Reports 8th March 2008
Men's 1st XI lose 0-5 to Cambs Nomads II
Men's 2nd XI beat Market Deeping III 1-0
Men's 3rd XI lose narrowly 2-3 to St Neots IV
Men's 4th XI concede a walkover to March Town V
Ladies 1st XI win 3-0 against Wisbech Town II
Ladies 2nd XI win 5-0 at Wisbech Town III
Cambridge South Men's I 0 - 5 Cambs Nomads Men's II
H/T: 0 - 2
Cambridge South, proudly sponsored by PwC, lost 5-0 to local rivals Cambridge Nomads on Saturday. An uncharacteristically disjointed display from the home side was punished by some slick passing and neat finishing from the away side, as they narrowed the gap between the two teams.
Nomads enjoyed the majority of the possession as they forced South onto the back foot right from the start and starved the home side's front line of the ball. South were organised in defence, but a well-executed short corner routine broke the deadlock mid-way through the first half. A second goal arrived just before half-time when the ball broke to an un-marked Nomads attacker in the D.
South improved in the second half, and put some better passing moves together and were unlucky not to get back into the game when Mark Taylor fired narrowly wide from close range. Nomads were always looking dangerous going forward, though, and in ruthless fashion they hit 3 more goals before full time.
Captain Chris Baker commented that it was "A very disappointing performance, we never really got into our stride"
Team played: Steve Parker; John Benedikz, Chris Graveling, Nick Young, Rich Morgan, Chris Baker (c), Mike Thorogood, Rupert Webb, Chris Massey, Lukas Snetler, Robert Garrett, Mark Taylor
Market Deeping Men's III 0 - 1 Cambridge South Men's II
H/T: 0 – 0
Scorer: Dave Monck
Cambridge South 2nd XI, sponsored by PWC, travelled to Market Deeping with the intention of maintaining their top half position in the league.
It wasn’t the fluid game that the team exhibited in last weeks fixture, but one that was scrappy though nonetheless hard fought with full effort put in by the squad. The first half saw plenty of opportunities missed by Market Deeping with some creative passing that put South on the back foot. South put in their share of counter-attacks but the score remained 0-0 at half time.
Skipper Kev was not playing due to injury but was able to observe what was happening on the astro. At half time his call was for the same good work ethic to continue but to use this energy toward a passing game to keep possession and create more goal scoring opportunities.
The team responded and the second half saw South with the advantage. The Market Deeping defence were now on the back foot but a goal in open play was frustratingly hard to achieve. It took a well taken South short corner to gain the lead. The ball was struck hard and true by Dave Monck with nothing the Deeping defence could do to stop it.
Both teams created chances after this but the South defence saw off a number of Deeping short corners well with determination and focus. The closing minutes of the game saw South under pressure and led to a nail biting finish.
Kev’s post match quote was "It was the hard work and effort that paid off today, not the best game in terms of passing and possession however it showed how the guys are really able to dig deep for the whole duration. A well earned 3 points."
Team played: Jon Price; Neil Sneade, Dave Monck, Ron Oren, Ian Evans, Gareth Hebbron (c), Colin Singleton, Tim Clapp, Dave Stock, Andy Lewis, Rob Barton
Cambridge South Men's III 2 - 3 St Neots Men's IV
H/T: 1 - 2
Scorers: Rupert Espley, Alex Scally
MoM: Their number 77. A hockey player, but not as we know it, Jim
A skilful St Neots team, bearing little resemblance to the one that appeared for the early season fixture, started the way they intended to continue with a simple, but effective short corner move to take the lead. Cambridge South 3rds, sponsored by PwC, played with great resolve and putting together good passing moves, got an equaliser, as midfield dynamo Stuart Creed took the ball upfield, and shot towards the far corner of the net, where newcomer Alex Scally was lurking to help it into goal.
This only encouraged St Neots to retake the lead from another short corner just before half time.
The best goal of the game was the second CSouth equaliser, which showed that the home team could do short corner routines too. Greaves to Creed to Espley for the latter to flick the ball calmly over the keeper. Espley and Greaves were combining well in attack, but the excellent and robust St Neots defence prevented them from getting too close to goal. The home team had chances, from Paul South, Stuart Creed and the forwards, but it was St Neots who got the winner, from a cross which was turned into goal at shoulder height, surprising everyone around.
