Reports 1st December 2007

Men's 1st XI lost 4-2 to University 3rds

Men's 2nd XI beat St Neot's 3rds 4-1

Men's 3rd XI beat Long Sutton 3rds 2-0

Men's 4th XI drew 0-0 with St Neots 5ths

Ladies 1st XI beat City of Peterborough 3rds 6-1

Ladies 2nd XI beat St Neots 4ths 2-0
 

Cambridge University Men's III 4 - 2 Cambridge South Men's I

H/T: 2 - 2

Scorers: Rob Garrett, Chris Graveling

Cambridge South 1sts, proudly sponsored by PwC, twice took the lead in this fast-paced game before falling to two goals late in the second half.

The teams were evenly matched in the first half as the home side enjoyed more possession but were unable to create any clear-cut chances. South were happy to attack on the break, utilising their fast pace up front, and it was on one of these breakaways that they opened the scoring. Robert Garrett carried the ball into the D and slipped it beneath the on-rushing goalkeeper. The University hit back soon after, before Chris Graveling restored Cambridge South's lead via a short-corner. The home side equalised for a second time to leave the score 2-2 at half time.

A win for Cambridge South would have put them level with University in third place in the league, but the recently relegated home side were keen to continue their push for promotion this season, and pressed hard in the second half for the winner. Cambridge South, though, created the first clear chance of the half and only a goal-line clearance kept the scores level. The home side did break through eventually, and two goals in the space of ten minutes effectively sealed the win for the students.

South now lie in 5th in the league and will look to get back to winning ways against March Town 2nds next week.

Team played: Steve Parker; Chris Graveling, John Benedikz, Jim Thorpe, Rupert Webb, Russell Johnson, Chris Baker (c), Mike Thorogood, Eliot Read, Tim Clapp, Rob Garrett, James Cobbe

 

Cambridge South Men's II 4 - 1 St Neots Men's III

H/T: 1 – 1

Scorers: Kev Rowland (2), Rob Barton (2)
MoM: Jointly to Finn Johnson for his midfield play and Ron Oren for commanding at the back and long arm tackles.
LoM: Kev Rowland for wanting to touch Rob Barton as a reality check that Rob really had turned up on time!

Cambridge South 2nd XI, proudly sponsored by PWC, hosted St. Neots 3rd XI at the Leys for a match that had the potential for a very important three points. The division between the upper and lower half of the league table has been stretching.

After the first whistle, the St. Neots squad left the blocks quicker than the home team. For the first fifteen minutes, St. Neots moved the ball intelligently with their midfield and created good pressure in South’s half. Some loose marking during this stage of play made for a few heart in the mouth moments that led to scrambles in the D to clear the ball.

South’s first real opportunity was after a short corner was awarded halfway through the first half. The ball was stopped effectively from push-out and Kev Rowland took a shot that bamboozled the goalkeeper, coming off his right leg and into the goal. The plan at this stage was to keep this lead until halftime or build on it. However, quick build-up play by St. Neots led to the ball being played into South’s D, where two forwards were waiting unmarked. This left ‘keeper Lino Di Lorenzo exposed and resulted in a relatively easy goal. South pushed hard before halftime to regain the advantage. However, the second half began at one all.

Having raised their game in the last twenty minutes of the first half, South consolidated their dominance in the second half. Finn Johnson looked comfortable in central midfield with Gareth Hebron, working together to create play across the park, using the wide players who were consistently finding space. Matt Kern, making a welcome return, drove the ball effectively up the right wing linking with the forwards well. Colin Singleton’s fitness and tenacity as always was impressive, with well considered and accurate passing, contributing to the greater South possession of the ball. Dave Stock showed his all round skills, involved with the build-ups and ensuring that he was there in a defensive role, pushing their wide player into stifled play.

South’s second short corner of the match was slipped right by Kev to Rob Barton with hunger for goals in his eyes, he looked up for a pass across the goal to waiting attackers, however he intelligently sized up the situation in a second, took the ball round a player and shot at the gap he noted a millisecond earlier. Great finish to put South up 2-1. Rob consolidated his form later in the half, finishing off a flowing end-to-end move that began when right at the back when Lino kicked clear to right-back Jan Brynjolffssen. Jan passed down the wing to Matt, who drove the ball forward before making an accurate pass to Rob, in space high on the left side of the circle. It could only mean one thing…a reverse stick sweep, which took flight catching the keeper by surprise, into top right of the goal. 3-1 South.

