Reports 15th October 2005

Men's 1st XI extend their winning run to three games, 1-0 away to Ely City II

Men's 3rd XI fight out a 3-3 draw with Spalding IV

Ladies' 1st XI win 3-1 against Sawtry I

Mixed XI suffer a 5-1 reverse against Wild Geese

 

Ely City Men's II 0 - 1 Cambridge South Men's I

H/T: 0 - 0

Scorers: Rob Garrett

Cambridge South Men's 1sts gave another good team performance to see off fellow league leaders, Ely City 2nds.

The commitment and determination were excellent across the team and, although we only managed a single goal, we never looked like losing. South made some forced changes to the side, bringing up a number of 2nd team and Vets players in order to cover for various absentees, but these alterations did nothing hinder the progress of the team.

South started brightly and made a number of good attacks throughout the first half, particularly through Kevin Rowland down the right, but were unable to break down the tight Ely defence. Ely defended deep and there was plenty of space in front of their defence but we were finding it difficult to create clear opportunities. One half chance fell to Dan Pippard as he made an excellent run to the top of the D to meet Kevin Rowland's cross but his snap shot on the run didn't trouble the Ely keeper.

The new South defence (Graveling and Benedikz joined by Andy Bleach and Jan Brynjolffssen) were rarely troubled by the Ely forwards and Benedikz's pre-match complaints of never having played centre back before looked unfounded.

The South display was particularly encouraging for the way it built upon previous performances as we made much better use of the width of the pitch, and the defence was spreading the ball about with… well, not quite consummate ease, but there was certainly a sense of gay abandon about it at times!

At half time the score was 0-0 but the sun was making the Ely team visibly tired and we knew that, so long as we continued to press forward, the goal should come. Graveling, however, decided to take matters into his own hands (either that or he forgot that we'd changed ends at half time), for early in the second half he was inches away from putting a cross into the Ely goal. Shortly after this, a South short corner ended up on his stick with only a defender on the line but the Ely defence closed down quickly and didn't allow him to turn and shoot.

At the other end of the pitch, Ely had their first real chance of the game. A loose ball out of defence gave the Ely forward an opportunity in the D, but the alert Steve Parker was out of his goal quickly to smother the danger. Shortly after this Ely forced a short corner and the resultant shot from Ely needed to be pushed away by Parker. This was but a brief respite for Ely, though, as Creed and Lewis combined down the South right on a number of occasions but couldn't quite create a goal.

Finally, with only a few minutes left on the clock, we broke the deadlock. Graveling (I guess he still hadn't worked up the energy to jog back into our own half) took the ball into the D, past a couple of Ely defenders and crossed the ball just a couple of metres in front of the Ely goal. As the Ely keeper came out to clear it Rob Garrett was in the right place at the right time to sweep the ball between the keeper's legs and into the centre of the goal (and this time I definitely heard it hit the backboard!).

Afterwards we found out that this was only the second goal that Ely had conceded so far this season, so all in all it was a very satisfactory game.

 

Cambridge South Men's III 3 - 3 Spalding Men's IV

H/T: 2 - 2

Scorers: Tristen Knight (3)

Cambridge South Men's 3rds played their opening league fixture against Spalding 4ths on Saturday. Cambridge South started positively, applying most of the early pressure, only for a breakaway attack by Spalding to bring the first goal against the run of play.

Cambridge South responded positively, with excellent work from Tom Moy and Wilco Dijkstra in midfield and running by Tristen Knight in attack. South's pressure was rewarded when Tristen equalised with an excellent strike from an acute angle near the touchline.

The match was a close fought affair, with Cambridge South having more possession but Spalding looking dangerous on the break. Such a break brought another goal from Spalding, when a cross from the byline was unfortunately deflected into the South goal off South's keeper. South once more raised their game to level the score, Tristen scoring his second, this time with a fierce low strike from the top of the D through a crowded area, for the teams to go in level at half time [CSHC 2-2 Spalding].

The second half started well for South, with a well worked short corner bringing Tristen's hat trick, and putting South ahead for the first time in the game. The remainder of the second half was as closely fought as the first, with generally superior South possession threatened by the pace and running of Spalding on the break.

As legs tired, credit goes to sweeper Phil Le Gouais, who literally bled in the cause, and Chris Clegg, for untiring running covering his own position and more besides. Unfortunately, a season-opening South victory was prevented when a wickedly undercut Spalding strike flew past the ear of South's keeper, Lino Di Lorenzo.

Overall, a very close contest with never more than goal in it. South can take great credit from the performance, with dedication and good passing throughout the team. More of the same should see a secure league position come the end of the season.