CSouth played well, but St Neots had the aces, and a resolute (and once more reshaped) home defence coupled with battling midfield and purposeful attack were not enough to get CSouth 3rds back to winning ways. It seems that other 6NW teams are getting stronger for the run in at the end of the season, and the CSouth lead at the top of the league is down to 2 points, with 2 games to go.
Team played: Shahbaz Ali; Martin Grove, Stephen Fleck, James Lee, Matt Kern, Stuart Creed, Wilco Dijkstra, Rupert Espley, Simon Harper, Paul South, James Hodge, John Greaves (c), Alex Scally
March Town Men's V 3 - 0 Cambridge South Men's IV
Match conceded as a walkover by South.
Cambridge South Ladies I 3 - 0 Wisbech Town Ladies II
H/T: 1 - 0
Scorers: Emma Clarke (2), Claire Wylie
MoM: Gemma Thomas
After a draw last week against close rivals Ely, Cambridge South, proudly sponsored by PwC, were in charge of their own fate. With the knowledge that Ely were likely to get 3 points, South had to win this game to guarantee the runner's up spot. In addition South would say farewell to Bek, Gemma and Ellie H as this is likely (they'll be back muhahahaha!) to be their last competitive match for them with us. South struggled for players this week, but managed to start with 11.
Suffering from a number of injuries, Emma Clarke assumed a new role as a high centre forward, and successfully caused trouble for the Wisbech defence. South began brightly but moves were broken down as we tried to go through rather than round the Wisbech players. Cassie and the South defence were busy in the first period but dealt with any threats well.
At the other end, Gemma retrieved possession in the centre of the pitch and made a characteristic run for the D, Emma was making a run across goal and Gemma slotted the ball through the defence for Emma to angle her stick and deflect the ball brilliantly between the post and the keeper to give South the lead. It continued to be a niggly affair with stick tackles everywhere.
After half time South came out passing. Tash and Liles worked the ball well on the right, Margot and Ellie kept the Wisbech wingers at bay. An attack down the right lead to a cross into the D that was coolly finished off by Emma. At 2-0 South’s confidence grew and they enjoyed most of the possession. South had success down both wings and a mistake in the defence left Hayley through on goal, a pass around the last defender left Claire with only the keeper to beat, and she did, 3-0. However, Wisbech kept going and Cassie was forced to dive for a save.
Everyone played well to ensure South nicked the runner's up place. MoM votes went to Bek, Hayley, Ciara, Ellie R and Liles, but Gemma deservedly won for all her efforts in the middle, creating attacks and stopping Wisbech in their tracks. Ellie H and Caroline made an appearance in the last 6 minutes. We celebrated a fantastic season. In the words of Ellie Raffan "We're really great". Well done to everyone who played for us this season.
Team played: Gemma Thomas(jc), Hayley Sharpe(jc), Emma Clarke, Tash Cox, Liles Dee, Ellie Raffan, Margot Overbeek, Cassie Woodfin, Bek Rhodes, Claire Wylie, Ciara Metcalfe, Ellie Herbert, Caroline Dent
Wisbech Town Ladies III 0 - 5 Cambridge South Ladies II
H/T: 0 - 4
Scorers: Mel Harrison (3), Bex Baker, Anne-Isabelle Richard-Picchi
MoM: Jointly to Charlie Orrock, Anne-Isabelle Richard-Picchi and Cat Egglestone
With only 9 players available, Cambridge South 2nds, sponsored by PwC, were slightly apprehensive as they headed deep into the Fens for their last league game of the season. However, with a fantastic team performance and hard work (helped slightly by the fact that Wisbech’s goalkeeper didn’t arrive until mid-way through the first half) South finished their league season with a 5-0 win.
Despite starting the game with 10 outfield players to South's 9, Wisbech were mainly staying in their own half, allowing the defenders to push far up and support the forwards. The Wisbech goalie arrived mid way through the half, by which time South were 4 nil up.
Although outnumbered, South made up for it by lots of good running and passing, with the midfielders working hard and intercepting nearly every ball from their opponents.
Team played: Lou Tonkin; Charlie Orrock, Bex Baker, Mel Harrison, Vicky Lavis (c), Pip Noon, Cat Egglestone, Anne-Isabelle Richard-Picchi, Louise Gutteridge