St Neots pushed hard with counter attacks but with the South defence, being organised well by Ron Oren the marking looked increasingly disciplined. The tackles by Jan, George Wych and Andy Passmore just in front off and in the D looked clean, composed and skilful greatly frustrating the visiting side. Any lesser skills would have led to many short corners being conceded. These were few and notably well defended by the back 5. Lino quickly hitting the deck during one to make great save with his stick at the right post, and Jan stopping a shot with his stick just in front of the corner injector, who was waiting to turned it into the goal.

South’s final goal started with an accurate clearance from Andy down the left wing into acres of unguarded space. Finn chased hard to retrieve the ball before it went dead, took the ball to the outside of the D put in a pacey cross to a waiting Kev who got the ball under control and quickly swept the ball inside the left post left exposed by the keeper.

4-1 South, who were the far better team on the day, especially the partnership of Kev and Rob up front, which worked well. Captain Kev Rowland was delighted with the team performance today “every member of the team looked good out there today, they played with composure and intelligence in their own roles and as team. Playing like that and finishing in the D really showed what the 2nd XI can do”

Team played: Lino Di Lorenzo; Jan Brynjolffssen, Ron Oren, George Wych, Andy Passmore, Dave Stock, Matt Kern, Gareth Hebbron, Colin Singleton, Finn Johnson, Kevin Rowland (c), Rob Barton

 

Long Sutton Men's III 0 - 2 Cambridge South Men's III

H/T: 0 - 1

Scorers: James Pope, Andy Lewis
MoM: Lino Di Lorenzo. One miraculous save, and hero status (along with Andy Passmore) for whizzing up to Long Sutton after already playing a tough home game.

Cambridge South 3rds, sponsored by PwC, travelled up to Long Sutton hoping that 11 players would arrive before the push back. Luckily they did and all 11 played their part in a convincing victory over a rather physical but fit and "up for it" mid table opposition.

The first goal took time to arrive but a Greaves-Pope short corner routine did the trick, with James Pope manoeuvring the ball well to get in his shot, which thundered into the back board. Long Sutton had the better of the play for a period in the second half but one wonder save and all round dominance of the penalty area by goalkeeper Lino Di Lorenzo meant that they got in few shots. Andy Lewis, who had been a threat throughout along with James Pope, the tigerish Rupert Espley and Paul South attacking from midfield, wrapped up the scoring. Lewis dribbled seemingly away from danger, and shot from a narrow angle, confusing the defence who could only parry the ball into the net.

CSouth had had enough other chances including one great move ending with a Greaves shot against a post, and other efforts from Espley, Pope and Lewis, but were unable to improve their goal difference further. This performance, with no weak links, great commitment, some smart hockey, and desire to help one another throughout, keeps CSouth 3rds near the top of the table.

Team played: Lino Di Lorenzo; Ian Evans, Ian Glover, Andy Passmore, James Pope, Suk Pannu, Wilco Dijkstra, Paul South, Rupert Espley, John Greaves (c), Andy Lewis

 

Cambridge South Men's IV 0 - 0 St Neots Men's V

H/T: 0 - 0

As they cliché goes, this was a game of two halves. Cambridge South 4ths, sponsored by PwC, dominated the first half without getting the breakthrough with St Neots' goalkeeper making a number of good saves.

The second half a different story, a combination of St Neots 5ths picking themselves up and CS 4ths trying to be a bit too adventurous by pushing an extra man up, thus allowing 'a hole' to develop just in front of the defence of which St Neots took full advantage. CSHC did well to keep St Neots at bay and the full time score was a fair result of 0-0.

Team played: Shahbaz Ali; Ky Ho, Dave Monck, David Bridge, Rob Barton, Seb Dias, Shahzad Ali, Tom Warne, Finn Johnson, Tim Waller, James Raikes (c)

 

City of Peterborough Ladies III 1 - 6 Cambridge South Ladies I

H/T: 1 - 4

Scorers: Gemma Thomas, Emma Clarke (4), Anne Keislair
MoM: Emma Clarke

Cambridge South ladies, sponsored by PwC, got lost on the way to Peterborough. Eventually, with directions from Gemma, the pitch was found and the team psyche up could begin. It appeared as though Peterborough were once more without a full complement of players, however this was rectified shortly after push back, so South had to readapt quickly. With the sun in their eyes South had many chances in the first half, only to be kept at bay by the Peterborough Keeper. Initially, South looked edgy and without their usual sharpness. The first penalty corner of the game served to settle nerves as Gemma Thomas flicked one past the City keeper.

