It was the game before Christmas and all through the team, not a player was stirring… mainly because we were all half asleep when we met in Tesco’s car park.

Yes this week saw Cambridge South 2nds, sponsored by PwC, off to Stamford to take on Market Deeping, with the team were taking no chances in getting to the pitch on time. Good job too as with 45 minutes before push back, the ladies discovered they had in fact arrived at the wrong pitch! Fortunately on the way to Stamford, Captain Vicky Lavis had cunningly made sure she found the other pitch by pretending to get lost (such a clever cat) so no time was wasted getting to the right game.

Despite this however, a car full of players and the ump didn’t make it to the pitch in time, so the game started with South two players down and it didn’t take long for Market Deeping to exploit their advantage as they went ahead with an early goal. Unfazed, Cambridge responded on the attack, quickly won a short corner and the ball was rocketed into the goal with a superb strike from Juliet Fullwood.

With the game now even, and South back up to 11 players, they were not prepared to go home with a draw. The bad weather and determination from both teams resulted in multiple injuries on both sides with two Market Deeping players having to be subbed off due to a twisted knee and head injury. South kept on battling hard and were disappointed to have a goal disallowed moments before half time for a lifted ball.

Frustration was hitting hard and South went out on the attack straight away in the second half with their next goal coming swiftly from right forward Mel Tinsel, after a well battled fight in front of the goal mouth.

Market Deeping fought back and it took great defensive work and saves from “Loopy” Lou to keep the score at 2-1. Finally, with excellent link play from defence to midfield, Daisy crossed the ball into Jodee Webb who coolly swept the ball in to make the score line 3-1. Market Deeping weren’t going down quietly though and caught South off guard to make it 3-2. With only a few minutes left to go, both teams went on the offensive and tried desperately to score a final goal but South’s defence held strong to hold onto their lead.

Full time score 3-2 to South, which makes them the fairies on top of the league table at the Christmas break.

Thanks go to John B for finding our lost players and umpire during the game (I think we all need to buy him a drink for the support he gave us throughout the match!)