Reports 19th November 2011
Men's 1sts beat club rivals Cambridge South 2
Men's 2nds lose valiantly to Cambridge South 1
Men's 3rds lose out to promotion rivals Newmarket 2
Men's 4ths claim their first win of the season, beating Ely City 4
Ladies' 1sts lose to Wisbech Ladies 2
Ladies' 2nds lose to Huntingdon Ladies 1
Cambridge South Men's I 2 - 0 Cambridge South II
H/T: 1 - 0
Scorers: Tom Watson, Chris Pearson
This was a match that on paper promised much but on the day never quite lived up to the hype (in no small part because the captain's pre-match email hype was ever-so-slightly OTT...). However, there were moments of class - in particular Steve Parker pulling off one of the saves of the season to ensure South 1sts kept another clean sheet - their 5th of the league campaign so far. But for the most part, South 2s did just enough to cause the 1s juggernaut to falter at the vital point of each attack.
Following the earnest instructions of the captain not to be complacent against their lower-placed rivals, the 1s showed excellent sharpness in the first half, consistently dispossessing their opposite number and intercepting any stray passes. Williams, Chalk, Hawkes and Watson in midfield moved the ball swiftly to the forwards who were exchanging passes nicely and threatening the opposition's D nearly every minute. Many of these attacks resulted in short-corners and this was where the 1s uncharacteristically struggled. Bereft of the element of surprise, new routines were hastily devised and a number of chance went begging in front of the stubborn pads of Shahbaz in the 2s goal. Finally a short corner was bundled in by the persistent Pearson. Note-ably another goal scored whilst captain and vice-captain stood on the sidelines. Coincidence...?
Following one goal-mouth scramble set up by the terrier-like Johnson (R), a penalty flick was awarded to the 1s. Now, I can't be certain but I think what happened next was that Chalk, filled with sympathy for the luck-less 2s defence, graciously missed the penalty on purpose. Yes - that must be the explanation. Not content with just one display of generosity, the gallant Chalk started clearing the 1s attacking short-corners for the opposition, almost lifting one 'drag-flick' (and I use the term loosely) over the high fence behind goal. A convincing LOM performance and it wasn't even half-time!
The second half saw South 2s fighting back with renewed confidence and imagination. More chances were missed by the 1s as the game stretched with neither side content with a 1-0 scoreline. In the end it was the 1s who found the back of the goal, with Watson latching onto a lifted pull-back from the right-hand side by-line and scoring an excellent volley apparently with his hand (still holding the stick). It was a cruel blow for the 2s but they continued to pile on the pressure and the last 10 minutes saw numerous chances for a come-back goal. But, fortunately for the 1s, none were forthcoming and the final whistle brought to an end an entertaining, albeit less-than-convincing, win for the 1s.
With 8 wins out of 9 and another draw for their closest rivals, South 1s move to 2nd in the league with the best defensive record to boot. Well done to all the squad for the determined performance this week and a consistently good turn-out to training. Lets keep this winning streak going!
Big thanks to those that turned out to cheer on the two teams. More 'fireworks' promised in the return fixture!
Team played: Steve Parker, George Wych, Dave Aston, Chris Graveling, Eliot Read, Mark Williams, Jack Chalk, Tom Watson, Chris Pearson, Finn Johnson, John Hawkes, Graham McCulloch, Russell Johnson
Cambridge South Men's II 0 - 2 Cambridge South I
H/T: 0 - 1
Scorers: None
MoM: Ian Glover (Rock-solid defending including a face-off with the goal-post)
LoM: Phil Crowhurst (being late because he left his stick in the office and/or because his good lady wouldn’t get out of bed)
This was it, the game all had been waiting for. A lovely, crisp sunny morning greeted what was prophesied to be the crackers of all games: the Cambridge South 2s v Cambridge South 1s intraclub death-match.
The two sides showed a striking difference in preparation for the game: where the “away” side (a/k/a 1s) arrived impressively early and had a team talk the size of the Titanic, the 2s leisurely rocked up, dinked a few balls around and were marshalled into formation with a mere 15 minutes to go. Then again, the 2s game plan was beautiful in its simplicity: get in the 1s’ faces and annoy the hell out of ‘em. Whatever could do wrong?
