Reports 14th January 2006

Men's 1st XI win 4-0 against St Ives III

Men's 2nd XI suffer a 6-1 defeat at the hands of St Ives IV

Men's Veteran XI grab a 4-3 win over Bury St Edmunds

Ladies' 1st XI are 3-1 winners in the derby match with Cambridge Ladies' II

 

Cambridge South Men's I 4 - 0 St Ives Men's III

H/T: 3 - 0

Scorers: Kevin Rowland, Rob Garrett (2), Mark Reilly

South arrived at the match today knowing that this is where the season really starts. "It's where the men are sorted from the boys", Cheggers said gruffly before the match. And he wasn’t wrong as St Ives fought and battled hard throughout this game.

South were expecting twelve for the match but had to start with eleven as Asbo was temporarily disposed until half time (rumours of a court appearance this morning were strongly denied). This meant a shuffle in personnel as the ever dependable Snetler slotted into central defence (alongside Graveling, Benedikz and Pippard) with Murray and Reilly making up the left side. The uninitiated would never have known about this last minute switch, though, as the South defence was as solid as ever and rarely looked like conceding.

The match started at a high tempo. Or it did for St Ives, anyway, South seemingly content to watch the hustle and bustle of the opposition from a distance. St Ives had most of the possession and pressed hard to break the deadlock.

When the ball did finally reach the South front line, however, it displayed no such lethargy or distractedness. In one of the first forays into the St Ives D, Forrest was able to nip the ball away from the keeper and play the ball across goal (via the post – it was a tight angle). Summoning up all his shooting skills, Keith duly slotted it home from a couple of inches out ("It definitely wasn’t going in this time" he said afterwards). Soon afterward a quick break down the right allowed Forrest space to send a fast cross to Murray. He the ball steered goal-wards, but unfortunately couldn’t keep it beneath the bar.

St Ives continued to enjoy the greater share of possession and forced a number of short corners, but fortunately they can't score (not past us, anyway). So it was left to the South forwards to show them how it's done – this time it was Forrest on the score sheet. Picking up a pass from Creed just outside the D a quick turn took him past a couple of defenders and, despite their physical presence, he managed to slide the ball under the keeper and into the net.

Soon after this St Ives had their best opportunity of the match. Parker produced a couple of excellent blocks but the ball fell to a St Ives attacker and his looping shot was goal bound until the ever-committed Benedikz launched himself full-length goalwards and scooped the ball off the line with his reverse stick ("Yeah, I quite enjoyed it", he said after the match). It was at about this time also that Dan Pippard had to go off the pitch for treatment ("Ow" is what he might have said had he stayed around instead of heading off at half time for treatment). Let’s hope that thumb is moving again soon, preferably within the next week…

At least one player on the St Ives team knows his way to the goal, however. Unfortunately he's in goal and in lifting his foot over a seemingly innocuous hit into the D he inadvertently gifted Forrest his second of the game after it clipped his stick on the way in ("It definitely didn't hit my foot this time" he said later). This gave South a 3-0 lead at half time.

In the second half St Ives pressed and pressed and tried and tried, but the goals had deflated them and they were starting to tire. With Asbo re-instated in the defence to give yet more solidity there was never much chance that St Ives would get past Parker.

As South soaked up the pressure, the St Ives defence left gaps at the back that the ever-running Reilly and Forrest plundered with glee. With Creed and Baker orchestrating things in midfield the chances came on a regular basis but the St Ives keeper displayed a rejuvenated talent in the art of goal keeping and managed to snuff out the danger, including tipping a shot over the bar from Murray. This was until a loose ball in the St Ives half was pounced on by Reilly and he flew into the D to slide the ball expertly under the keeper and into the corner ("Scoring’s really not that difficult, is it?" he might have said).

This proved to be the last action of the game and so it proved once again that possession is nothing – it's goals that win games of hockey.

 

St Ives Men's IV 6 - 1 Cambridge South Men's II

H/T: 3 - 0

Scorers: Samin Ishtiaq
MoM: Jan Brynjolffssen - for gritty defending and seventy minutes of commitment to stopping St Ives getting through

Cambridge South 2nds, sponsored by PwC, were unlucky to come up against a classy St Ives side bolstered by players with experience in higher leagues in previous seasons.

