An embattled Cambridge South 2s played host to top-of-the-league Bourne Deeping, who are yet to drop points. Aware that this would be a hard game, South turned up early to get proper warm-up, while the opposition confused everyone by playing rugby alongside us. Empirical evidence, however, suggests that the home side won the preparation war: although Bourne Deeping had most of both ball and territory in the first half, they found it all but impossible to penetrate the home D and create some chances, let alone really trouble ‘keeper Shahbaz.

Showing their mettle, though, the visitors kept their heads cool and chipped away at the home defence. Eventually - and somewhat inevitably - they did get through, quite possibly with a reverse stick hit. Adding insult to injury, it took little more than minutes for a second goal to fall, giving Bourne Deeping a more comfortable two-goal lead. Home fears that we’d broken the seal proved unfounded and the half finished in the same vein as it began.

South came out in the second, determined to keep the score line down and start working their way forward. Unfortunately, nobody had informed Bourne Deeping of this and they insisted on playing their own game and getting a third goal in. At 3-0 up, the visitors may have thought the game was safe and slowed down; South, however, begged to differ and went into the attack. A beautiful pass through the defence saw Ali Edge alone in the Bourne D. Disdaining the traditional route of controlling the ball, Ali simply jabbed it past the strangely wide-footed goalie to score our first goal in four games. Just to show this wasn’t a complete freak occurrence, Ali bagged himself another goal within minutes, when South’s first (and last) short was expertly fluffed by both sides, leaving the ball exposed (and quickly dispatched of) at the far post.

At 2-3 down, all of sudden South seemed back in the game. But then Lady Luck decided to switch sides: a high ball in the South D was worked into the goal with an overarm smash that Andy Murray would be proud of. Dissent from three playing umpires notwithstanding, the two with whistles decided there was nothing wrong with this blatantly illegal goal and let it stand. After the game, the rulebook confirmed that complaints were well-founded, but the damage was already done, a cushion for the visitors reinstated and our momentum checked.

So did that break South’s spirit? Did it hell! Before Bourne Deeping had finished marvelling at their slice of luck, the home side presented itself in the opposition D again. A well-worked long corner saw Dom Nelson cunningly aim to hit the far post, yet deliver the ball to the near one, where Ali Edge was yet again on station to deflect the ball. Mindful of Dom’s original plan, Ali put the ball half an inch outside the far post, with Ally Ward glumly realising a headlong dive would’ve secured the goal.

This proved to be the last fluttering of South’s comeback. Soon, Bourne Deeping reinstated the three-goal lead, when their attacker snuck behind Ron Oren’s back to deflect a cross past an understandably powerless Shahbaz. In the dying moments of the match, the visitors got a sixth goal in some fashion or other; but it was all academic by then.

Reflecting on the game, South felt suitably proud of themselves. Belying the gap in league positions, they gave Bourne Deeping as good as they got, rattling and almost overturning the visitors. Notwithstanding the controversial goal, Bourne Deeping probably deserved to win, but South showed their capacity to play way above their present, lowly state in the league. With a few softer games coming up, it’s essential to keep this form and fighting spirit up and start putting some points on the board.