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Cambridge City through to EKA Cup Quarter finals

13/11/11

CAMBRIDGE CITY Korfball Club have secured their spot in the Quarter Finals of the 2011-12 English Korfball Association Cup.  The team overcame a 6-0 deficit handicap against fellow Premier League hopefuls Leeds to hammer home a 19-13 victory in the last sixteen playoff game. 

During a long 3+ hour trip up to Leeds the Cambridge City team had plenty of time to think about this game and didn't want to leave empty handed.  The pressure was on right from the start…

City set out with Simon McGregor, Jack McNamara, Lucy Birch and Loes Versteegh in attack, whilst Andy Rutter, Antony Proietti, Carla Bennett and Eleanor Gaunt were tasked with shutting down the Leeds offensive.  Starting the match ahead 6-0, Leeds were in control.  After a tense and, in real terms, level, first four minutes, Loes Versteegh opened the scoring for City, slotting home a trademark shot five metres from the post.  Leeds replied shortly thereafter with a running in shot past City's Captain, Rutter, bringing the score to 1-7 and putting Rutter's division into attack.  Wales International Bennett, clearly meaning business, exploited her opponent with some carefully crafted guile, netting a short shot under the post and winning a penalty, which Proietti coolly slotted home to bring the score to 3-7.  The two sides traded goals to 5-9, before City stepped up a gear, scoring five unanswered goals to go 10-9 ahead, albeit briefly. At 10-10 the match was finely balanced with the half time whistle being blown at 11-11.

Leeds were first to score in the second half, but City burst Leeds' bubble, responding with six unanswered goals.  At 16-12, and with ten minutes to go, Versteegh was substituted for talented 15-year-old Bayley Wooldridge.  Wooldridge brought calm and control to the final whistle, City victorious at 19-13.

Bennett, Versteegh and Simon McGregor lead the way scoring four goals each, whilst Proietti netted three penalties.

Delighted City Coach, Janine Collier said: "Overcoming a 6-0 deficit away from home against such a strong, physically competitive team is an achievement to be proud of.  Bring on the Quarter Finals!".

Scorers: Bennett (4), Versteegh (4), McGregor (2 + 2 penalties), Prioetti (3 penalties), McNamara (2), Rutter (1), Gaunt (1).

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