Cambridge South 2nds slid to defeat by the odd goal in five at Market Deeping in their final away match of the league campaign, a result which sees them no longer masters of their own destiny.

South started brightly and could have gone ahead when Doug Leckie flicked a shot across the D into the top corner, only for the effort to be debatably ruled out for dangerous play.

South recovered from this disappointment to take the lead with a fine goal. Centre forward Tony Wiskich made a cross-field run, before driving down the right channel. Having got to the byline, Tony pulled the ball back for strike partner Mark Reilly, arriving on the penalty spot, to sweep home.

Unfortunately, the team who appeared galvanised by this goal was Deeping and they promptly took almost total charge of the game. With South struggling to clear their defensive zone, an equaliser looked inevitable,and it came in very similar fashion to South's goal: a drive down the right, a cross pulled back to a deep lying striker, who swept in.

Following this goal, Deeping continued to press but somewhat against the run of play, good opportunism saw South regain the lead in the dying moments of the half. Good interplay down the right between Tony and Doug produced a cross which Chris Clegg arrived on to sweep goalwards (a pattern was emerging here!). Whereas the previous two shots had been aimed at the far post, Chris went for the near, to wrong-foot the keeper, and was a mite too accurate, his shot striking the woodwork. However, the ball ran free to Tony Wiskich, who lifted it into the net from a tight angle to see South finish the half leading 2-1.

The next goal in the match seemed likely to be decisive, and so it proved. South were pushing to establish a two goal lead when they conceeded a free-hit in the oppositions circle. A quick accurate hit out sprang Deeping for a counter-attack, and good interplay between the Deeping forwards saw the ball eventually worked around keeper Jim Sutcliffe and knocked into the open net. With South somewhat deflated by this, Deeping increased the pressure and soon took the lead for the first time in the match. A break down the left resulted in a good cross, which was knocked home conclusively at the far post by the late arriving right-winger.

South tried to push on in the dying stages and came agonisingly close to equalising from a short. A poor push-out appeared to catch the Deeping defence unawares and with the keeper already lying prone, Stuart Creed manoeuvred himself a great position. However, he failed to get enough purchase on his flick and the keeper shot up an arm to deflect it behind. To be honest, if South had equalised, it would have been a point stolen, as Deeping had looked a strong, fit team, moving the South defence around well and finishing clinically, to fully justify the three points.

The day went from bad to worse for South when the other results came through, as Ely City 3rds picked up their first win for some time, beating Peterborough Athletic 3rds 2-0. This takes them above South and out of the relegation zone going into the final weekend.