Reports 5th April 2008

Men's 3rd XI win 3-1 at Wisbech Town V to clinch promotion

Men's 4th XI game against Royston V was cancelled

Mixed XI win 6-5 at the Wild Geese (aka Pelicans of Kings Lynn)

March Town Men's II 2 - 3 Cambridge South Men's I

H/T: 0 – 1

Scorers: Mark Taylor (3)

Cambridge South, proudly sponsored by PwC, finished the season with a 3-2 win at March Town 2nds and in so doing secured 4th place in Division 3NW.

Anything other than victory had the potential of dropping the team down a few places, so captain Chris Baker was keen to ensure a professional and disciplined performance. March were third from bottom and without the possibility of moving either up or down the league on the final day, they had only pride to play for. The away side's game plan was undermined before they arrived at the pitch, though, with a number of regulars absent from the team and further complications caused when Chris Massey came down with flu in the morning.

Nonetheless, Cambridge managed to control much of the first half and went in at half time 1-0 up thanks to a Mark Taylor goal. March had threatened occasionally, but were unable to create any clear-cut chances. They started the second half with more determination and urgency, though, sensing the possibility of grabbing a point or more, but a second goal from Mark Taylor 10 minutes into the half should have settled the game.

Unfortunately, Cambridge started to lose their structure - left back Ron Oren having to leave the pitch through injury surely didn't help - and March Town got a goal back midway through the half. Only a few minutes later and they'd equalised when the marking from the Cambridge midfield went AWOL. It was now end-to-end stuff with both sides fighting for the winner. Scares at both ends followed, as defences got jittery. Then, with only 30 seconds remaining, a sweeping move up the centre of the pitch involving Robert Garrett and Chris Baker opened an opportunity for Mark Taylor, who completed his hattrick by burying the rebound after the March 'keeper had saved his first effort.

Captain Chris Baker commented, "This team never do it the easy or relaxing way, but we got there in the end and secured a victory which guaranteed the fourth spot that the whole squad wanted so badly."

Team played: Steve Parker; John Sharp, Jim Thorpe, Rich Morgan, Ron Oren, Rupert Webb, Chris Baker (c), Mike Thorogood, Chris Massey, Robert Garrett, James Cobbe, Mark Taylor

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

H/T: 0 - 0

Scorers: Dave Stock (2)
MoM: George Wych - for interrupting a holiday in Scotland to fly in and play the match.
LoM: Gareth Hebbron - for his pratfall during the warm-up

Cambridge South 2nds, sponsored by PwC, needed two late goals from teenage forward Dave Stock to keep their recent winning run going on Saturday.

South had come into the game in strong form and started the match in that fashion, pinning Newmarket back. Skipper Kevin Rowland came close to giving his side the lead when he picked up the ball near the top of the circle and made space for a shot on the turn, only to see the ball just pass wide of the upright. South were causing a major fuss in the Newmarket circle whenever they got there, especially through the stick skills of Al Sinclair, but somehow the scrambles never dropped to a forward’s stick.

After the fast start, however, South appeared to relax from the fast tempo game that suits them best into the more considered pace that Newmarket wished to play the game at. With the tempo in their favour, the visitors began to boss the midfield, working the South defence around, though only a couple of direct shots from narrow angles were allowed on Jon Price’s net.

Another feature of the first half, and indeed the match, was some decision making from both umpires that surprised both teams. Not that there was any suggestion of bias from either umpiring party; they were fairness personified. In fact, as one of the Newmarket players pointed out, “They are both trying so hard to be fair that they are giving everything and anything against their own club!”. Unfortunately the behaviour of both sets of players when confronted by this somewhat let themselves down. Umpires are of course human, and can make errors. They give up their time to make sure our games can go ahead, so shouting at them when you feel they have got a decision wrong is a pretty foolish way to act (mea culpa on this one!). Even worse from a playing perspective was that players from both teams were failing to play the whistle, which led to some dangerous defensive situations for both teams as defenders stopped and attackers didn’t. South engaging in this prompted an expletive laden half-time rant from their normally laid back and super-positive sweeper Neil Sneade.

