Mixed-A 10-2 Newmarket Mixed

South’s mixed team ran riot against Newmarket at the Leys on Sunday. But the goalfest to come didn’t seem apparent in the opening period of the match. South had set out playing a 4-4-2 formation, which Newmarket countered with a 4-3-3. The visitors' front line contained three of their allotted five male players, who used their strength and speed advantage over South full backs Jodee and Louise to hold the ball up and allow the midfield to join. Such a situation saw Newmarket open the scoring, ripping straight through the middle one-on-one with Lino and finishing neatly.

Minutes later came what could be looked back on as a turning point in the match. Another incisive break ended with the Newmarket left-winger sweeping goalwards, seemingly certain to score. But his shot hit the far post, trickled along the line, and, after a nasty moment’s hesitation from the home defenders nearly gifted a tap, was smuggled away. As is so often the way in sport, South went straight up the other end and equalised. Emma found James in acres of space near the penalty spot, he pulled the ball cleverly across the keeper with his reverse stick and pushed into the unguarded corner of the net. Soon after James made it two-one to the hosts when a quick break by Kevin down the South right ended up forcing a save from the visitors' keeper. The ricochet found James on the edge of the D and he swept consummately into the far corner.

This goal took us up to midway through the half and time for South’s first set of substitutions. Personnel-wise, the changes were South skipper Rupert bringing himself on for Kevin, and Liles replacing Emma. However, much more important was a formation re-jig, to 4-3-3. Kev had been playing on the right side, yet Rupert entered the play at sweeper. Jan moved to left-back, which saw Jodee pushed forward from defence to play as left-winger. Liles moved sideways from Emma’s centre forward role to play the mirror position of Jodee, high and wide on the right.

With an extra man deep, the South backline was taking the ball off the Newmarket forwards before they could link with on-rushing midfielders. Right back Louise was now facing an opponent without passing options, so he had resorted to trying to take her on in one-on-ones, which Louise generally won. With defensive stability achieved, South dominated proceedings and netted a flurry of goals. First, Rob slipped a ball in to Jan on the top of the circle. His shot was given a telling little reverse stick deflection by James, for his hat-trick. Minutes later a one-two between Rob and Gemma down the right ended with Rob sweeping a shot goalwards. The keeper half-saved but the ball was still trickling in. A defender on the line made a desperate attempt to prevent it, and got the ball six inches out, but only on to Jodee’s stick and she had her first goal for South.

South were making hay down the right flank, with Liles finding lots of time and space. This lead to a fifth goal; Liles cross was half-cleared as far as James on the top of the circle. He controlled on the reverse, switched to his strong side, and cracked the ball into the far corner. And then a sixth; Rob sending Liles running clear to the byline from where her cross deflected off a defenders foot, wrong footed the keeper and ended up in.

Newmarket had kept going and combined for the best goal of the game. The ball was moved to a player high up in the circle, in the right channel. His finish was spectacular, a flick that went high over Lino and then dipped into the top corner. Fine, fine goal. Stung by this, South pushed on. On the left of midfield, Julie was doing a tight man-to-man job on her opponent, who she barely allowed a hit. With the Newmarket right side neutralised, there were wide open spaces for left-back Jan to move into. He was unmarked in the left channel when James slipped him a short pass, which was clipped first time into the bottom far corner.

The second half opened with some determined play from the visitors, looking to reduce arrears. Having already secured the best goal of the match, they also forced the save from South keeper, Lino. A pacy move down the right flank ended with a ball driven back to the top of the D. An lifting sweep shot was beautifully cleanly struck, and rocketing towards the top corner, before Lino turned it up and over with a flying stick save. Reports are the entire of Lino’s body was at least three feet off the ground when he played the ball. Great save, but also a fine shot and the Newmarket player is well within her rights to feel deeply frustrated.

At the other end, South made it eight with their only short corner conversion of the day. Some might think that this is indicative of a bad corners/goals ration, but in truth South weren’t awarded many in the match. Anyway, for this one Gemma's initial shot dropped back to her on the rebound. Her second shot was deflected home by Rupert.

The next action was an unfortunate injury to a Newmarket defender, caught on the head by a stick. A trip to A&E to for a couple of stitches seemed to be called for. We hope she is all right and back on the field ASAP. After the injury hiatus, the game restarted in slightly sombre fashion. Ten minutes remained to be played out, and the Newmarket defence, which had been tigerish in the second half up until this point was slightly out of sync, no doubt concerned about their injured comrade.

South added two further goals in the remaining time to reach double figures. First, Liles showed great awareness to pass square when confronted by the keeper, handing Gemma a tap in. And then the final action of the match, Rob slipping Liles in clean through in the right channel, from where she found the far corner for her second of the day.

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