Cambridge South provide plenty of entertainment during East Hockey League action
Cambridge South were pegged back late on during Saturday’s 3-3 home draw with Ipswich & East Suffolk in the East Men’s League Division 1 North on Saturday.
The visitors broke the deadlock against the run of play from one of their trademark long balls forward, but South kept calm and were rewarded with an equaliser by Harry Lewis, who marked his 100th outing for the club with a powerful effort.
He then turned provider for Chris Pearson to hammer South in front, only for the away side to level things up from a penalty corner.
South responded positively to the setback once again and with five minutes remaining they scored a penalty corner of their own through Spaniard Oscar Serra.
However, in the final play of the game Ipswich struck from another penalty corner to salvage a share of the spoils.
In the East Men’s League Division 2 North West, Cambridge South II won 2-0 in their mid-table battle at Long Sutton.
Opting to soak up the pressure, South were clinical during their rare attacks as goals from Ed Creedy and Peter Richer sealed all three points.
Cambridge South III were convincing 4-0 winners in their home East Men’s League Division 3 North West clash with Long Sutton II.
Shin Kim’s first goal of the season got the ball rolling for South before Joe Whittaker’s 12th goal of the campaign put them in command.
Fourth-placed South went on to score two more goals after the restart via Charlie Curedale-Rayner and Jack Chalk.
In the same division, Cambridge South IV suffered a 3-2 defeat at Kettering II.
Goals from Jimmy Wood and Jordan Walker looked to have secured South a point, but the hosts scored a controversial winner in added time.
Elsewhere in the East Men’s League Division 4 North West, Cambridge South V were on the right side of a five-goal scoreline, running out 3-2 winners over Spalding III.
Rob Barton took his club career goal tally to 456 with a brace, while Simon Jelley was on target in the victory.
Cambridge South VI recorded a credible 2-2 draw from their trip to Spalding IV in the East Men’s League Division 5 North West.
The home side struck first, only for South to level when Shahbaz Ali unleashed a trademark drag-flick from a penalty corner.
The score remained level at 1-1 at half-time as goalkeeper Joe Lynch excelled between the sticks for South – the teenager would later be voted player of the match for his many saves.
Spalding did find their way past Lynch for a second time soon after the restart, but this half was to follow exactly the same pattern as the first as Ali once again fizzed home a penalty corner drag flick to level.
In the East Women’s League Division 1 North, Cambridge South played out a 1-1 draw at Wisbech Town.
South won last week’s reverse fixture between the two sides just seven days earlier, coming out on top 3-1 with Laura Ludlow among the goals.
Ludlow was also South’s scorer on this occasion but this time the hosts showed good character to earn a point.
In the East Women’s League Division 2 North West, Cambridge South II recorded their best result of the season as they became the first side this term to topple leaders Kettering.
They won 3-1, with their first goal coming after just 57 seconds through Jess Foord’s volley.
Kettering levelled proceedings up, but further goals from Anna Latham and Tabby Broome ended the hosts’ unbeaten start to the season.
Cambridge South III took a significant stride towards preserving their East Women’s League Division 2 North West status with a 2-0 home win over Long Sutton.
Lily Matthews was the star performer on her debut for the third team, scoring both goals in an impressive individual performance.
The win extended South’s gap to the relegation zone to six points.
In the East Women’s League Division 3 North West, Cambridge South IV were unable to make their greater possession count during a 2-0 loss at Kettering II.
South created a handful of good opportunities throughout the encounter but they were unable to find a way beyond a stubborn home goalkeeper.
Having run out 5-0 winners last time out, Cambridge South V were unable to build on that positivity as they went down 2-1 at home to St Neots in the East Women’s League Division 4 North West.
The visitors started the contest the brighter of the two sides and they opened up a two-goal advantage courtesy of one from open play and then another from a penalty corner.
South goalkeeper Zoe Clulow also made a string of saves to keep her side in the contest going into the second half.
But while Louisa Pimblett did manage to halve the deficit after the restart, St Neots held out for the victory.
Cambridge South VI had an afternoon to forget in the East Women’s League Division 5 North West, losing 7-1 at home to St Ives III.
South always expected to be up against it playing the division’s top team and so it proved.
Nicky Simler did manage to score one for South, but overall the away side produced a clinical display at the front end of the pitch.