Also discussed at half-time was South bringing pace back into their game, which was generally felt to be the method by which Newmarket could be bested. Again, the start was positive, and early in the half South had a great chance to take the lead when Colin Singleton picked out Al up against the last man. Al’s control of the ball took him clean through, but his driven shot only found the foot of the post and the rebound was cleared away. At the other end, the South backline was doing a generally good job of keeping Newmarket outside the circle. On one of the few occasions when they did penetrate, a rising shot was directed towards the right corner of Jon’s net which needed an excellent volleyed stick save to keep it out.

The game entered it’s final quarter with the score still goalless (time as judged by South having made their final planned rolling sub, Kev coming on for Stephen Fleck at holding midfield), when Newmarket took the lead. Last week the South defence switched off when defending a free hit just outside their circle, leaving a player completely unmarked by a post, who promptly scored. They don’t seem to have learned from their mistake as Newmarket’s goal came from precisely the same route: a player waiting by the back post was picked out by a free-hit, and though he still had a bit to do in controlling the ball and reverse-flicking it over Jon’s despairing stick, he managed this quite neatly. To quote Benjamin Franklin, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Maybe the South defence ought to consult their psychiatrists?

In the course of the Newmarket goal, Gareth Hebbron had been clouted on the thumb, which prompted a brief hiatus to the game. Gaz left the field after commenting that “It feels all weird”, to be replaced at right midfield by Flecky, who had only grabbed the briefest of rests. To quote another well-worn aphorism ‘necessity is the mother of invention’. Within two minutes of Newmarket’s goal, Flecky, in his new position, had created South’s equaliser. He dribbled down the right and crossed powerfully. The ball deflected off a Newmarket foot on its way across, but the Umpire let the play continue as the ball dropped for Dave Stock to force a sweep shot home (having complained about the Umpiring earlier, it is only right to mention really good pieces of officiating, and this advantage was a perfect example of it’s kind. It would have been all too easy for the whistle to have already gone for a South short-corner).

With Newmarket having gone ahead and then been pegged back so quickly, all the momentum was with South. One rapid sequence of passing found Dave for a second sweep shot, which struck the outside of the post, before, with five minutes left, some neat interplay on the right between Jan Brynjolffssen, Flecky and Al got the latter to the byline out on the right. Al drove along the base, before pulling the ball back for Dave, arriving in the right channel; Dave’s third sweep shot in quick succession produced his second goal of the day.

Newmarket tried to press on in the limited remaining time, but South’s backline held them at arms length, before managing to get the ball upfield. With shouts of “keep it in the corner”, South sucked the remaining seconds from the match to record their fifth win in a row, and eighth from ten games since Christmas (only champions Horncastle have picked up more points since the mid-season break). The victory was also South’s ninth from their eleven home matches (third best in the division), and meant that South have beaten all of the sides in 5NW, bar Horncastle, at least once. With a re-arranged match at Bourne to play next week, South could still finish third in the table, which would represent a very decent return from the season.

Commenting on the game, skipper Kev said "The first half had me a little concerned but the team showed again how we can respond to what needs to be done, changing the pace and raising the game, to bring home the points. A gratifying win for everyone." He added "I was relieved my shorts didn't have a hole in them this week!”.

Team played: Jon Price; Jan Brynjolffssen, Neil Sneade, George Wych, Stephen Fleck, Colin Singleton, Gareth Hebbron, Dave Stock, Matt Kern, Tim Clapp, Kevin Rowland (c), Al Sinclair

Wisbech Town Men's V 1 - 3 Cambridge South Men's III

H/T: 1 - 1

Scorers: John Greaves, Andy Lewis, Rob Barton
Man of the match: James Pope - human dynamo; a constant threat, and Jon Price - stopping everything that came near.

Cambridge South 3rds, sponsored by PwC, started this must-win game purposefully, and were unlucky not to take an immediate lead as a Paul South effort was disallowed after a defender deflected it slightly. Luckily, the away team took the lead soon after as John Greaves got on to the end of a Stuart Creed cross to sweep the ball goalwards. Wisbech came back into the game, mainly through fast breaks, and were rewarded with a textbook short corner routine that ended in an unstoppable shot from range.

