South 2s charge up 4NW continued with a clinical 8-0 dismantling of a St Neots 2s side who finished a respectable 4th last season.

The game was effectively decided within the first third, spurred on by a piece of individual brilliance from Rob Barton who, taking advantage of the lushness of the new Coldham's Common pitch, ran from the halfway line before deftly wrongfooting the St Neots defence on his own and smashing the ball into the btotom right corner of the goal after only seven minutes. A goal no doubt that Lord R Barton Esq. will recount to the granchildren in years to come, and being all the more remarkable for being a front stick shot.

A second followed shortly after when Chris Gravelling lifted the ball over the keeper, who had saved the initial shot from a short corner. Dave Aston then added a third following a mazy run from midfield in a selfish piece of showponying (or a wonderful piece of individual skill depending on how you look at it). Tim Clapp notched the fourth from a narrow angle, only seconds after coming on as a substitute.

Whilst a 4-0 half time score suggested complete domination, in fact the half was remarkably even with Chris Gravelling marshalling an unfamiliar but busy defence of Ian Glover, Manu Bharwaj and Dave Aston. St Neots fashioned more than enough openings to claw their way back into the game. The fact that they did not was largely down to Shahbaz who was in formidable form. He pulled off two crucial saves with the score at 2-0, both when St. Neots players had broken free of the ranks, and then a third at 3-0 when he stole the ball with his stick on the edge of the D to find Ian Glover at left back: a move which then led to the fourth goal.

The second half followed much the same tale. For all of their possession, St Neots were not able to meet their confident build up play with the exacting finish which was required to beat the South rearguard, and when Shahbaz was finally beaten, Chris Graveling lunged majestically to clear the ball off the line. However by that stage, South were already 7-0 up thanks in no small measure to man of the match, Tim Clapp, who was exceptional all game. He had chased a lost cause to cross and set up Rob Barton for his second and latched on to a through ball to completed his own brace. Manu added another to his trademark collection of dragged short corners. To conclude a miserable day for St Neots, Jack Chalk notched his second flick in as many home games after a defender, very harshly, was deemed to have deliberately fouled Dave Aston in the D.

In the midst of the goalscoring, Rupert Espley put in a dogged performance following his call up from the 3s and both he and Ally Ward were unlucky to find shots drag agonisingly wide. Chris Graveling also forced a point blank save from the keeper. Bhav took this week's injury award by getting himself in the way of a lifted clearance and Kardinal Kev, as usual, found himself in the wars and departed the pitch at full time with two bloody knees, a knock after colliding with his midfield counterpart and a wet arse after falling over twice. Whilst 8-0 was undoubtedly harsh on a St Neots side who had otherwise had their fair share of possession, the difference between the two sides was unquestionably the ruthlessness with which South took their opportunities, and the first rate defence and goalkeeping which meant South recorded their third successive clean sheet.

After the game, Lino was branded this week's fruit of the citrus grove in controversial circumstances. Two votes were "rigged" by members of the team who took advantage of Lino leaving proceedings to negotiate a reduction on the terrible post-match sandwiches at the Bar. Calls for a re-count based on spoilt ballot papers under the Representation of the People Act 1983 fell on deaf ears. Thanks for that. Next time guys you can make your own *******g sandwiches...