping are a new side who are hoping to join the league next season and in the meantime are playing as many friendlies as possible.
The match was played on the brand new Perse Girls school pitch, which was appreciated by everyone. South had plenty of players available which meant that there were a number of rolling subs throughout the match and allowed everyone to get some pitch time while also playing themselves back into form after nearly a six week break.
From the start it was clear that South were the better side, although Market Deeping were enthusiastic and determined and made a number of good breaks. South went one up after ten minutes from a short corner which was well struck by centre half Gemma Thomas and then made it 2-0 before the break when after a scramble in the goalmouth the ball was pushed home by right wing Rosie Dias.
After half time and a number of changes on the South side, it was Deeping's turn to get on the score sheet, also from a short corner. Their fight back was short lived however as South centre forward Tash Cox added two more goals, including an excellent first time touch in from a cross by right half Liz Tattersall.
This was a good work out for South and was appreciated by Market Deeping, who should do very well in the 2nd Division of the Cambridgeshire league next season.