A brisk winter afternoon was the setting for Cambridge South’s attempt to build some momentum in their league, playing host to a struggling Rutland 2s team. Just how much trouble Rutland is facing, was epitomised by one of their cars, trying its luck on just about every pitch in town before arriving at Catz a mere 5 minutes after the scheduled push-back. Considering that the missing players included the visitors’ goalie, it seemed only fair to give Rutland the time to get their players onto the pitch (if not necessarily warmed up).

Whether due to the warm-up, the buoyant spirit or the quality of the line-up, it was the home team that started their game with more verve. Solid work by Dom Nelson and Chris Pearson in central midfield saw the ball smoothly moving up to the rotating trio of Tom Howell, Ally Ward and Rob Barton upfront, while right-mid Ron Oren made good use of Rutland’s total disregard for marking him. While much of the play was in and around the visitors’ D, South couldn’t convert their chances into goals. In fact, it was Rutland that opened the score, when a quick break won them a short corner, which was duly dispatched past interim-goalie Chris Collinson.

At half-time, with a score line not reflecting play at all, the team unanimously decided to stop fannying about and start playing the hockey they’ve shown in earlier matches. True to their word, the home side pressed hard throughout the second half, reducing Rutland to chancy long balls as the only way out of their own defence; with these mopped up through solid marking by Andy Passmore, Ian Glover and Tom Anns, or equally solid tackling by sweeper Paresh Parsot, the visitors could only manage one or two more shots at goal and saw those ably dealt with by a confident Chris C.

At the other end of the pitch, meanwhile, chances were coming thick and fast, but goals were less easy to get by. In the end, it fell to Rob to get the equaliser, when a trademark duck-and-roll shot slipped past the ‘keeper. Considering the score was only level and the clock a long way off 70 minutes, Rob’s slightly exaggerated celebrations could be considered a bid for the Lemon of Match award. A few minutes later, Tom H. showed that scorers can be dignified, too, after a short-corner resulted in a drag-flick into the top corner, contending for goal of the season. Playing out the clock more composedly than last week, the home side secured a confidence-boosting set of back-to-back wins for their efforts.

Although unfortunate not to score more against a weaker side, the team can be proud of their commitment and fighting spirit, pulling three well-deserved points out of the fire to get themselves closer to safety in the division.