Reports 1 October 2011
Men's 1sts lose to Bourne Deeping 1
Men's 2nds draw with St Neots 1
Men's 3rds beat club rivals Cambridge South 4
Men's 4ths lose to club rivals Cambridge South 3
Ladies' 1sts lose to Rutland Ladies 1
Ladies' 2nds beat St Ives Ladies 3
Cambridge South Men's I 0 - 3 Bourne Deeping I
H/T: 0 - 1
Scorers: None
MoM: Steve Parker, George Wych
LoM: Dave Aston
South set off to Deeping on a scorching Saturday morning beset by absentees and injuries, with Ireland, weddings and potential appendicitis replacing weddings as the new hamperer of availability.
In the early stages, South matched their opposition, with a combination of a solid disciplined midfield and some excellent last ditch tackling from Wych seeing off their opponents. When South went forward themselves they too looked dangerous, with McCulloch Johnson and Claes combining on one earfly occasion to test the Bourne keeper.
However, Bourne Deeping were having the lions share of possession, and were clearly very comfortable playing a quick slick-moving game. The game turned midway through the half, when, following the snuffing out of a South short, the opposition’s rapid one touch passing soon saw them in the South D, and the forward calmly lifted the ball over Parker for one nil.
Unperturbed, South looked to respond, and were in the middle of a strong attack, when Aston, seeking to spread the play, played the ultimate anti Modric pass across the centre line to the Bourne centre mid. Bourne promptly rushed forward and slotted home for two nil. A hammer blow.
At half time, the focus was on keeping pride and looking to push forward wherever possible in search of something from the game. South played a solid enough second half, with some enterprising attacking play being coupled with some great saves at the back from Parker, but in truth it was no surprise when another free-flowing Bourne move led to the right winger deflecting home a cross for three nil.
South will play worse matches this season and come out comfortable winners, but for them to challenge for promotion this year it will be crucial they have a full compliment of players for the crunch games, and also that they look to emulate what was some fine hockey from their opponents.
Team played: Steve Parker, George Wych, Dave Aston, Eliot Read, Bhavdeep Virdi, Mark Williams, Jack Chalk, Richard Claes, John Hawkes, Graham McCulloch, Russell Johnson
Cambridge South Men's II 0 - 0 St Neots I
H/T: 0 - 0
Scorers: None
MoM: Andy Passmore (Great marking, consistency and tackling)
LoM: Tom Watson (Handbags with a man at least twice his size (and age))
An unseasonably hot October afternoon saw Cambridge South M2s get their first points of the 3NW campaign. In the pressing heat, the game against St Neots 1s turned into a battle of endurance and will, rather than skill. South was the better side and got more chances, but couldn’t convert any of those into goals. Although St Neots did show some good play as a team, all their threats were quickly and effectively snuffed out by a solid defense.
Special mention should be made of Dave Monck and Tom Watson who strengthened the team: one giving up a jaunt to Bourne Deeping for it; the other disregarding his own later game in support of our defense.
South was unlucky not get away with a win in this game, not least as every single player showed good spirit and workrate, coming off the pitch utterly spent. The performance wasn’t flawless by any standard, but gave confidence that the goals and wins will come.
Team played: Shahbaz Ali, Ian Glover, Tom Anns, Ron Oren, Dave Monck, Andy Passmore, Alasdair Edge, Chris Walsh, Nick Venner, Tom Watson, Phil Crowhurst, Rob Barton, Ali Ward
Cambridge South Men's III 6 - 0 Cambridge South IV
H/T: 3 - 0
Scorers: Matt Kern, Paul South, Rupert Espley, John Greaves (3)
MoM: John Greaves (For finding space and more importantly the net, three times in one game!)
Scorers:
- Rupert Espley - Receiving on a short, placing a beautiful lift into the top left
- John Greaves - Solid conversion on a pass from Tom South in the D
- John Greaves - Beating the defenders to the scraps after Shahzad saved a strike from Tom South
- Tom South - After a burst from the pushback, Tom sent this home before some had noticed the second half had started
- Matt Kern - Showing persistence in the D reaps rewards
- John Greaves (again!) - Cementing his hat trick and lightening his wallet to the tune of a round in the Corner House.
In the sweltering 28 degree afternoon sun, the 3s rustled up a convincing victory without need for substitutes (fortunately for Jan who came as back up despite still being injured).
A clean sheet for the well structured defence who held opposing attacks well, dealing with several would-be dangerous incursions from the 4s.
The ball had good movement throughout the pitch, an encouraging sign, resulting in better supply of balls for the attack.
For the mission of more goals at the front without weakening the defence, this match was a great result against a team with several fast, fit players and experienced defenders.
Team played: Chris Collinson, Neil Sneade, Ian Evans, James Lee, Matt Kern, Wilco Dijkstra, Paul South, Simon Jelley, Tom South, Rupert Espley, John Greaves
Cambridge South Men's IV 0 - 6 Cambridge South III
H/T: 0 - 3
Scorers: None
MoM: Shahzad Ali (Great work in goal)
LoM: John Greaves (For stealing the good 'keepers kit we had and giving us an incomplete kit for the match)
The 4th team actually played some good hockey despite the score line. Just need to play together more.
Team played: Shahbaz Ali, Shahzad Ali, David Bridge, Dave Monck, Richard Marley, John Sharp, Nathan Monck, Andrew Fraser, Nick Greaves, Boris Lossy, Jake Davis, Simon Frampton
Cambridge South Ladies' I 1 - 2 Rutland Ladies I
H/T: 1 - 0
Scorers: Alice Hug
MoM: Bex Baker
The ladies 1s met a 10 player Rutland team on a lovely sunny day at St Catz for the second cup game of the season. The team played very well in the first half with some strong passing play in attack and solid defence right across the pitch. Alice's goal came from a well worked move that took the ball to the baseline then up to find her on the penalty spot to finish cleanly with a sweep shot.
In the second half the South players' physical fitness let us down and rather than settling down to consolidate our advantage, ambition led the team to continue to press forwards. As a result, there were big holes in the middle of the pitch with numerous unmarked players proving too much for the South back line. Rutland skillfully took the advantage with passing play (just the kind of stuff we'd done well in the first
half) and scored two goals on the break, with Loopy having little chance left one-on-one against the through runners.
South need to take the positives (excellent passing, good press, lots of pressure on goal) from the first half and learn the lessons from the second. That is, either turn up with fully charged batteries or be ready to play boring, defensive hockey and hang on to a lead when we are tired. Bex put in man of the match winning performance in attack with super-charged batteries and creative running and passing with Lindsey's solid defence and smart distribution also deserving praise.
Team played: Louise Tonkin, Ellie Raffan, Lindsey Berends, Julie Sadler, Lou Cantwell, Laura Jarvis, Claire Sherwood, Georgie Hurford, Sam Cooper, Serin Dabb, Bex Baker, Alice Hug
Cambridge South Ladies' II 1 - 0 St Ives Ladies III
H/T: 1 - 0
Scorers: Birgit Bekkers
MoM: Anne Horan
Awaiting Report
Team played: Ali Graham, Lyn Wood, Louise Gutteridge, Birgit Bekkers, Ami Chaplin, Nicki ?, Jo H, Anne Horan, Catherine Anthony, Jo Read, Vicky Lavis, Leonie O'Donnell, Ash Price
