Cambridge City Summer 7s 2008

Cambridge South made their regular entry in the one-day mixed 7-a-side tournament organised by Cambridge City Hockey Club. The City 7s took place on Saturday 19th July, with the first match hitting off shortly after 10am.

Photos from the day's play can be found in the Gallery.

Report

The weather girl had promised rain and a miserable day. However, by the end of it we had caught the sun, got wet, really enjoyed ourselves and became the first South mixed team to remain undefeated in a tournament.

The twelve teams were seeded and put into 2 groups. This took us away from City 1s and the like. Even still, as with most festivals, South never thought that a semi-final berth was possible at the start of the day. We played 7-a-side on half a pitch for 15 mins per game. Min of 3 Ladies on each team.

Our first game was against the Rum Bandits who were a mix of Cambridge City and Reading Uni. With half our guys having not arrived and without proper South shirts, we took to the field looking more like the rabble we are in greys and blues and a pink top sported by Ellie. Chances came and went for both side, Rupert's first time shot hitting a foot, Shahbaz keeping us in the game the other end and James Pope almost getting our first goal after rounding the keeper but his shot was cleared off the line by a Bandit's reverse stick. So we ended with a point and for those of you in the know that's something to savour:

Rum Bandits 0-0 South

We had a long break until our next match. While reinforcements arrived in the shape of Chris Baker, James Cobbe and James' friend Suttie, the girls disappeared behind the hedge. They returned thirty minutes later laden with goodies from Ellie's allotment.

JB had dropped off the shirts in time for the game against March. After some good defending by Louise and Loopy, we started to look more dangerous. Jodee was playing wide on the left and James Raikes was creating havoc on the right (whether this was hockey related, I don't know!).

However, March were all at sea when Chris played on after a March foot, dribbled past a couple of players at the top of the D and buried the ball in the corner. Loopy did her best to even things up by deflecting a wild shot goalwards. Shahbaz saved her blushes. The taste of victory was short-lived as March stole a goal at the near post with 2 minutes remaining:

March 1-1 South (Chris)

James, James and James took to the pitch in a bid to fox the next opponents, Bury. South held their own in defending short corner after short corner. In attack James Pope struck a sweet reverse stuck shot and the other two Js, Julie and Jodee also made good use of the ball up front. Just when James Cobbe and sub Suttie were combining well enough to fashion scoring opportunities, a Bury player undercut the ball into James' thigh ending his tournament. A hard working game in which Bury were prevented from taking their chance gave South their 3rd point:

Bury 0-0 South

We took time out from the group games to play against Simon Ta's Random 7 which included Fez from Ely 1s and a new recruit to South - formerly of Newmarket - apparently everyone calls him Arsenal (somebody please correct me).

After our previous games this was certainly a game we could win. Chris Baker and Suttie threatened the most, in one of Suttie's arcing runs, he was cynically cut down by Fez (who should know better!) and a penalty flick was awarded. Rupert sent the keeper the wrong way and rolled the ball very very very slowly into the other corner amid laughter from Southerners and the opposition. "It's all in the eyes" was all Rupert would say.

South went 2-0 up when Suttie struck from the top of the D. Capt Simon Ta grabbed one back for the opposition, but the Randoms never looked liked scoring again. Simon's pre-game smiles faded as South maintained their unbeaten record:

Random 1-2 South (Rupert and Suttie)

In our last game we played Cambridge City 2nds. Louise, Loopy and Ellie defended like demons and the rest of us had nothing to lose by attacking the Reds. City's pressure finally told and a neat goal was scored. It could have been more save for Shahbaz's head - a thumping undercut brilliantly stopped by South's ever improving keeper. Two minutes later, it was even. A drive down right wing by Suttie who then cut in along the by-line, passed the ball past the keeper and Chris tapped in:

Cam City 1-1 South (Chris)

So the group stages ended with played 4, drawn 4. (the win was a friendly game). We were tied for 2nd place with Cambridge City 2nds. It came down to goal difference and they had plus one. In the semis Bury's and City's 2 teams battled it out, but we've no idea what the results were as we were busy celebrating our day's play in the pub!

Squad

Jodee Webb, Ellie Raffan, Lou (Loopy) Tonkin, Louise Gutteridge, Julie Sadler, Rupert Webb, James Cobbe, Suttie, Shahbaz Ali, Chris Baker, James Raikes and James Pope.