Reports 23rd October 2010
Ladies' 2nds lose to City Ladies
Cambridge South Men's I 2 - 1 March Town II
H/T: 2 - 1
Scorers: Rob Garrett, Jack Chalk
MoM: Nick Bristowe, Al Sinclair
LoM: Simon Ta (For wearing tights)
2nd placed Cambridge South entertained March Town 2's on Saturday in a closely fought battle that belied the visitor's low-lying position in the league (they're currently bottom of the table). The weather was kind enough to stay dry for the duration, but the recent rains meant the playing pitch was slippier than usual and both Eliot and Russ had 'moments', which resulted in slightly red faces and legs akimbo.
In a cagey opening to the game, both sides put together some good passing moves but no clear cut opportunities came either way until Cambridge South started to exert some more concerted pressure on the visitor's goal. Some excellent running and link-up play between the front 3 of Graham, Simon and Russell was causing the March rear-guard problems, and the support from variously Jack, Mark and Al in midfield kept Cambridge South on the front foot. The fleet-footed March attackers always posed a threat, though, and George and Nick had to be alert to see off various counter-attacks.
It was only ever going to be a matter of time before a goal came, and it fell to the away team when a ball into the D from a March midfielder found it's way to their striker in front of goal, and with only Parker to beat he slotted coolly into the corner. A set-back, to be sure, but the home side re-doubled their efforts and pushed forward once more. Their reward arrived about 8 minutes later when another cracking pass from Nick at the back set Simon "what are those ridiculous tights?" Ta on his way and his square ball found the marauding Garrett in the D, who casually evaded the keeper and stuck the ball in the goal.
The final 10 minutes of the half were a tight affair with both teams sensing a breakthrough was imminent and South had to work hard to keep March out as a number of crosses flew past the serene Parker in goal.
Cambridge built up some momentum, though, and were rewarded with a goal on the stroke of half-time when an apparent lost-cause was chased down by Simon and fed back to Graham, who squared the ball to Jack in front of the March goal. A shimmy, a side-step and then a nonchalant finish and his 3rd goal in 2 games was 'chalked' up. Sorry.
With the game finely balanced at half-time both sides knew the next goal would be crucial and March started fully intent on making sure they got it. As they pushed forward the home side was forced to defend deep and in numbers but the hard work restricted March to very few real opportunities. When they did manage to fashion a glimpse of goal, Parker was more than equal to it and a smart save to his right kept the visitors searching for the equaliser.
As the half wore on Cambridge managed to assert themselves more, and the March threat waned. Chances were created, but the killer 3rd goal remained elusive. In the end the home side was able to see out the game in relative comfort, until the final moments when a March were awarded a short corner on the stroke of full-time. Fortunately for Cambridge, it came to nought.
Let's hope that this momentum can be maintained into their next league game against close rivals Cambridge Nomads.
Team played: Steve Parker, George Wych, Dave Aston, Nick Bristowe, Eliot Read, Al Sinclair, Rob Garrett, Russell Johnson, Mark Williams, Jack Chalk, Graham McCulloch, Simon Ta
Cambridge South Men's II 2 - 3 Ely City II
H/T: 1 - 3
Scorers: Bhavdeep Virdee, Richard Claes
MoM: Tom Watson (A good all round midfield performance)
LoM: Tom Anns (For having a "bad day"!)
Cambridge South II’s rocked up at Ely with 11 fairly fit players, having stolen Tom Watson from the III’s. That didn’t last long as Manu soon informed the acting Captain that he had ‘done his back’ - however many of the team, and certainly the opposition, were not aware of this as his performance fully disguised this injury.
South began showing their intent to stick to a short passing game with some nice play all over the park stringing passes together. Shortly however Ely’s speedy right wing burst through from the half way line, running an inside channel that beat everyone and slipping the ball inside for a neat Ely finish.
Both sides were passing nicely and competing in midfield, but Ely were the more incisive: A loose pass in midfield was made the most of by Ely as they drove into our D, and winning a short corner that they converted. Another skilful run from one of their more forward players took him into the D where he somehow evaded what seemed like an easy tackle to make by Sanjay, before hitting the ball with a sight lift over the diving Shahbaz and into the net to make the score now 0-3..
Cambridge however kept composure - it was only small errors that seemed to have been punished and cost them, rather than across the park domination. Dave Monk and Ian G in defence were making sweet tackles and keeping Ely at Bay. Meanwhile Manu and Tom Anns continued to distribute from the full back position. Tom Ann’s day took a turn for the worse as he strained in pursuit of the speedy Ely right wing, and tore a muscle painfully that saw him leave the park for a while, before returning to stalk (hobble around) the opposition goal.
Nearing the end of the half a pass across midfield to Tom Watson found him in plenty of space, from where he had time to send a perfectly weighted and angled though ball flying into the D for Rob Barton to chase. The ‘Dog (now) in the D‘ latched on and seeing the onrushing keeper masterfully dragged the ball across to round him. However as he was completing his side step with the open-goal beckoning his trailing leg was taken by the keeper. A penalty flick was awarded, to which Bhav stepped up and duly converted with an expert finish to the bottom-left that left the keeper no chance.