The usual 2nd XI competitive never say die spirit, epitomised by Jan Brynjolffssen at the back, was not sufficient to overcome the gulf in skill levels and confidence with a hockey ball. St Ives deserved to be ahead at half time, although South did have some breakaway moves and could have scored with a little more composure in the final third of the pitch.

The makeshift midfield (and defence) battled hard with the departing Tom Gowing always seeking the gaps, but South missed someone to control the game and distribute the ball from the middle. Nevertheless the away team pursued available options down the flanks - particularly Samin Ishtiaq and Ron Oren on the right and with long passes/crosses mainly from Andy Lewis and John Greaves to the end.

In fact, South picked things up in the second half, with Mark Jackson and Finn Johnson prominent, but couldn't prevent St Ives getting three more goals, including some fortunate deflections. Samin Ishtiaq snatched a consolation goal with a rasping effort from distance midway through the half.

This game was a lesson, which leaves South in mid-table, needing to regain confidence for the run in.

 

Bury St Edmunds Men's Veterans 3 - 4 Cambridge South Men's Veterans

H/T: 1 - 2

Scorers: Roger Craigen (2), Dave Maynard, Keith Davidson

Another excellent team performance, with Cambridge South having the lions share of possession.

The first quarter saw South dominate but the chances weren't converted by the lively attack and midfield. The opening goal was scored by Roger Craigen but Bury equalised shortly afterwards from one of their break-away attacks, with Jim Sutcliffe being slightly unlucky when the ball got trapped under his feet.

However South pushed forward again and the second goal was fiercely put away by Dave Maynard just before half time.

The second half continued in much the same manner with South attacking from the start. However with the midfield and defence pushing right up, Bury managed a quick break-away and equalised again. This was to be repeated after Keith "birthday boy" Davidson scored the third goal from a very tight angle on the right.

With the defence being asked to play slightly more defensively, South managed to take the lead again when Roger slotted home his second from a tight angle on the left. South then played the final minutes more defensively but still managed to control the game until the whistle.

So undefeated in 2006 and team spirit very high - the highest I can remember for several years.

Team played: Jim Sutcliffe, Andrew Milbourn, Steve Riches, Peter Kemp, Keith "BB" Davidson, James Morris, Phil Smith, Stephen Fleck, Ricky Williams, Dave Maynard, Richard Bettison, Roger Craigen

 

Cambridge South Ladies' I 3 - 1 Cambridge Ladies' II

H/T: 1 - 0

Scorers: Gemma Thomas (2), Liz Brimer

This Saturday saw South play their locals, Cambridge Ladies 2nds, in an important game as both teams wanted maximum points. This showed as both teams started bright and alert with quick passes leading to several early chances. South scored the first goal when Gemma Thomas, at the top left of the D skilfully dribbled the ball round two defenders to find the bottom left of the goal with a killer strike!

Throughout the half Cambridge Ladies made many strong tackles only to find many of their passes cut out by Margot Overbeek and Becca Lumb, combining well together on the right. As usual Gemma was everywhere and Sue Snape made many important interceptions in South's area.

Tash Cox came very close to scoring South's second when she found herself in a one-on-one situation with the keeper. Unlucky for Tash there was a bit too much pace on the ball. The first half ended with South 1-0 up.

South came out hard in the second half using longer-range passes from midfield to open up gaps in Cambridge Ladies defence. This worked well and it wasn’t long before Liz Brimer scored a well-deserved goal from the left of the D.

South had to call on Cassie Woodfin to make some great saves throughout the game. Cambridge Ladies did manage to find a goal later in the second half but soon after Gemma replied by neatly tucking the ball round the keeper after bringing it herself into the area. By now it was 3-1 and nearing the end of the game. Even so South had bundles of energy with many late breaks and were unlucky not to score more.

Next Saturday South are away to league leaders Wisbech Town 2nds, who currently enjoy a three point advantage. A win would therefore bring South level on points…

Team Played: Cassie Woodfin, Sue Snape, Jodee Davis, Becca Lumb, Margot Overbeek, Gemma Thomas, Liles Dee, Liz Brimer, Liz Tattersall, Emma Clarke, Jo Read, Tash Cox