South 3rds made sure last week's hard-earned win at Louth didn't go to waste as we backed it up with victory over mid-table Ely 3rds.

After riding out a rocky opening spell, with Ely taking the majority of possession and pushing us back towards our circle (that the opposition wants to win and will run about in an effort to achieve this often seems to catch us by surprise), we took the lead. Ali intercepted a pass on halfway, and then made quick use of the turnover ball, feeding David in the left channel. David passed on to Rob in the circle, who swung left and drilled a reverse stick shot across the ‘keeper into the far corner. It’s not déjà vu if you have, in fact, seen it before...

Being ahead settled us down, and we began to put our game together. The lead was extended with a move that began when Neil set off from a free-hit awarded on the 25 near the left touchline. Neil went past his man to get to the byline and then picked out David in the circle. David moved it on to Rob, the ball arriving at roughly the same time as an Ely defender; from the challenge the ball ran loose, dropping kindly for Rob, five metres out and facing a hopelessly isolated Ely ‘keeper. That the driven shot went in was almost a given. That Rob didn’t even bother switching it to his reverse side, despite having time enough to do so, was more of a surprise.

Glossing quickly over an attempt on the reverse by Rob, which to paraphrase the man himself “Didn’t go as I was planning”, there were no serious alarms for either ‘keeper in the rest of the first half. At our end of the pitch this was testament to the work the side was putting in, as Ely were no mugs. In fact, we had got through another 35 minutes against a lively front-line without them managing a shot on target, which is very encouraging stuff.

The early part of the second period follow the pattern of much of the first, both teams probing away without working either ‘keeper too hard. A piece of individual magic was needed to change the score, and it came from Andy. He collected the ball inside our 25 out on the left touchline, and promptly ran the line all the way into the Ely 25, beating their right winger, right midfielder and right back in turn (they helped a little by each player going in one-on-one, a very honourable display of mook chivalry). With his full-back beaten, the Ely sweeper was forced to come across and engage, opening up room in the centre of pitch. Andy pinged an accurate reverse stick pass to Rob, who had pulled into the vacant spaces at the top of the circle. Rob had time to set himself before clipping the ball past the ‘keeper.

Ely then had their most threatening period of the game. Partly due to them pushing more players up out of defence as they had little to lose, partly as our intensity dropped slightly with the feeling that the work was mostly done, the net result was ‘keeper Johnny B, again guesting between the sticks, being called into serious action for the first time. He produced two saves in quick succession from flicked shots, and then blocked a driven short corner strike and was relieved to see the rebound slapped narrowly wide. When a further short was flicked high towards the right post JB and the post man went for it, but couldn’t keep it out (in fact, certain teammates have claimed it was heading wide, and the South defenders actually pulled it back into the goal!).

We were wobbling a bit at this point, especially when JB was called on to make another quick-fire double save, but then managed to nip the nascent Ely comeback in the bud with a 4th goal. This one was all Stu’s own work, stealing the ball in a tackle, advancing the short distance into the circle and cracking an early shot in at the near post. This was notable for two reasons. Firstly, the trouble Stu had been having hitting the ball in the first half, with a number of poor connections. But not when it mattered. Secondly, it was our first goal since 20th October from someone other than Rob, who had netted our previous ten! It is nice to know that we do have other goal threats in the team...

Our confidence was up for the remaining minutes, and the chances started flowing. One move saw Ali set David clean through on the ‘keeper. David aimed for the far corner, and put it ... wide. 30 seconds later David was back through again, this time opting for a reverse stick flick which again beat the ‘keeper and also again beat the far post. No matter, as Tom was then off on a dribble from inside his own half. Having jinked past the first tacklers, he was met by an Ely defender who happens to be a teammate from Hills Road, and who seemed to have him under control until Tom did him with a spin move. Tom advanced into the circle, played a one-two with David and then beat the ‘keeper at his near post.

We ended the match with a sweeping move that culminated in David squaring for Olly to flick goalwards. The shot was smothered by an impressive diving save. Unfortunately for Ely, this was affected by a defender rather than their ‘keeper, with a penalty flick the result. Olly took responsibility as it was his shot that had earned the opportunity, and found the target left-of-centre.

The match finished 6-1, which in truth flattered us a little. We certainly deserved the victory, we created the majority of the chances and ours were clearer-cut than Ely’s, but it never felt like a game that would produce a 5 goal victory margin. Our one period of true dominance, the final few minutes, allowed for some gilding of the lily. As the top of Division 5NW is extremely tight, with ourselves, St. Ives 3rds and Louth all on 22 points, goal difference is clearly important and those late goals enabled us edge closer to St. Ives (who won 4-0) and make useful ground on Louth (who won 2-1). Currently the GDs read St. Ives +26, Louth +25, South +20.