Reports 3rd March 2007

Men's 1st XI beat Bourne II, 3-1

Men's 2nd XI win away 1-0 against Boston II

Men's 3rd XI enjoy a second half goal-fest to defeat Boston III 6-1

Ladies' 1st XI trounce Bourne III, 6-0

Mixed XI win 2-1 against Harlow

 

Bourne Men's II 1 - 2 Cambridge South Men's I

H/T: 1 - 1

Scorers: Lukas Snetler (2), Mike Thorogood

Cambridge South, proudly sponsored by PwC, were made to dig deep for victory over fellow mid-table side Bourne 2nds on Saturday. Bourne started the season poorly, picking up only one point in their first eight games, but have since then been one of the form teams in the division. They'd won seven of their last nine games and lost only once, so although Cambridge won the reverse fixture comfortably a repeat was far from a foregone conclusion.

The away side started brightly and with intent, causing the Bourne defence problems with some incisive running and passing and it wasn't long before they took the lead through Lukas Snetler, tidying up the mess after the Bourne keeper saved the initial shot from Eliot Read. After this, however, Bourne gradually got back into the game and found an equaliser right on the stoke of half time courtesy of their first short corner of the game.

Bourne started the second half strongly too and the away side were indebted to keeper Pasqualino Di Lorenzo for an outstanding save at the feet of a Bourne attacker, before Cambridge managed to exert their authority on the match. A Mike Thorogood goal settled the away team's nerves and Bourne struggled to create any further clear-cut opportunities. A missed flick from skipper Chris Baker ensured a frantic final few minutes to the game but it was the away side that scored again with Lukas Snetler benefiting from a rebound after Tim Clapp's shot was saved.

This win puts Cambridge South comfortably in mid-table; can they continue this run in the final few games and reach the top five?

Team played: Lino Di Lorenzo, Chris Graveling, Rupert Webb, Jim Thorpe, Leo Tomita, Tim Clapp, Chris Baker (c), Mike Thorogood, Eliot Read, Russell Johnson, Rob Garrett, Lukas Snetler

 

Cambridge South Men's II 1 - 0 Boston Men's II

H/T: 1 - 0

Scorers: Rob Barton
MoM: Ian Evans - some spectacular diving saves and generally commanding in goal

Cambridge South were superior in most departments and should have capitalised on this earlier. Intense pressure from the start (none of those slow starts we used to suffer from), led to chances, but sadly none converted as the Boston keeper earned his keep.

Eventually Rob Barton broke the deadlock as Stuart Creed slipped the ball to him in a wide position. Barton made space for himself and his shot cracked into the backboard for a deserved lead going in to half time.

Boston came back in the second half, but Ian Evans kept them out with a string of fine saves. John Greaves and Andy Lewis both had shots go narrowly wide or saved, and Rob Barton was unlucky to have a goal disallowed for dangerous play as an Andy Lewis shot rebounded to him. Barton, with his usual deft reverse stick, hooked the ball into the net, which surprised the defender in front of him.

The "Ajax" formation worked OK for South, with lots of space and options in attack, coupled to a solid defence. The main limitations were caused by the hold-on-to-the-ball-too-long-instead-of-make-the-easy-early-pass-to-open-up-the-attack tactic, but this result moves the South seconds close to safety, and (almost) the mid-table league position which our current level of play warrants.

Team played: Ian Evans, Andy Bleach, Dave Monck, Jan Brynjolffssen, James Lee, James Pope, Kevin Rowland, Suk Pannu, Stu Creed, Gareth Hebbron, Samin Ishtiaq, John Greaves (c), Andy Lewis, Rob Barton

 

Cambridge South Men's III 6 - 1 Boston Men's III

H/T: 1 - 0

Scorers: John Horsley, Wilco Dijkstra, Finn Johnson, James Cobbe, Simon Ta (2)
MoM: Dave Borthwick - solid all game at the back while South struggled to find their early rhythm

A strong performance from the home side saw them creating the better chances and looking the more deserving winners, only for a last minute set-piece to result in a scrambled and undeserved winner for the Manc scum. Oh wait, no, that was the Liverpool-Man Utd game.

Further south, Cambridge South Mens' 3rds were engaged in their own struggle against a young but skilful Boston 3rds side. South started with a strong line-up and took an early lead through forward John Horsley, but thoughts of a comfortable victory looked premature as Boston responded strongly with sustained periods of pressure in the South half. Good individual performances from South were running aground against a determined Boston midfield and defence.

With the early goal still the only difference between the teams at half time, South captain Neil Sneade pressed home the need to use the wings to get behind the Boston defence. The second half started well for South when midfielder Wilco Dijkstra extended the lead with a shot from a tight angle by the Boston back line. The relief was short-lived though as Boston promptly pushed into the South half and, from a free hit outside the D, found an unmarked player to scramble the ball past Jon Price in the South goal.

With a close match in prospect, South's game finally clicked into place. In the centre, midfielders Tim Waller and Finn Johnson began moving the play wide rather than through the congested centre. The results were immediate, with good play on the left from Tom South in his first game for the club and breaks down the right wing from Colin Singleton producing repeated crosses which had the Boston defence floundering. Four more goals from Johnson, James Cobbe and two from leading scorer Simon Ta saw South run out comfortable 6-1 winners.

