Cambridge South M2s started their campaign in Div 3 with an arduous away game at... St Catz, in a derby against Cambridge City M4s. Despite the last-minute drop-out of their captain (paying the price for doubling up the previous week with an injury), the visitors brought a strong team and were anticipating a good fight for first points. It was City, however, that got out of the blocks best: a simple movement down their right flank and a run to the far post saw ‘keeper Shahbaz Ali powerless to avoid an early set-back for the visitors.

Quick thinking on the sideline prompted a change of plan, dropping the team back to a more comfortable 4-4-2 formation. With the central duo of Bhav Virdi and Colin Troll stamping their authority on the pitch, South started to press City more. Soon enough, the pressure resulted in a short corner, slickly dispatched with the good ol’ Chris Graveling special. South were back in the game. In fact, one might be excused to say that South were the better side. The next 15-odd minutes saw play mostly consigned to the home half, where the South attack was ably supported by flying wingbacks Ian Glover and Tom Anns. It was quite against the run of play when City managed to break out and convert a short corner into a 2-1 lead at half-time...

At this point, the team wasn’t feeling too bad, even though they were behind. They rightly felt things were coming together and City was being contained. All that was needed, was composure on the ball and tenacity, and the goals would surely come. But it was not to be. The second half saw the midfield disintegrating (not helped, undoubtedly, by the unseasonably warm September sunshine). Despite valiant efforts by Chris Walsh, distributing the ball beautifully, and Tim Clapp, making himself available at all times, both sides slid down into a game of long balls and isolated attacks. City’s large complement of subs began to tell, as did their skilful centre forward: it was the home side that got most of the chances to increase the score line; luck more than skill kept the deficit to a single goal. For all their hard work, South couldn’t find their way into the opposition D and the game ended with the score line unchanged.

Reflecting on the game gave a mixture of frustration and relief. The team clearly has enough ability to beat a side like City, as shown in the second part of the first half. But yet again, the lack of fitness and cohesion as a team made itself felt. At the same time, we were lucky not to concede more goals and start the season even lower on the league table. Once again, there were spells of promising play and nobody could fault the team’s commitment, but hard work will be needed by all to improve our performance in upcoming games.