CSouth made tactical changes at half time, which bore fruit as they dominated the second half. The win, and promotion, was assured through further goals from Andy Lewis - a Rob Barton long corner turned on by Simon Ta for Andy L to smash into goal - and Rob Barton. This last goal was made by skipper John Greaves battling with keeper, digging the ball out for Barton to slide it home.

The team played well in all positions, from assertive defending by LeePassmoreEvans cutting out attacks before reaching the danger area, James Pope and his fellow midfielders turning defence into attack and producing numerous probing passes, and the lively attack unfortunate not to score more goals, but getting into good positions and getting shots in.

Celebrations at the end were indicative of a job well done against a sporting and skilful Wisbech team. The league season ends with a second successive promotion for the CSouth 3rd's, now up into Div 5NW for the first time.

Team played: Jon Price; Ian Evans, James Lee, Andy Passmore, James Pope, Wilco Dijkstra, Paul South, Rupert Espley, Stuart Creed, John Greaves (c), Andy Lewis, Simon Ta, Rob Barton

Cambridge South Men's IV c - c Royston Men's V

Match cancelled.

Wild Geese 5 - 6 Southerners (Sunday 6th April)

H/T: 2 - 3

Scorers: Wilco Dijkstra, Chris Baker (2), Jan Brynjolffssen, Bex Baker, Rupert Webb
MoM: Helen Niblock - a constant threat on the right flank, with a couple of assists to her name.

Cambridge South’s mixed team, the Southerners, made the journey up the A10 to King’s Lynn to play the Wild Geese (aka Pelicans HC) in their final game of the winter season. The fixture had been beset by scheduling problems. The original date selected had to been postponed after South Ladies 2nds got to the League Cup final, and then the start time of the re-arranged date was also shifted at shortish notice to 15:00, after Pelicans’ Girls’ U-15 side received a home draw in the National Cup quarter-finals (Peli's won 5-0). And then on the morning of the match, your reporter awoke to a three-centimetre blanket of snow on the ground, a surprise given the spring-like weather of the previous few days. A swift call confirmed that the Norfolk coast had escaped the reminder that it’s only early April, and it was game on.

The late change in the start time had seen Rupert casting around during the week for enough players. The call to arms was well heeded, as a band of 12, drawn from all six sides in the club, gathered for the match. Most were able to fulfil positions akin to their regular spots, with only Lou playing outfield at right-back, and Jan, having finally succeeded in a season long campaign of bending captains ears, starting up front [Rupert had five defenders and only one forward, so someone had to ‘guest’ up there!]. Also in the side were Bex and Chris B, meaning that an intriguing sideshow would be the battle for top spots in the goal kings table, with this being the last chance for any of the leading contenders to make their marks. Beforehand Bex was in 2nd on 22 goals, Chris 3rd on 21. Mark Taylor’s hattrick for the Men’s 1sts on Saturday had probably secured him 1st with 25 goals, but the silver was definitely up for grabs.

South have found the Geese difficult opponents in the past, so an encouraging start was sought to get some self-belief going. In the event it took less than 15 seconds… South’s played the traditional friendly centre-pass straight to the Geese and ambled up field after it, giving the receiver time to collect and make an uncontested pass. He picked out his left-back, but she dribbled into Helen, who won the ball and instantly found Jan in the circle. Jan pulled it back to Wilco, suddenly sprinting in towards goal. The pass reached him in an awkward position, meaning he had to leap to get his feet out of the way whilst getting his stick down to sweep his shot. As Wilco plunged inelegantly to the floor, the ball went towards the ‘keeper, who could only kick it into the corner of the net. Talk about a spirit raiser.

Around ten minutes in, the Geese levelled the scores. Their male players seemed quicker than the Southerners, dribbling the ball around and past people and thereby causing chaos in defence. A raid down the left channel ended with a shot that Shahbaz did well to close down and save. Unfortunately the rebound went straight back to a Goose, who squared for an unmarked colleague to push into the gapping net.