Buoyed by the upturn in scoreline South went into the second half believing and knowing that more was possible. Tim Clapp now in left midfield provided strong attacking support, linking up well with Richard Claes at left back. South were indeed beginning to dominate proceedings around the centre of the park, having improved their shape and structure at half time, with Tom Watson in dynamo mode. 4 short corners, as compared with 0 for the first half, were won, but unfortunately none were converted.
Ely were tiring whilst South seemed to be getting stronger. South’s roving attacks made the most of Tom Ann’s superlative ‘movement’ to find him unmarked in the D 5 yards form goal. In true time honoured defenders’ tradition he took a huge wind up and made a sweet hard connection with the ball. - Unfortunately not towards the goal ;)
Tom found himself in the same situation not long after, and with the same result. - However ‘acting’ captain Sanjay was pleased he was getting into these goal-scoring positions, utterly bamboozling the opposition with his total inability to move.
A long corner from the right hand side, with lots of players in close support to break up and move the opposition ring around, led to a fantastic ball slap-hit hard into the D from Rob Barton, travelling along a clear channel until finding Rich Claes roving up from left back who swept home skilfully first time against the backboard. The report writer has been requested to write here that, “Rob Barton actually passed and allowed someone else to score”. It was indeed a fine pass!
2-3.
Unfortunately for South there was not enough time left on the clock, and Ely breathed a sigh of relief as the final whistle blew.
South can be proud of their collective attitude and improving team play which will no doubt get themselves up the table in due course, and a win against these opponents is targeted in the return fixture.
Team played: Shahbaz Ali, Dave Monck, Tom Anns, Ian Glover, Tom Watson, Manu Bhardwaj, Bhavdeep Virdee, Sanjay Agarwala, Tim Clapp, Richard Claes, Rob Barton
Cambridge South Men's III 2 - 5 March Town III
H/T: 1 - 3
Scorers: Rob Barton (2)
MoM: Shahbaz Ali
South Mens 3s travelled to March with a very unfamiliar looking team and if a few decisions had gone the other way may have come away with a result.
Saturday Morning arrived and stand-in Captain John Benedikz was still juggling players to make sure he had an 11 to take to March. Oddly 16:00 away in deepest darkest Fenland did not prove to be the exciting draw for players I expected it would be. Missing 11 regular 3s players, South travelled to March with only 6 regulars, with the remainder being made up of 4s who had the week off and 2s. All of whom I thank for putting themselves forward.
The game started, as expected, amidst the fenland drizzle, with March (freshly relegated from 4NW), pushing forward and forcing South onto the defensive. March’s first goal was not long in coming when a harmless looking cross clipped off the foot of a defender and rolled into the goal. South then slipped further behind when a March foot was not spotted and the ball was driven into the top of the net.
The new look South midfield of Kern, Jelly, Glover and Deacon were forced to spend most of their time defending, however on several occasions in each half, South took the game to March and with Rob Barton and James Raikes up front, South reminded March they were going to have to fight hard for their result.
Just before half-time, South had their own stroke of luck, when a forward pass from Matt Kern was left by the keeper at the top of the D to run out for a 16, only for Rob Barton, to nip round him and role the ball into an empty net, 2v1 and South were back in with a chance.
Half Time March 2v1 South
The second half unfortunately started as the first had, with March finishing off a well worked move to edge 3v1 ahead. South began to push forward again and got back into the game with an excellently placed Rob Barton special from the top of D, 3v2. South and South continued to search of an equaliser which they were cruelly denied when a diving Ian Glover turned the ball into the net, only for it to be ruled out (correctly) for a back stick.
This spurred South on and as they pushed forward with the game ticking on, gaps began to appear as legs tired and March hit South twice in the last 10 minutes to add gloss to a scoreline for them in a game that turned on a couple of decisions. That said March were clearly the stronger team and deserved their victory. The south defence of Sneade, Sharp, Evans and Benedikz and in particular Man of the Match Shabhaz Ali were under near constant pressure (I lost count of the number of shorts after 13), but South were always in with a sniff of a result until the very latter stages of the game.
Team played: Shahbaz Ali, John Benedikz, Neil Sneade, Ian Evans, Ian Glover, John Sharp, Matt Kern, Simon Jelley, Jonny Deacon, Rob Barton, James Raikes
Cambridge South Ladies' II 0 - 3 Cambridge City Ladies IV
H/T: 0 - 1
Scorers: None
Awaiting Report
Team played: Cassie Woodfin, Tracey Hunter, Pip Noon, Liz Harte, Catherine Anthony, Kylie Beasley, Melissa Brown, Carla Fitzachary, Kathryn Mallett, Sam Cooper, Steph Drew, Leonie Dickman, Charlie Orrock
