Reports 24th March 2007

Men's 1st XI are beaten 5-2 by Market Deeping I

Men's 2nd XI draw 2-2 with Newmarket I

Men's 3rd XI defeat St Neots V for the fourth time this season, 6-1

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

Men's Veterans XI lose 2 - 9 to Bedford Veterans

 

Market Deeping Men's I 5 - 2 Cambridge South Men's I

H/T: 2 - 1

Scorers: Russell Johnson, Chris Graveling

Cambridge South, proudly sponsored by PwC, finished the season with a 5-2 defeat to fourth placed Market Deeping.

Market Deeping were the first to break the deadlock, scoring after about twelve minutes. They grabbed a second shortly after and looked in danger of running away with the match at this point.

The away side were able to hold Deeping at arm's length, however, and were right back in the game when Russell Johnson scored ten minutes before half time. A cross from the right wasn't effectively dealt with by the home defence and Russell was perfectly position to slide the ball into the corner beyond the despairing right foot of the keeper.

In the second half Market Deeping extended their lead to 3-1 before the away side again pulled themselves back into the game, this time through sweeper Chris Graveling. It was one of Cambridge's best moves of the game and involved some crisp interplay between the midfielders before the ball came across the D and to Chris, unmarked at the far post. His first time sweep shot flew into the far corner before the keeper even had a chance to move.

This defeat ended a four game winning streak for Cambridge, their best run this season, and meant that they finished in sixth place this year. This is the highest the club has finished for many years and captain Chris Baker was understandably delighted with his teams performance this season, saying "I am extremely proud of the entire squad for their effort and commitment throughout the season, which has resulted in a top half of the table finish".

Team played: Steve Parker, Chris Graveling, Rupert Webb, Jim Thorpe, Leo Tomita, James Pope, Chris Baker (c), Mike Thorogood, Russell Johnson, Finn Johnson, Rob Garrett, James Cobbe

 

Cambridge South Men's II 2 = 2 Newmarket Men's I

H/T: 0 - 1

Scorers: Rob Barton, Andy Lewis
MoM: Dave Monck - commanding in central defence, although everyone played their part as we mostly outplayed one of the stronger teams in this league

Newmarket came to Cambridge looking for revenge after the stirring 4 - 3 defeat inflicted by South at their pitch that started their slide down from league leaders to mid table. They seemed to be succeeding as they took the lead shortly before half time; Lino Di Lorenzo was unlucky to find that the point blank shot he had just saved eventually span over the line as everyone wondered where the ball had gone. South did have chances in the first half, with bright new winger Jan Brynjolffssen complementing the attack and actually managing a shot at one stage.

Soon after half time Newmarket went further ahead with a shot into the roof of the net which Lino almost got to. Fortunately the South team remembered that they were at least as good a hockey team as their opponents, and stepped up the pace well, using both flanks, particularly the right with the Bleach/Greaves combination working well. South clawed a goal back with a Rob Barton special. Man of the match Dave Monck found him with an arrow-straight hit out of defence, leaving Barton to shimmy in to the D and nutmeg the keeper.

South grabbed a deserved equaliser from the rejuvenated Andy Lewis, allegedly suffering form a cold, but showing no signs of weakness. He had previously had a certain goal saved on the line by a team mate's foot, so his goal at the third attempt following defensive blocks was some compensation, and required considerable tenacity typifying the excellent never-say-die attitude of South 2nds of late.

Other highlights of the game were the driving play of embryonic midfield general Eddy Nason and a bizzare was-it-a-goal-or-not John Greaves effort that appeared to spin over the goal line before coming back in to pitch.

A draw was probably a fair result that left South in a better-than-might-have-been, but not-as-good-as-we-think-we-deserve eighth place in the final league table.

So the 2006/07 league season ends with the CSHC 2nd team firmly established in 5NW mid table. The top four teams beat us twice, but we at least matched all the others, and only just missed out on a best ever sixth place, mainly due to a couple of silly early season reverses to lower ranked teams.

Team played: Lino Di Lorenzo, Andy Bleach, Dave Monck, James Lee, Eddy Nason, Suk Pannu, Stu Creed, Gareth Hebbron, John Greaves (c), Andy Lewis, Rob Barton, Jan Brynjolffssen

 

St Neots Men's V 1 - 6 Cambridge South Men's III

H/T: 0 - 0

Scorers: Mark Jackson, John Horsley (3), Simon Ta (2)
MoM: Michael Woolley - for great wide play, driving forward and crossing the ball while also tackling back to defend

The final league fixture of the season for Cambridge South Men's 3rds, sponsored by PwC, was a melancholic-tinged affair. Against a team they had already beaten three times this season, South were confident of achieving a result while also aware that their promotion destiny was dependent on other results.

From the start however, St Neots made it clear that they were determined to overturn the prior form book and finally take something off South this season. The early exchanges were evenly matched, with both teams probing the other's defence while failing to create any clear-cut chances. In the latter part of the first half South began to gain the upper hand, with strong play from Colin Singleton and 'Action' Jackson in the centre of midfield and excellent running and crossing down the right wing by Michael Woolley driving the game forward. The pressure resulted in a succession of short corners for South as St Neots were pressed back inside their own 25 but South weren't able to make them count.