South could have been rocked by this, but player-of-the-match Helen soon intervened to get them going again. Once again her contribution was to rob the left-back of the ball and then make instant and effective use it with a pass that gave Chris B space and time in the right channel. He advanced into the circle and fired a cross-shot into the far corner. 2-1. Or 22-all. Depending on which you consider more important.

It soon got even better for South. Another swift counter-attack found Bex in the circle with the chance of a shot. It hit a defender’s shin, but fell to Jodee. Her first shot was saved by the ‘keeper, but again the rebound ran South’s way as Jodee was able to shot again. This time she beat the ‘keeper, but with a defender on the line, Jan chose to redirect with his reverse stick from a yard out, nutmegging the final player. An almighty scramble if one is frank, but they all count. And a 3-1 lead over opponents like these is not to be sniffed at.

The Geese had the final say of the opening half, with a goal that demonstrated the ease with which they could cut through the Southerners, if the defence wasn't on it's mettle. The ball seemed to be going nowhere on halfway when a Goose affected a class pick-up of a ball that had seemed behind him. This move wrong-footed three South players, leaving a huge hole for the pacy home player to drive into. With no-one able to make the ground on him, he took the ball into the circle, around an utterly exposed Shahbaz and tapped in.

The sides turned around with South’s lead looking precariously. But once again the visitors were quickest out of the traps. An first-minute attack reached Chris in the left channel. His shot was missing right but it found Jan lurking. Jan’s attempt to deflect the ball across the face to strike partner Bex, unmarked by the far post, was well saved by the goalie, with the ball rolling out for a long corner. From the corner, Chris found Jodee on the top of the circle; she controlled well and got a shot away that looped high off a defensive stick. As the ‘keeper waited for it to drop he suddenly found Jan, who was again lurking, in front of him again attempting to deflected the dropping ball square to Bex, still unmarked on the far post. The volleyed contact was true, and Bex had a tap in from a yard out. 23-22.

As time was wearing away, the Geese’s male players were becoming less relaxed about whether they could score enough goals to rescue the win. So they started pushing forward from their nominally deep positions. This got them back in touch when some simple, accurate passing worked a player free at the top of the circle. He fired into the corner of Shahbaz’s net for 4-3.

But pushing up like that was not only overloading the Southerners defence, it was also leaving the Geese with only two back to cope with any South counters. When one of these produced a short, the routine found it’s way to Bex. Her attempt was saved but broke for Chris, whose shot seemed to be in until it struck a defenders shin on the line. Penalty flick. Skipper Rupert stepped up to the spot, and placed the ball confidently into the bottom left corner. Minutes later, the Southerners caught the Geese out again. The sweeper dallied, Jan closed her down and won a battle for the ball. Jan passed into the channel for Chris, clean through. Chris lifted the ball over the stick of the on-rushing ‘keeper and into the far corner to give South a three goal cushion, 6-3. And 23-all.

Past games between the teams have almost without fail seen the Geese score five times. I can remember at least six results, ranging from 5-0 to 5-3, with 5-1 the most popular scoreline. Now with 15 minutes to play, and they had three and needed at least six. With about ten minutes to go it was four, with another lighting dribble from midfield going straight through the middle of the Southerners defence. The attacker drew Shahbaz and lifted a reverse stick flick over him. Jan, now playing at centre-back, got a piece of it on the volley but couldn’t stop it going in. And then with less than two minutes to go, the Geese scored the best goal of the match. Their captain Lee was picked out in the left channel. Shahbaz flew out to confront him, only for Lee to flick the ball over him and into the far top corner. Spectacular.

The Geese had their usual quota of five, but with so little time to play they didn’t get into the Southerner circle again to try and surpass themselves. Which meant we had won! A brilliant result for the Mixed, who like most other aspects of the club have competed at a new level this season. They were indebted to the performance of a number of individuals, not least player of the match Helen, but also to ‘keeper Shahbaz who yet again had a fine game, making many saves. If he let in five, he probably saved a further ten.

Team selected: Shahbaz Ali; Lou Tonkin, Vicky Lavis, Rupert Webb (c), Ian Glover, Ron Oren, Helen Niblock, Jodee Webb, Chris Baker, Wilco Dijkstra, Jan Brynjolffssen, Bex Baker