South settled into their pass and move game and put away 3 more goals before half time, 2 for Emma Clarke and 1 for Anne Keislair. Peterborough got a break through, with a speedy attack (Bek: 'I should learn to keep my legs shut') giving a half time score of 4-1.

In the second half South were more relaxed and the link up play that has been so successful in previous games returned. In particular Anne was very effective on the right wing, with balls fired across the D, two of which were met flawlessly by Emma to give her four for the game! Peterborough lost much of their fight and the shots rained in on their keeper, the post was hit twice, two shots skimmed the posts and Gemma managed to beat the whole Peterborough team from the right sideline to the left side byline, only to be thwarted at the last by the excellent goalkeeper.

Peterborough defended hard to the end and South could not put more past them. Nonetheless, another convincing win moves South into top spot on goal difference.

Team played: Lou Tonkin; Bek Rhodes, Emma Clarke, Tash Cox, Hayley Sharpe (jc), Gemma Thomas (jc), Julie Sadler, Louisa Richmond-Coggan, Ciara Metcalfe, Liles Dee, Anne Keislair, Helen Niblock

 

Cambridge South Ladies II 2 - 0 St Neots Ladies IV

H/T: 0 - 0

Scorers: Juliet Fullwood, Charlie Orrock
MoM: Juliet Fullwood

After a 2-0 victory on their previous encounter with St Neots, Cambridge South 2nds, sponsored by PwC, went into this match optimistic that a victory could be theirs, particularly as Cambridge Ladies had played St Neots the previous week and had beaten them 8-0. The team had a few new faces and was missing a fundamental player in their captain Vicky, who was unfortunately absent on the day due. However, Louise stepped into the Captains role for this game with the support of Rupert and Johnny B from the Men's 1sts on the sidelines and later some of the Ladies 1sts.

South were raring to go from the start and linked up well from the beginning with Juliet and AI made some great runs through midfield, linking up with Daisy and Bex who found themselves in space. Some great shots were saved by the opposition's goalie and St Neots started stuffing their 'D' with defenders to make sure no passes got through. With St. Neots playing such a defensive game it looked like turning into a bit of a turkey of a match, with the ball stuck between the halfway line and their 25 as South struggled to break the visitors packed defence down.

St Neots changed players around half way through the first half and this provided them with a bit more pace. However, Lottie, Louise and Sarah blocked most passes before St Neots got into the South's 25 and cleared the ball making some great passes wide to Nicky and Jodee to drive the ball back at St Neots. Even when St Neots made it past South's 25 Paula, who even though this was her first game as sweeper, cleared the ball easily leaving Cassie with little to do but cheer us on. Even though the pressure was all ours, St Neots still managed to thwart our attacks in the D so at half time the scoreline was 0-0.

South had an encouraging team time talk from its supporters and were confident that perseverance was needed as South could out pace St Neots and that eventually a goal or two would come. Bex departed at half time to be replaced by Charlie who moved to Right wing and Daisy switched sides to the left. St Neots started the second half strongly but South pushed on and a short corner was won from a foot in the D. Daisy injected the ball to Juliet who scored South's first goal of the game with a great strike. South pushed back at St Neots and within very little time another short corner was awarded in South's favour. Daisy made a short pass to Jodee who after passing to and from Juliet swept the ball at the goal to be finished off by Charlie, giving a 2-0 score line. South maintained the pressure through to the end of the game resulting in a 2-0 victory. Although it was a frustrating start South persevered to finish 3 points up on 2-0.

Team played: Cassie Woodfin; Jodee Webb, Louise Gutteridge (c), Bex Baker, Anne-Isabelle Richard-Picchi, Sarah Aves, Charlie Orrock, Juliet Fullwood, Daisy Watts, Paula Lynch, Nicky Bareham, Lottie Webb