 

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

H/T: 0 - 1

Scorers: Liz Tattersall, Tash Cox, Nicola Dee

Cambridge South headed to Peterborough on Saturday to face Sawtry, a team who in the past have been very strong, and who were at the time top of the league…

South went out strong, with good drive and determination. With all the possession going their way it was almost inevitable they would get the first goal, which they did through Liz T when she produced a superb reserve stick shot accurately at goal.

With this much deserved great start, Cambridge South continued to work their magic with Tash, Emma and Gemma having many chances at goal. Sawtry didn’t seem to react to going 0-1 down and Cambridge kept possession for most of the rest of the half.

After half time Sawtry started in better form and through some good long range passing they managed a goal from a much-disputed penalty corner. This didn't deter South and, once again, after plenty of great passes through midfield an attempt shot at goal was deflected to Tash, who finished the job to give South back the lead they thoroughly deserved.

The third and final goal came minutes later with great build up work once again, which found Jo R at the baseline where she pulled the ball back to Liles running in, who produced a spectacular finish to top off South's performance. This win was very well deserved for South as everyone worked their socks off!

 

Southerners (Mixed Team) 1 - 5 Wild Geese (Sunday 16th October)

H/T: 1 - 2

Scorers: Gemma Thomas

South's mixed team's second match of the season saw them up against old friends, the Wild Geese (aka Pelicans HC of Kings Lynn), in a match played in unseasonably summery weather at the Perse.

The last time the Southerners had faced the Geese we had taken an early lead through co-captain Gemma Thomas, only to be pegged back to 2-1 behind by half-time and then to spend the second half mostly on the defensive, conceding three more goals for a final 5-1 scoreline, with Lino our ‘keeper getting the man of the match award for keeping the score respectable.

Now, you know that Bill Murray movie? Groundhog Day? Where whenever he wakes up, it's to re-experience the same events all over again? Well…

The match started with both teams testing each other out, probing for openings. The Geese had the majority of the possession, without getting all that close to the South goal. For South, the central midfield pairing of Gemma Thomas and Jo Read were winning their share of ball, allowing wide midfielders and forwards Dan Pippard, Rupert Webb, Tash Cox and Kevin Rowland to have their most productive spell of the game. Halfway through the first half, some good, quick ball movement by South sprung Gemma high on the right point. From there she unleashed one of her trademark drives and we lead 1-0.

As keeper Lino Di Lorenzo remarked to sweeper Jan Brynjolffssen whilst waiting for the Geese to take the centre-pass, "Yeah, it’s good, but remember what happened last time." And, well, you know the rest: come half-time it was 2-1 to the Geese, despite some resolute defending by South defenders Brynjolffssen, Margot Overbeek, Chris Clegg, Jodee Davis and Ellie Raffan.

First, the Geese reacted quickest to a brilliant stick save from Lino to knock home the aerial ball for a slightly dubious equaliser (though if it hadn't have been given, the Umpires should probably have given the Geese a penalty flick and it was very skilfully done if of doubtful legality, so on balance, fair enough). They then took the lead in the dying minutes of the half, with a neat penalty corner move. The injector making a late run across the face of Margot and Lino, adding a flick which looped high and just dropped in under the bar.

South switched umpires at half-time, with Chris Clegg and Gemma Thomas taking over from Emma Clarke and Johnny Benedikz, who had both done good jobs. Also introduced was Men's 1st team captain, Chris Baker. All the positional changes these subs necessitated proved a bit confusing for South, and the Geese quickly added a third, spectacular, goal. The Geese right winger went on a mazy run, cut into the circle and pulled the ball back sharply for her teammates. It was met by a late arriving midfielder, who uncorked a fizzing uppercut into the top corner giving Lino not a hope.

With the South defence all at sea, Lino had to be at his best to keep the score down, making numerous saves. The weirdest one being an unintentional block with the back of his helmet in a scramble following a smothering save. During this pressure, the Geese added a fourth from a short corner, cleanly struck into the corner, with Lino's defense running out down the wrong lines leaving him unsighted.

South began to get some more play, when the generally excellent Margot stepped up from defence into midfield for the final quarter of the match. Her calmness and tackling ability was much appreciated, especially one beautiful clean tackle on the Geese captain (who on Saturdays plays in the East Premier).

One further goal was added in Punxsutawney when numerous Geese players were let unmarked on the far post, allowing the ball to be walked in. And then it was off to the pub, having first convinced the Perse Caretakers that having cleaned the floors of the changing rooms earlier wasn’t enough to render the showers "Out of Order"…