Reports 21st October 2006
Men's 1st XI are defeated 3-2 by City of Peterborough IV
Men's 2nd XI record a 4-1 victory over St Ives IV
Men's 3rd XI hold on for a 2-1 win against March V
Men's Veteran XI post a comprensive 7-2 win against Cambridge City Vets
City of Peterborough Men's IV 3 - 2 Cambridge South Men's I
H/T: 3 - 2
Scorers: Lukas Snetler, Finn Johnson
Cambridge South, proudly sponsored by PwC, twice came from behind but were ultimately unable to find enough to win this game.
All goals came during an open and free-flowing first half as the away team struggled to find their form. Twice South struck equalisers, the first an excellent reverse stick sweep from Lukas Snetler from the top of the D. The second saw teenager Finn Johnson opening his account for South 1sts with a superbly struck shot into the roof of the net from Rob Garrett's cross.
The home side were happy to sit back and defend in the second period and Cambridge South saw the lion's share of possession but were unable to score the goal they needed, despite winning a succession of short corners.
"We were let down by another poor performance in the first half", said captain Rob Garrett. "We were good in the second half, but we needed that earlier in the game."
Team played; Steve Parker; Chris Graveling, Rich Morgan, Jim Thorpe, John Benedikz, Rupert Webb, Rob Hay, Kevin Rowland, Mike Thorogood, Tim Clapp, Lukas Snetler, Rob Garrett (c), Finn Johnson
Cambridge South Men's II 4 - 1 St Ives Men's IV
H/T: 2 - 0
Scorers: Rob Barton, Eliot Read, Simon Harper, Andy Lewis
MoM: Matt Bailey - the organiser at the back we have been missing
Cambridge South 2nds, sponsored by PwC, have finally registered our first league win, seeing off fellow strugglers St Ives.
South had started the stronger team, and the ball barely left the St Ives half for the opening five minutes. We had come close to taking the lead from a short, Eliot's drive finding the net, only for the Umpires to rule the goal out on a technicality (they questioned Eliot's patience in waiting for the ball to get into the circle before shooting!).
Having weathered the early South storm with no damage, St Ives began to mount counter-attacks down the South flanks. This stretched the game, and it was from a counter of South's own that they went in front. The ball found it's way to Rob Barton in the circle. He was closed out for a front stick shot, but worked himself to an angle for a trademark reverse stick sweep, which went through a crowd of legs to nestle in the bottom corner.
The lead was doubled soon afterwards, with a very neat goal. Right back Leo Tomita picked up a loose ball coming out of the St Ives circle. His fired cross from the right touchline bisected the defenders and found Eliot Read, who swept hard and accurately at goal. Towards the end of the first half, South were really beginning to assert themselves, and played some good pressing hockey. A 2-0 lead was a fair reflection on a first half in which the visitors 'keeper had been by far the busier.
St Ives came out very strongly after the half-time whistle, and for around five minutes South found it very hard to clear their lines, with passes out of defence going straight on to white sticks. Good harrying by the defenders and midfielders prevent any really clear chances being fashioned, but even so, South 'keeper Jon Price was suddenly more involved in the game than he had been in the first period. So, when the first goal of the half came South's way, it was something of a sucker punch. A short was won, and the ball was slipped right to Rob, neatly side-stepping the St Ives runners. Rob wound up a shot towards the right post, where Simon Harper was on station in front of the 'keeper. Simon added a deflection to the ball, which gave the 'keeper no time to adjust and we were three up, with breathing space.
The goal, coming as it had against the run of play, deflated the visiting side, and the game drifted along for a while, with South looking in good control. Probing down the flanks from Gareth Peat and Stu Creed was creating good situations, but we weren't forcing enough saves out of the St Ives 'keeper, but at the other end tight marking orchestrated (loudly) by sweeper Matt Bailey was keeping the visitors similarly away from Jon P.
The game was shaken out of its reverie with ten minutes to play, when the visitors got a deserved goal. A ball in from the right had looked to be under control with Gareth H and Jon on hand, but it sprung loose and the forward was quick to poke it home. Now South's comfortable win looked under threat, and St. Ives sensed blood. A period of concerted pressure produced some short corners, and one or two very close things. However, for the second time in the match, South nipped this spell in the bud by finish off a short corner routine, this time Andy Lewis firing a clean drive into the backboard. And with that, South's first three points of the league season were secure.
Team played: Jon Price, Matt Bailey, Ron Oren, Jan Brynjolffssen (c), Leo Tomita, Stuart Creed, Gareth Hebbron, Eliot Read, Gareth Peat, Rob Barton, Andy Lewis, Simon Harper, Phil Harvey
March Town Men's V 1 - 2 Cambridge South Men's III
H/T: 0 - 1
Scorers: Simon Ta, James Pope
MoM: Wilco Dijkstra
After many hurried phone calls and emails last week Cambridge South were able to put out a very strong attacking team. South played an untested 3-1-4-2 formation with Wilco playing a new position of a defensive midfilder. With Field Marshall Sneade unable to take part due to his tank beeing stuck in the desert (he had a note) the captancy was handed to raw 3rd team officer James Raikes. Questions were being asked: will James get lost on the way to another away match? Would Phil be with out a hang over? Could Wilco repress his urges and stay in a defensive role?
