Cambridge South M2 travelled to Market Deeping on a very windy but not so cold Saturday morning. Captain Ron was travelling with the team although he had a bad hamstring. Rest of the team looked quite fit. Dave Monck lost his way and took us into a residential area for retired people. When we did reach The Voyager School (where the match was hosted), it looked like the London Olympics aquatic centre rather than a school.

Voyager School ready for 2012

The match started at a brisk pace where the Market Deeping side didn’t look like they were 11th in the league table. They were passing well and some of the runs from their flanks resulted in early penalty corners against South. Shahbaz sprung quick into action and his reflexes saved South from the first 10 minutes of the Deeping onslaught. The penalty corner threats were averted and South started settling down. South defence under Dave Monck’s command looked solid with Manu, Ian Glover & Tom Anns standing as a wall.

Tom Anns & Rick Cleas specially were combining quite well on the left flank. Alex & Tom Watson in the central midfield were moving the ball to the flanks and to Rob & Tim in the D. Bav Virdi got a green card for a stick tackle in the first half (which would not be his last card of the match). The last 10 minutes of the first half was all attack by South, where there were couple of open scoring chances but the ball just didn’t cross the goal line. Tom Watson was given a green card because he stopped the ball with his stick above the shoulder.

The first half ended 0-0. Dave & Ron changed the plan and it was decided that Dave Mock would pass more from the 16 yard starts and if we have to score we need to use our pace against Deeping.

This was correct as South got their first goal in the 5th minute of the second half. Tom Watson’s cross from the left found Rob B’s stick and sharply deflected the ball into the goal. 1-0.

The second goal came soon after when Alex and Rob combined and Rob did a clinical finish. Rob was in form and looked like he could get a hat-trick very soon. 2-0 to south after 15 minutes of the second half.

Although South’s defence was solid, Dave Monck’s knee wasn’t. He twisted it and was moved from deep defence to the free striker up front. This resulted in a 3rd goal when South counterattacked. Alex got the ball from Manu, made a 20 yard run, gave a good pass to Rob B, who then passed it to a free Dave “Weak Knee” Monck, who made no mistake to sound the board. 3-0 to South and Dave’s first field goal since his A levels.

Bhav has a friendly chat with the umpire

Rob Barton has had more assists this year than the number of goals he has scored.

Dave Monck was replaced by Ron Oren upfront. Ron played in his trousers and a XXXXL Moncksaurus Tshirt. That could have easily given him the lemon. But more lemon rewarding acts were to come.

South’s attacks were not finished yet. They got a penalty corner when 7 minutes were left in the match. A very good insertion from Ron Oren was stopped by Bav Virdi, he did a cheeky pass with his stick’s handle to his right (which in all laws of FIH was supposed to be legal). The umpire blew the whistle saying “I don’t like it”. Bav Virdi went mental; he started arguing with the umpire and was shown the yellow card for shouting and arguing with the umpire. This also gave him the LOM. From what we have heard his role model is Ricky Ponting.

The match ended with South having another clean sheet. Tom Watson was rewarded the MOM for his good display in the central mid field.

Ron was a very happy man with South M2 reaching the magical figure of four wins on the roll but he reminded us of no complacencies, as we play the league leaders Ely next week. Good Luck South!