In keeping with recent form, the 2s came out storming. Valiantly ignoring the fact that the 1s have the better players, man for man, and are holding a position at the other end of the league, it was the 2s that pressed hardest in the first few minutes. Tight man-marking in the back and a hard-working four-man midfield snuffed out most of the attacks in yellow before they could trouble ‘keeper Shahbaz. Then a lucky strike off a short corner trickled agonisingly over the line, giving the 1s a rather undeserved lead. Undue optimism by the opposition cap’n notwithstanding, 2s didn’t drop their heads and fought on stubbornly, keeping everything tight and clean for half-time, despite a flurry of short corners at the end of the half.
The second half was always going to be battle of wills. 2s felt that they had the 1s frustrated and struggling, but the 1s have a knack for coming back strong. Duly fired up by the skip’s request to take the fight to them, again it was 2s that started off better, made their way into the 1s’ D and notched up their own short corners. Slick moves in midfield and strong runs upfront belied the lowly league position of the team, showing all sorts of promise. But yet again, when a goal did come, it did against the run of play, falling to the 1s.
As legs tired and lungs burned, play got stretched and more chances appeared on both sides. One might say that the single best chance fell to the 2s, with a rising shot from close range miraculously deflected by the cat-like reflexes of Steve Parker. But on the other side of the pitch, hard graft was needed to keep the score line reasonable until the final whistle.
Lost the game they might have, but the 2s stepped off the pitch holding their heads high. In a game against a side that’s pushing for promotion, where the pre-match banter was always going against them, they didn’t give any quarter, fought like lions for the full 70 minutes and showed that they’re better than their league positions suggests. It’s time to carry this form and spirit into the easier games, start racking up some points and move up towards the nicer regions of the league table.
Team played: Shahbaz Ali, Ian Glover, Tom Anns, Manu Bhardwaj, Ron Oren, Dom Nelson, Phil Crowhurst, Colin Troll, Tristen Knight, Nick Venner, Tom Howell, Chris Walsh, Rob Barton, Jimmy Liu
Cambridge South Men's III 0 - 1 Newmarket II
H/T: 0 - 1
Scorers: None
MoM: Benji Groom (For hard work throughout and attacking play)
LoM: Simon Jelley (Perhaps not for felling the oppo defender (and captain) with a ball to the forehead but for then admitting it wasn't a shot but an epic fail of a reverse stick cross!)
Cambridge South 3rd XI went into the first match of a crucial double header heading the league table and feeling confident of getting a result. Newmarket 2s were one of the chasing pack but the pre-season friendly between the sides on the same pitch, which had featured a mixed 3rd/4th XI for South, had resulted in a well-earned 5-3 win for the visitors.
One thing that might have given the visitors cause for concern was the three week gap since the previous win against March Town. Unfortunately, a friendly against Ipswich Cranes scheduled for the previous weekend had fallen through due to lack of numbers. South would come to regret missing the opportunity to keep their game sharp.
South’s team included Benjie Groom making his debut for the 3s in defence while another defender was playing his last match for South, James Lee moving to Oxford at the end of the year. A stalwart player over the years for South, James’s contribution will be missed.
From the outset, it quickly became apparent South would be in for a much tougher contest than the previous meeting. Newmarket’s strong midfield made it hard for South to get any hold on the game and the reward for the home team came quickly. Less than five minutes into the match Newmarket won their first short corner and promptly despatched it with a clean strike into the far right corner of South’s goal, beating keeper Shahbaz.
Stung, South regrouped and battled their way into the game. The match became very evenly contested, neither side able to establish a clear superiority. Newmarket’s midfielders continued to funnel the ball with South’s best play coming down the wings. South’s midfield position probably wasn’t helped by the, in retrospect, odd decision to deploy midfield ball-winner and defensive shield, Matt Kern, high on the right wing for the second half.
Chances came and went, the most notable featuring an attempted reverse-stick cross from South captain Simon Jelley that instead popped up to strike the opposing captain right between the eyes, felling him like a tree. Fortunately the spectacular and bloody collapse looked worse than it actually was and after some pitchside treatment the bandaged player was able to rejoin the match. The injury score was somewhat leveled with Tom South being flattened with a tackle from behind as he ran through on goal, knees and elbows bloodied as a result.
