Reports 21st June 2009
Southerners lose out 1-4 at home to Rutland.
Cambridge South Mixed XI 1 - 4 Rutland
H/T: 1 - 3
Scorers: Rob Barton
MoM: Lino di Lorenzo
On a bright summer's day at the Abbey the Southerner's had an out of season fixture against Rutland.
South's start was as bright as the weather applying a good amount of pressure on the Rutland. The Rutland midfield signalled their intent on the breakthough when one of their players chipped an advancing Lino from the edge of the D only to hit the cross bar.
It was South who took the lead though when a ball across the area found its way to Rob Barton who put it away with authority (without using his back stick!).
Whilst South kept up the pressure on the Rutland D, Rutland were still able to make regular breaks and the speed and youth of their midfield meant these often resulted the South defence being out numbered. These breaks began to tell as Rutland levelled and then went ahead, and South began to be penned back. Lino made a couple of great saves but at half time the score saw South trailing 1-3.
With a rejig back line to counter the Rutland threat the pattern on the second half was a reversal of the start of the first with Rutland applying most of the pressure and South attacking on the break. Whilst resolute defence kept Rutland from scoring South were unable to capitalise on their breaks despite winning some short corners.
The deadlock was eventually broken when Sanjay was harshly penalised for playing the ball above his head blocking it on the goal line. Lino saved the resulting penalty flick only to have a generous umpire offer the Rutland player a chance to retake it as she had played it before the whistle; an opportunity that was accepted and duly scored from. Giving the final scoreline a sheen that felt a little harsh on the home side.
Team played: Lino di Lorenzo, Rhiannan Williams, Ian Glover, Ron Oren, Julie Sadler, Claire Sherwood, John Somerville, Georgie Hurford, Sanjay Agarwala, Russell Johnson, Rob Barton, Alice Hug, James Raikes