South started strongly, passing well in all directions with players backing each other up. This enabled South to work the ball quickly around March's defence and create a number of good opportunities, which we were unable to convert. The movement was excellent in open play and on free hits, creating yet more space.
Having March on the back foot, there was a procession of short corners but the lack of a certain James Bridge saw the opportunities wasted. Finnaly near the end of the half, Simon dummyed a pass from the top of the D, slipped a shot between three defenders' legs and John Horsley dummeyed a deflection to allow Simon's shot to squeak in at the corner for the first goal of the match.
March kept trying to break of defence but with Wilco holding his position well, South were able to break down the attacks and link very well with Tim, who was able to move the ball up the pitch again. Both James Sharp and Ian Glover made surging runs from defence to put on even more pressure. The defence was being held strong by Phil and an underworked Ian Evans.
During the second half, after a few substitutions South lost their game plan a little and found themselves stuck in their own half. The ball was being played back to March's midfield giving our attack little opportunity. Suddenly, James Pope skilfully evaded the midfield and played an excellent one-two with Simon and a hard driven shot put South 2-0 in the lead.
A tired South let March come back at them and in a melee in the D a shot squeaked in to bring the game back into March's grasp. South held firm with an excellent holding performance from Tim and the whole of the defensive unit to hold the game of for a 2-1 victory.
From the match South were able to take away some excellent passing and link play experiance and if this can be repeated we will make a good challenge for promotion. The only fault of the game was being drawn into playing March's running game which does not suit us. Man of the match was Wilco with Tim coming a close second proving he does have an aggresive streak to get to the ball first and win possession.
Team played: Ian Evans, Ian Glover, Phil Le Gouais, John Sharp, Wilco Dijkstra, James Raikes (c), Tim Waller, Russell Johnson, John Horsley, James Cobbe, Simon Ta, James Pope
Cambridge City Men's Veterans 2 - 7 Cambridge South Men's Veterans
H/T: 1 - 5
Scorers: Rob Barton (5), James Bridge, David Bridge
South Vets secured their firsts points in the Vets League this season in high-style, comfortably beating town rivals Cambridge City in a match played at the Perse Boys School.
City had turned up for the game with only ten players, and South took advantage of this from the beginning, keeping the ball well and enforcing pressure. This soon turned to goals, with a spectacular opening strike from Rob Barton. He picked up he ball in the right corner of the D by the byline, and then dribbled back outwards past a couple of men to the top edge of the circle, but still at an acute angle. From here he fired in a precise reverse stick shot, in off the far post.
One was soon two in more prosaic style, a quick counter allowing a second reverse sweep from Barton from directly in front, and two was three when Keith Davidson’s run and cross from the right flank found James Bridge on the penalty spot, who crashed home first time.
City found their way forward with a rare attack soon after, and won a short from a poor stick tackle. A clean routine and shot gave Steve Riches, playing in goal for the first time in his life, little chance. However, this was against the tide, with Stephen Fleck, James Bridge and Rob Barton combining well in the spaces left by City being one man light. Barton would profit twice more before the half, one of which was a beautiful goal. Flecky floated a ball into the right channel for Rob to run onto square. From here he drove into the circle and unleashed a purler into the far corner. Off the front stick as well.
With South turning around four in credit, it was to be hoped the win was in the bag. The only concerns were whether City could rain more shots in on Steve, possibly exposing his lack of experience in the pads.
City looked like they might force their way back into the game when a short corner routine was cleared off the line. Debate raged about whether it had been cleared legally or not, South claimed it had been the defenders stick that stopped in City that some foot had also been involved. The Umpires consulted and sided with the home team, who dispatched the ball confidently.
There followed a five-minute spell where the game hung in the balance. Another back for City and South might have got unsettled, but as it turned out it was south who struck next to re-establish the four goal cushion. Flecky's shot from the right was saved by the City keeper, only to run free to David Bridge, all alone by the left post. David controlled, sorted his hands out on the stick, and pushed home from about 50cm.
With this, the game was decided. With the interplay of the front two and Flecky, South had no need to commit extra bodies forward, as there was always a chance of a goal. In fact all three players fashion similar chances for themselves. First Flecky was sprung clean through, took it around the keeper’s right and aimed a reverse stick at the goal. And missed inches left. Then James Bridge was scooting around the keeper the same way. He opted for a reverse stick flick, giving the ball was air for extra purchase. Too much extra purchased, inches wide right. Finally, Barton, the reverse stick specialist was rounding the keeper. This time, a sweep was employed, the backboard was found, and it had turned into a rout.
Team played: Steve Riches; Andrew Milbourn, Andrew Matthews, Graham Cormack, Peter Kemp, Keith Davidson, David Bridge, Stephen Fleck, Ky Ho, Rob Barton, James Bridge