South M4s turned up bright eyed and bushy tailed at Catz to start a run of four home games that would both complete their seasons match program and also give them an opportunity to build upon the recent run of results to push themselves as far up the table as possible. A full squad to choose from also added to the positive atmosphere as we lined up to start the game and aim to take the game to the opposition from the off.

Of course, best laid plans and all that...the opposition obviously had the same idea and came flying forward from the pushback. South were immediately on the defensive and as a result failed to get a grip on the midfield. Too often we were forced to react rather than getting on the front foot and attacking. The pressure of playing against a team who needed a win as badly as we did was telling and whenever we could get the ball, it was surrendered too easily either through a misplaced pass or by being closed down and forced into turning the ball over. Soon enough we found ourselves 0-1 down and chasing the game, as we tried to find a way back in to the game, we got caught a second time and the score was 0-2 to the opposition.

The second goal seemed to wake us up. Slowly we managed to assert ourselves on the game, starting from the back. Charlie and Dave managed to get a grip on things at the back with Ky and David providing support on the flanks. Balls were finding their way higher up the pitch as Simon J and Wilco were creating spaces by pulling the Bourne players this way and that, and with willing running on the flanks from Tom R and Nathan M to support Boris and Simon up front, who were finally starting to see some of the play. When the ball could be worked through from the back, we were able to start playing our own game and pop the ball about. When nothing obvious was on, we were able to clear our lines by getting the ball launched clear of our half to allow us to regroup, push up and start defending from much higher up the pitch instead of being camped in our own half.

In fact, one such clearance from the Monckasaurus was smashed through a gap in the midfield towards the opposition 25. Simon peeled off to the right aiming to force the covering defender into commiting to challenge Boris for the ball or track his run. In fact, he did neither allowing Boris to flick his stick at the ball as it passed the 25 yard line and

spoon the ball up into the D. The goalkeeper got caught in two minds trying to deal with the ball and with pressure from Simon following up and sniffing around, he mistimed the clearing kick and the ball flicked off the rear of his pad and into the goal. 1-2 and South's tails were up. South went straight for it again from the restart and managed to force some short corners but no more goals came for either side and Bourne held their lead going into the half time break.

After a frank exchange of views, battle was rejoined with the opposition and South went for it immediately. While it wasn't going all our own way, we did manage to spend the majority of the opening exchanges pouring forward into Bourne's half. More short corners were won but through a combination of sloppy play and stout defending, no chances were taken. In fact, while chances were appearing quite frequently the Bourne defence were defending for their lives and through their own version of the Monckasaurus, clearing their lines effectively to set up quick counter attacks of their own. However, some solid defending all round, particularly with some fantastic tracking back from all the guys in midfield to help out kept the scoreline at 1-2 right into the final 10 minutes.

And what a final 10 minutes! A series of substitutions saw South start to boss the game across the park and get a stranglehold on the game. A slick set of passes saw the ball passed swiftly from the back as a Bourne attack was broken up by Dave who fed the ball to Simon J. A 1-2 with Ian bypassed the danger men in midfield before releasing Boris with a peachy cross field ball to get the forwards in behind the Bourne defence. Simon F came charging forward in support and as Boris reached the 25 yard line, he drew the last defender and slipped the ball into Simon's path for him to collect, steady and cooly slide the ball to the left of the keeper to bring the scores level at 2-2.

Bourne kept pushing forward looking for another goal, but were being kept at bay by some fantastic defensive work. This desperation to find another goal saw the game stretched and much more open. As a result, another quick counter attack following a Bourne attack being broken up saw Boris again in acres of space on the right as the ball was played in behind the last defender. Bearing down on goal and with only the keeper to beat, Boris selflessly squared the ball to Simon F who tucked the ball away through the goalkeppers diving legs to take the lead for the first time. 3-2 South with 5 minutes or so left to go.

But still we weren't quite finished. As Bourne started to push higher and higher, they over commited men time and again and as attacks broke down. Simon and Boris were finding time and space to try their luck again. This time Simon collected the outlet ball as it came forward and took of for the opposition goal and looking to draw the last defender away before feeding Boris in and attempting to return the favour. However, the attack broke down and South were left to defend the final few minutes as Bourne searched in vain for an equaliser.

So a vital win against a team also desperate for points at the wrong end of the table, saw the 4s stretch their unbeaten run to 3 games and opened up a 5 point gap on Ely and a 6 point gap on Bourne below them while moving within a point of St Neots 4s above us. Everyone put in a shift today and an enjoyable result was made all the sweeter by the manner in which we stuck with our game plan and worked our way back into the game by playing to our strengths; working the ball around to players in space, making moves to create that space and loose their marker and above all fighting for every ball right to the final minute. Lets keep it up through the friendly next week and into the final two league games against Peterborough Vets and Ely 4s. Happy days!