The sun was shining and a cool breeze drifted through the poplars for this Ridgeons League First Division match but that was about as bright as things got for  Debenham LC FC as their recent run of wins came to a shuddering halt. The early signs looked good for the Hornets as our hat trick hero of Wednesday Adam Rickwood burst into the box to chase a through ball only to be brought crashing to the ground by a clumsy challenge by the Cambridge keeper. But as is so often the case nowadays the keeper rolled about as if mortally injured only to miraculously resurrect himself when he realised that the referee, as in Wednesday’s game, had taken the soft option and not dispatched him to the sideline. If that tackle has happened anywhere else or at any other time then as the last defender the keeper should have been red carded - oh for some consistency and proper application of the laws of the game! Things seemed to be on track after that however as Kevin Barker latched onto a clearance to send a shot over the bar and Debenham were looking to break the deadlock with incisive wing play from Jack Severy but the visiting defence seemed to have a man spare at every attack.
The Hornets nearly scored after 25 minutes when a free kick on the left side was sent over by Liam Bevis to Adam Rickwood who was free in the box but his deft header guided the ball straight at the keeper who beat the ball out. 2 minutes later Nathan Vincent tricked his way to the by line to send in a cross that Shaun French headed back from the far post for Adam Rickwood to send a header wide under pressure. Things were looking good for the home team as Liam Bevis’ pass to Ross Hutchings earned a corner that the Cambridge keeper punched clear but only to Rob Canfer whose chipped shot was headed off the line by a defender. Debenham created another chance when Marc Wake’s exchanged passes with Liam Bevis before Liam blasted the ball at goal from an acute angle but the keeper blocked and then Liam Bevis laid the ball back from the edge of the box to Jack Severy whose long range effort was tipped over the bar for a corner kick which came to nothing.
So Debenham were cruising towards half time and looking forward to a refreshing cuppa and resuming the attacks when a ball was played through towards the home defence where Shaun French missed an attempted clearance leaving the ball to roll invitingly for JORDAN MCDERMOTT  who had no trouble in putting the ball past Liam Jones to open the scoring ion the 48th minute of the half. There was no time to kick off again so the half ended with the visitors in front after the play was dominated by Debenham without forcing a decisive opening.

Half Time      Debenham LC FC      0     Cambridge University Press        1
                                                             McDermott      48

Debenham started the second half hoping to get back into the game but their task was made doubly difficult after just four minutes when Ed Cussons attempted a pass but contrived to present the ball to Cambridge’s BEN SAWYER who shot past Liam Jones under pressure to double the visitors’ lead. Two silly goals given away by poor defending gave the Hornets a mountain to climb and it could have been higher after 60 minutes when Anthony Blandford found himself on the end of a cross with the goal gaping but his downward header to the post was kept out by a determined Liam Jones who fell to his right to keep the score at 0-2.
Debenham  tried hard to get something from the game but they had lost the smooth rhythm displayed in midweek and had reverted to keeping the ball up in the air much of the time instead of passing along the ground. Perhaps the best chance of the second half came after 83 minutes as Adam Rickwood dribbled the ball into the visitors’ box and rode three tackles before the ball ran away from him and was gathered by the keeper with Liam Bevis screaming for a pass on the eighteen yard line.
Reserves player Ben Bowler has impressed enough in recent games to earn a place on the bench today but he was not called into action although the experience around the first team players will be good for his development.  So the game ended in disappointment for the Hornets who now  have a week’s break before resuming the campaign at Whitton United FC on Tuesday week.

Final Score     Debenham LC FC      0     Cambridge University Press        2
                                                              McDermott      45+3
                                                              Sawyer            49
Attendance     60

Referee          Mr D Ricci       Assistant Referees     Mr M Goudy    Mr J Haynes

Debenham LC FC     Jones, Hutchings, Cussons Capt, Barker, French, Canfer, Vincent, Bevis, Rickwood,                                   Wake, Severy    Substitutes  Bowler, Beaton, Minns, Smith, Vince
Cautioned                   Jones

Cam,bridge University Press FC  Egan, Paterson C, Lindsay, Upcott, Paterson R, Watson Capt, Sawyer, Beck, Blandford, McDermott, Rezizan   Substitutes  Yambasu, Toiussaint-Jackson, Lambert, Molloy, Jakab
Goalscorers                 McDermott  Sawyer