As the game progressed the score remained unchanged but South began to win an increasing number of short corners. As the tally mounted, the inability to convert became first concerning and then embarrassing. Newmarket had several further opportunities to score themselves via fast breakaways that had the South defence backpedaling but were unable to extend their lead.
That was the story of the rest of the match, as the clock ran out to leave South frustrated at losing to an early short corner that they had been unable to recover despite a plethora of opportunities. Calmer finishing and more clinical decision-making, particularly at short corners, will be needed to avoid a repeat of this result.
Team played: Shahbaz Ali, Jan Brynjolffssen, Neil Sneade, Ian Evans, James Lee, Benji Groom, Simon Jelley, Matt Kern, Paul South, Tom South, Stu Creed, Wilco Dijkstra, David Doupe
Cambridge South Men's IV 4 - 1 Ely City IV
H/T: 2 - 0
Scorers: Boris Lossy, Nathan Monck, Simon Frampton (2)
MoM: Owen Vaughan, Simon Frampton
The team is gelling and the results are showing that the team is enjoying its hockey.
Team played: Shahzad Ali, Owen Vaughan, Dave Monck, David Bridge, Ky Ho, Ian Marshman, John Sharp, Andrew Fraser, Boris Lossy, Nathan Monck, Jake Davis, Rupert Espley, Simon Frampton
Cambridge South Ladies' I 0 - 1 Wisbech Ladies II
H/T: 0 - 1
Scorers: None
MoM: Anne Horan
The South Ladies 1s turned out in the slanting sunlight at the University pitch against a Wisbech 2s team who had had very mixed results over the season. The game was hard fought with a tendency for us to return to our pattern of play earlier in the season: South spent protracted periods of time in the attacking half but failing to score. That was in large part to an experienced, solid Wisbech defensive line whose players doggedly and skillfully guarded their D without conceding fouls so that South never really looked at risk of scoring. The Wisbech goal came from a short corner in the first half and was swept in off the rebound, sneaking behind Ali's pads after she'd made a great initial save.
South's strong points were great domination in attack and mostly in defence but the game was marred by South dissent about umpriring causing much bad feeling. The team need to work to be more positive on the pitch and creative and hardworking in evading the strong defenders who we inevitably meet at this level. Anne Horan was awarded man of the match for a great game at centre back, keeping a close hold on her player and distributing the ball with great insight to set up new attacks.
Team played: Ali Graham, Ellie Raffan, Anne Horan, Lindsey Berends, Julie Sadler, Caroline Dent, Lou Cantwell, Birgit Bekkers, Georgie Hurford, Serin Dabb, Alice Hug, Bex Baker
Cambridge South Ladies' II 1 - 3 Huntingdon Ladies I
H/T: 1 - 1
Scorers: Leonie O'Donnell
MoM: Kylie Beasley
So round 2 of the cup against Huntingdon who are currently top of the league. After the joy of Cambridge Saturday traffic when United are at home, and a rapid transfer of Ali G by Vicky from the Uni ground, both teams lined up. Huntingdon attacked first and pressurised our goal but some good defending and some good saves from Ali from both open play and short corners kept the score 0-0. Then a dazzling run from Kylie and a great pass put Ley in on goal, past a defender and then one on one with the keeper. Ley confidently drew the keeper towards her then slotted it past right into the corner 1-0 South. The pressure then mounted again and we repelled wave after wave of Huntingdon attacks losing count of the number of shorts. Finally their pressure counted and a goal was scored. 1-1. Kylie and Gemma in the centre of midfield made some good breaks aided by Jo and Ley up front and we looked threatening but mainly on the counter attack. Half time and a pause for breath. The second half was more of the same, Huntingdon grew in confidence, spreading the ball round well and using both sides of the pitch. We struggled to clear our lines and unfortunately let in two further goals. We continued to look dangerous on the counter attack and defended well in particular Emma and Lou G on the flanks keeping their wings at bay but unfortunately went down in the end 1-3.
Well played everyone. It was a really good game and we definitely gave Huntingdon a run for their money!
Team played: Ali Graham, Lyn Wood, Louise Gutteridge, Pip Noon, Gemma Young, Emma South, Jo Read, Liz Harte, Kylie Beasley, Catherine Anthony, Katie Walland, Leonie O'Donnell