At half time the match was still goalless, with South aware that nothing less than a win would do. South captain Neil Sneade exhorted the team to keep playing good hockey and to exploit the width, confident that the pressure would tell in the end. He was proved right shortly after the break, when a hard strike from Action was heading just wide until a clip off a St Neots foot deflected it into the goal.

Having got the breakthrough, South upped the pressure again. Within two minutes, South had doubled their lead through John Horsley, who proceeded to add a further brace to complete his hatrick. St Neots' heads had dropped and leading scorer Simon Ta got in on the action with two goals from a short corner and close range to seal the win, followed by an attempt at a celebratory cartwheel that was more Alan Pardew than Lua Lua.

There was just time for St Neots to grab a consolation goal with literally the last hit of the game, a short corner crisply struck into the bottom corner of the South goal, but South had already secured their eighth victory in a row. A fine end to the league season but even with a gap of more than 20 points back to the fourth placed team, it still may not be enough to secure promotion.

Team played: James Raikes, Neil Sneade (c), Ian Evans, Ian Glover, Matt Kern, John Somerville, Colin Singleton, Wilco Dijkstra, Michael Woolley, John Horsley, Tom Rosselli, Dave Borthwick, Mark Jackson, Simon Ta

 

Cambridge South Ladies' I 3 - 1 Sawtry Ladies I

H/T: 2 - 1

Scorers: Hayley Sharpe, Tash Cox, Jo Read

Cambridge South Ladies, sponsored by PwC, concluded their season in the upbeat manner of much of the campaign with a friendly victory over Sawtry. The win meant South have finished on a run of eight straight wins.

South began the match as the dominant team, penning Sawtry back into their own half for most of the opening twenty minutes. The ball was being moved around nicely, but the final touch and pass was just missing. This changed midway through the half, when Gemma went on a long run from her own half to the Sawtry circle. The visitors keeper blocked Gemma's shot, only for Hayley to clean up with a reverse stick finish from close range.

Sawtry launched a rare break soon after the goal, and won a short; their first of the half, and possibly the only one they forced all match. But their conversion ratio was good as they forced the ball home, aided by South spurning a couple of opportunities to clear. Buoyed by this shock goal, Sawtry had their most productive period of the match, only for South to retake the lead in the dying stages of the half. A similar goal to the equaliser, a short not cleared, and Tash Cox was on hand to force home.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the majority of the first. Sawtry pulled eight players behind the ball, sat deep and invited South to try and pass their way through the crowd. This proved difficult, but with Sawtry offering very little threat, South's win was never in jeopardy, and it was secured near the end when Jo Read was the first to react to a save by the visitor's keeper, knocking the ball home whilst it was airborne near the line.

The match had been set-up at the behest of Sawtry, who have a cup final next Saturday. This could end in a penalty flick competition, so the final action of South Ladies season was a dry run of this for their visitor's benefit. Um, I didn’t count, but Gemma and Hayley both scored some, and Lou saved some…

Thanks to Emma for umpiring the match, her first full game after having completed the theory course. She did well.

Team played: Lou Tonkin; Margot Overbeek, Jodee Webb, Becca Lumb (c), Julie Sadler, Hayley Sharpe, Gemma Thomas, Jo Read, Liles Dee, Tash Cox, Louise Gutteridge

 

Men's Veterans XI 2 - 9 Bedford Men's Veterans XI

H/T: 0 - 4

Scorers: Rob Barton, James Bridge
MoM: Lino Di Lorenzo

A catalogue of injuries had seen South Vet's usual squad only able to muster five players. After a call around the rest of the club for those of Vets age, or nearly so (*ahem*), eleven were mustered, but in a fairly scratch side.

Bedford, on the other hand, brought along their usual players and the extra teamwork they brought to bear saw they able to work a free body in the circle on far too many occasions. Lino had to be at his best in the first half to keep the score down to four…

The second period opened with a ray of hope for South. Rob Barton was fed the ball in the right channel, he drove across the top of the circle, and went for a trademark reverse stick sweep; this one had lift and found the top corner. However, despite a good five minutes following this, the first half pattern was soon re-asserted, Bedford scoring at regular intervals.

That the score was halted at nine for the match was mainly due to an inspired performance between the sticks from Lino. The best save came from a short corner; having decided his runners were not getting out fast enough, Lino was coming flying off his line as well to get straight shots smothered. Bedford had clocked this, and went for a lobbed flick over Lino’s head; Lino climbed smartly at the ball and padded it over the bar.

At the other end, South added a second consolation when James Bridge was feed the ball at the edge of the circle. He took his time, and gave the keeper the eyes, wrong-footing him as he flicked the ball into the corner.

Team played: Lino Di Lorenzo, Jan Brynjolffssen, Kevin Pride, Dave Maynard (c), Ky Ho, Keith Davidson, James Bridge, Wilco Dijkstra, Kevin Rowland, Rob Barton, John Greaves