Following an injury picked up while (literally) giving blood for the 3s promotion cause last weekend, the M4s skipper was reduced to the role of non-player/manager for the trip to Sandy to meet Shefford and Sandy 4s for this mid-season friendly. Slightly worried that the timing could have been better and led to some disruption of the momentum created from last weeks first point of the season, the sidelined skippers initial reaction on seeing the opposition arrive for the game was whether we'd arrived at the right game and would we be required to complete some permissions slips before push back. As it turned out, they weren't required, but Freddie Mercury (guesting for South in place of Boris

Lossey) soon informed us that we would need to ensure we stayed on the right side of "friendly" while being mindful of the fresh-faced opposition.

So to the game, and a much changed line-up for South who were fielding some new faces in Adam, Howard and Jason as well as several "experienced" senior players. It wasn't long before this started to tell as South quietly and efficiently tested the resolve of the home defence.

It wasn't long before gaps were opened up at will by Ian and Joe in the centre with willing running from Tom and Wilco on the flanks to work the ball around the back of the home team's rear-guard. The pressure was soon turned into a goal when a delightful pass from Joe in the centre was fired to the right hand corner for the front-line to chase.

Following up, he exchanged a quick 1-2 with Greaves Snr, who fired a low drive into the D. Freddie dummied, drawing the attention of the last man and keeper, allowing Tom the easiest of tap-ins from all of two yards that his skipper would have been grateful for had he been involved. 1-0 South.

It seemed that would open the floodgates, but to give them credit Shefford and Sandy took it on the chin and set about trying to exact their own pressure on the South backline. Time and again, some sloppy work in midfield allowed the young legs in the midfield and attack to pour forward, but the tireless work of Adam filling in at the back, ceasless tracking back from the wingers to double-team with Rasmus and David B who were playing in the full back slots, meant that John S playing at sweeper had little to do although he was more than up to the task of mopping up the few chances that snuck through.

It didnt stop South from pouring forward at every opportunity either. Time and again, short corners were won but it soon became obvious that some of our regular contributors were missing (some back up plans need to be worked on methinks) but at least we weren't producing anything quite as awful as the efforts the 3s managed in last seasons final derby. Chances were also coming from open play, but the final shot was either being expertly saved by the Shefford keeper or sheparded wide by the home defence. 1-0 it remained at half-time.

The pattern remained for the second half. Shefford and Sandy soaked up even more pressure from the South attack, while fashioning some very presentable chances of their own. It looked like 1-0 might be enough, particularly given some rather comical attacking shorts that saw Greaves Snr scampering into the D to retrieve the ball following a weak/bobbly push out in order to keep the attack alive. Greaves Jnr was dribbling through the centre at will but the moves were being snuffed out. Then up popped Freddie with 'A Kind of Magic' touch to take the ball with his back to goal, work it around the opposition defender and on to his reverse side before cracking the ball into the bottom left hand corner a la Barton.

So, the first win of the season for the 4s and hopefully, some form we can take into the league programme before it wraps up for the Christmas break. Jason and Howard made their first appearances for the club with some solid work on the wings and Adam played fantastically well at the back, earning a MoM nomination from the opposition (among others) for his tireless ability to pop-up all over the place in the 25 to make some timely interceptions.

I'd also like to thank both Shefford & Sandy's umpires for running the game. They are both new to officiating and it was universally agreed that they both had very good games, particularly the young lad who looks like he'll go far along with his playing clubmates. It'll be a pleasure to see them all again for the return fixture in the New Year.