A tough match for the first 45 minutes was opened up when South started to play wide rather than through the centre, a lesson which will need to be remembered for the season's remaining matches.

Team played: Jon Price, Dave Borthwick, Neil Sneade (c), Mark Jackson, Tom Rosselli, Matt Kern, Wilco Dijkstra, James Cobbe, John Horsley, Finn Johnson, Paul South, Tom South, Tim Waller, Colin Singleton, Simon Ta

 

Cambridge South Ladies' I 6 - 0 Bourne Ladies' III

H/T: 4 - 0

Scorers: Emma Clarke (3), Tash Cox (2), Gemma Thomas
MoM: Emma Clarke

Cambridge South Ladies, sponsored by PwC, finished off the season in style with an impressive win over Bourne and Loopy kept her second clean sheet in the process.

South dominated the first half and were ahead within minutes when Liles took the ball down the right wing crossed to Emma who tucked the ball home. The lead was then doubled as Liles and Emma combined again to score a second almost identical goal. The third followed another period of attacking play when the ball was crossed in from the left and found Tash on the far post, who tucked it home. Tash scored the fourth before half time to ensure South went into the break with a comfortable lead.

The line up on the pitch was working well with Jo R slotting into right back and effectively marking their left wing out of the game. The defence, of Jo, Bek, Becca and Jodee ensure Loopy had little to do during the first half, but Loopy was awake enough to come out and kick the ball clear when the Bourne forward was bearing down on her. Cassie made the mistake of saying that if South went 4-0 up she would come on and play; luckily for her she had forgotten her trainers.

South began the second half determined to get more goals, but they were slightly harder to come by. The fifth somehow found the goal after Gemma flicked the ball only to look up and discover she was no where near the goal, if spun very very slowly and thanks to the goal keeper lifting up her foot it spun in. The umpire wasn't sure what had happened it had all happened so slowly, but nevertheless all goals count no matter how slow.

The final goal was more impressive as the ball was hit rather too hard at man of the match Emma who got her stick on it and diverted it goal wards, after a long period out with a knee injury Emma marked her return with a hat trick.

The celebrations began after the match with champagne and South had much to celebrate: their most successful season and the possibility of promotion.

Team played: Lou Tonkin, Jodee Webb, Bek Rhodes, Becca Lumb (c), Hayley Sharpe, Sarah Martin, Gemma Thomas, Jo Read, Jo Cobbe, Liles Dee, Tash Cox, Emma Clarke

 

Southerners (Mixed Team) 2 - 1 Harlow (Sunday 4th March)

H/T: 1 - 0

Scorers: James Cobbe, Rob Garrett
MoM: Hayley - for good play on the wing and in midfield, and general commitment over and above the call of duty

South's mixed team gained revenge for a pre-Christmas 2-0 defeat at Harlow with this narrow, but deserved victory. Rupert's and Gemma's team plans were somewhat up and down, as players dropped out due to injuries on Saturday (or in the case of certain tough-as-nails centre-backs, because they didn't want to play in the rain!), with Simon and Hayley being drafted in at late notice to mean South had the 13 needed for 11 players and 2 umps. Hayley turned up to the game on her bike, puffed out, having already played in a college game that morning.

The game opened up with both teams sparring with each other, a pattern which was never really too far away all match. South were having more of the play and chances in the opening stanza, but neither goalkeeper was truly extended in this period. The midfield of Rob, Russ and Hayley were combining well, making much of Emma on the left wing in the opening fifteen minutes and then when that route was closed down, re-directing their play through Simon on the right.

As the half wore on, a goal seemed to be coming for South, especially when some neat interplay gave James C a shot on the turn, which the Harlow keeper did excellently to smother out for a long corner. However, this was a temporary reprieve, as Rob's pace allowed him to pick up the ball in his own half, scoot round the entire away midfield, and then defence, then slip the ball past the keeper for James C on the far post to bundle home.

Half time and a change of umpires brought some new positions. With Rupert now whistling, the defence seemed uncertain, and it was Harlow keeping up the pressure and South playing on the break (the pitch must be sloping!). Pressure forced a goalmouth scramble; South defenders passed up a couple of opportunities to clear and eventually the ball found it’s way to the stick of Harlow's strongest female player, who smartly rapped it home.

Having started the half slowly, South re-jigged again and succeeded in regaining their momentum. A winning goal was struck ten minutes from time as Rob and Russ combined in the middle, to allow Rob to drive a ball into the corner from the top of the circle. The main incident after that was Hayley, already bleeding from both knees, taking a full pelt lifted ball on her arm. After an initial yelp and a few seconds to regain her breath, she was back on with it, despite sporting a large bruise in all the colours of the rainbow. This tough-gal act, alongside a skilful, dynamic performance, keeping running hard throughout in her second match of the day, makes her the clear player-of-the-match.

This was the first time since the mixed team has won two games on the bounce since it was re-formed. It also brought to a close a highly successful weekend for the club as a whole. Five wins from six games played, twenty goals scored, five conceded. The Ladies' have finished in their highest league position for yonks, with the Men's 1sts heading the same way. Things are looking to be on the up.

Team played: Lino Di Lorenzo, Rupert Webb (c), Louise Gutteridge, Gemma Thomas, Jodee Webb, Russell Johnson, Rob Garrett, Hayley Sharpe, Simon Ta, James Cobbe, Emma Clarke, Jan Brynjolffssen, James Raikes