Reports 4th March 2006

Men's 1st XI play out a high-scoring 6-4 win over St Neots III

Men's 2nd XI are beaten 3-1 by Peterborough Town IV

Ladies' 1st XI snatch a 1-0 win over Huntingdon II

Cambridge South Men's I 6 - 4 St Neots Men's III

H/T: 2 - 0

Scorers: Mark Reilly (2), Chris Baker (2), Rob Garrett (2)

Another week, another win and promotion is now just two points away for this unstoppable South team. St Neots turned up looking like a team ready to be beaten and in the first half the home team duly obliged, with a period of domination that should have resulted in more than just two goals. Shaggy dictated proceedings down the left hand side and was ably helped by the baby-faced Reilly running the St Neots defence ragged.

Shortly into the match it was 1-0, Reilly ghosting in at the far post to neatly tuck away a cross into the unguarded net. A succession of short corners for the home side ensured that St Neots struggled to get the ball out of their own half. In fact, they should have been further behind when the keeper blocked a classic Chegger's 'hit and hope' short corner but Forrest couldn't lift the ball over the prone body.

A few minutes later and the captain had a chance to show his Vice how to do it but unfortunately could only steer his shot against the keeper's pads. But maybe with the follow up? Ah, keeper's got there again. Is it third time lucky? No, well, maybe next time.

And so it proved, as Cheggers did manage to double the home side's advantage with eight minutes on the clock. At this point, the pitch-side supporters were settling in for a lesson in how to score goals à la South but the timid South were unable to find the net again before half time. Murray worked tirelessly at right wing to create opportunities and Snetler's running was at its incisive and intelligent best but the shooting was just lacking.

Near the end of the first half and a promising attack for South presented Reilly with the chance to rifle the ball into the St Neots D. As the ball came in, though, it flicked off a defenders stick. "My face! My beautiful face!" comes the shriek. Fortunately for the captain, his moonlighting work as Cheggers's body double on Channel 5's "gameshow for naturists" isn’t over yet as the ball has merely clipped his jaw.

After the half-time team talk South come out looking for more goals. "How many did you score today?" I asked Murray after the match. "Well, funny you should ask," he told me with an impish glint in his eye, "I didn’t actually score any but I did setup at least three". The first of these came soon into the second peried when he was released down the right wing. Showing a good turn of speed he ploughed past the St Neots defender and whipped in a cross for Forrest. His first time shot was parried by the keeper but Baby-Face was on hand to hammer the loose ball into the net. 3-0 and cruising.

Unfortunately for South (but great for the neutrals that had turned out to watch the game – there were some neutrals around, right?), it was at about this point in the match that South decided to make up for lost time and duly conceded more goals in twenty minutes than they'd done in the previous five hundred minutes of hockey. Now that’s quite something. "So, Wallace, what were you thinking?" I asked Graveling after the match. "Yeah, well, I was getting a bit bored". Right. Well, he – and the rest of the defence – certainly doesn't do things by halves.

St Neots managed to get a foot hold in the game with a goal to make it 3-1 and it wasn't long before some renewed attacking pressure from the visitors forced via the ball multiple deflections into the back of the net for a second time. South managed to restore their two goal cushion with the oldest trick in the book. A short corner routine and Cheggers hammered the ball at Forrest at knee height, who nonchalantly placed the ball in the back of the net. Easy, really. It didn't take long for St Neots to draw level, however, through some slack South defending. Fortunately Parker was in inspirational form in goal or the score line could have been worse.

4-4, fifteen minutes left and Cheggers stepped it up a gear to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Past one, two, three defenders and a clean shot into the corner leaving the keeper with no chance. That's the lesson in finishing the supporters came here for. St Neots were running out of steam and South were managing to gain control of the game again. A fast break down the left starting with Jonny and ending up with Forrest put Murray clean through on the keeper but he couldn't quite take it round him. If only he were at training on Tuesday…

Right at the final whistle South made the score line slightly more respectable with the goal of the match. Starting with Hay at right back the move went through a number of South players before Murray was released into the opposition D. He slipped the ball square to Forrest and the finish was right in the corner – that's 6-4 and a game the fans won't forget in a hurry. I don't think Cheggers will be rotating defenders in a match again for a while…

Captain Cheggers was glad to take another important step toward promotion, "At this stage of the season it doesn't matter how we win - it's the result that matters. We're all happy to have another three points on the board."

Peterborough Town Men's IV 3 - 1 Cambridge South Men's II

H/T: 2 - 1

Scorers: Tristen Knight
MoM: Steve Lane - for being the best defender on the day

A pre-Christmas drubbing from the runaway league leaders did not bode well, but Cambridge South still put up a great fight in this well contested game. After the first ten minutes anyway. By that time the home team were two goals up after grabbing the ball in midfield, getting numbers into the D and getting good shots in before the forwards could be closed down.

In spite of this, the away defence played well with sweeper Jan Brynjolffssen maintaining his cool to distribute the ball around the back and also to snuff out danger. Man of the Match Steve Lane showed commitment above the call of duty as he blocked the ball in a painful place causing him to double up, and swiftly count his…blessings.

Tristen Knight grabbed a goal back before half time with a classy dribble into the D from a Mark Jackson through ball, ending with a long range shot just inside the post.

The second half was even with chances both ends; John Greaves was unlucky to have a goalbound effort from a Suk Pannu free hit saved, and the South short corner routine worked well. Jan Brynjolffssen saved one certain goal right on the line and keeper Jon Bartram got his finger tips to another effort bound for the top corner. Mark Jackson was in the wars as he took a painful blow on the knee, which turned as colourful as his language.

Sadly Peterborough got the only goal of the half, this time from a great cross to a free attacker at the far post, but South battled away to the end, looking for more than a consolation. The spirit showed against a skilful and confident Peterborough team was exemplary throughout, with everyone doing their bit, and many good moves which perhaps deserved a more positive result.

Cambridge South Ladies' I 1 - 0 Huntingdon Ladies' II

H/T: 0 - 0

Scorers: Tash Cox

Cambridge South Ladies, sponsored by PwC, wrapped up their 2005/06 league programme with a narrow win over Huntingdon's 2nd team. South have finished comfortably in mid-table, probably in fifth spot when the handful of re-arranged games remaining are played out.

Huntingdon were the stronger team in the opening half of this match, as South failed to hold the ball for any consistent period. Gemma Thomas at sweeper was doing a fine job picking the ball off players drilbbling into the circle, but an away goal looked only a matter of time. With a little more composure in front of the net, Huntingdon would have been a couple up at the break, as on at least two occasions the ball was worked around South keeper Cassie Woodfin, only for the attacker to snatch her chance and miss the empty net.

A half-time teamtalk from coach Sean Park, concentrating on making runs off the ball in attack and marking players and not space in defence, appeared to do the trick as the roles were reversed in the second half. South were creating numerous chances and forcing short corners, with one of these resulting in an almighty goalmouth scramble in which Tash Cox and Jo Read appeared certain to score, until the Huntingdon defence managed to heroically smuggle the ball away.

Soon after this South were grateful to Cassie for an outstanding pad save, as Huntingdon mounted a fast counter-attack and got a very good shot off, bound for the corner of the South net. This was to be South's only scare of the half.

Inside the last ten minutes, the deadlock was finally broken. Good driving play from the outstanding Sarah Martin in midfield fed the ball in to centre forward Tash Cox. Her initial effort was blocked by the keeper, but with the ball stuck a couple of meters out, Tash managed to force the rebound home despite the presence of numerous defenders.