We began the final day of this snow-disrupted season in third place in the Div 5NW table. In theory that is outside the promotion zone, but events higher up the league structure and the way the East League has reacted to such situations in previous years had the stato's of the team holding third place would probably see us earn our second consecutive promotion. That was far from guaranteed though; St Ives 3rds were only two points behind us, with a superior goal difference. If they won, we also had to win to stay ahead. Technically, there was still a chance of second and the cast-iron promotion spot it brings, but that relied on results that were never a realistic possibility.

This was the third attempt to play this fixture, and it was nearly stymied again by a hole that some vandal had dug in Newmarket’s (really pretty new and otherwise high quality) astro. It was large enough to be a serious issue to the ankles of anyone who stumbled into it. Once packed with sand the Umpires deemed it playable, so the scene was set. Could we do what we needed against our fairly local rivals? We had beaten them pretty comfortably earlier in the season, 7-1, at a time when they were struggling to come to terms with Div5 hockey. More recent results told of a team that had developed significantly and would pose a very real threat. They showed their new level almost from the opening whistle as some neat passing (and very slack marking, to be honest) saw them into our circle for an early opportunity, which drew the first of the many saves that Lino would produce on the day.

The match was swinging from end-to-end, with our front line forcing some corners, and Newmarket looking to hit on the counter with aerials and runners coming from deep. Despite the importance of the game, our work off the ball was of dubious intensity, and this was well exploited by the home side as they took the lead. A free-hit just outside our 25 was quickly taken, catching the defence dozing. It was slip right to an overlapping player, who was able to advance into the circle and shot unopposed, the ball fizzing past Lino and inside his near post.

In recent weeks, we have been poor at playing catch-up hockey, quickly descending into panic and overly direct play. So it was imperative that we drew level quickly, and fortunately that was the case. It came from a series of shorts, the last of which saw the original shot saved, only for the rebound to fall to Andy, ten yards out. Andy flicked the ball goalwards, and what it may have lacked in pace it made up for with awkward height, getting past the defenders and through the ‘keepers dive. Phew.

The half continued with Newmarket absorbing our pressure and looking the more likely on the counter. They were unlucky when one effort was called back for an earlier awarded short, and had another two-on-one situation which saw their talented young forward advanced towards Lino, flick the ball past him and the two clatter into each other. Lino hadn’t got anything on the ball, but as it was going wide and the kid had no chance of getting back to it even if he had remained upright, no further action was deemed necessary from the Umpire.

At the other end, Rob felt sawn off by a whistle for a short as a ball ricocheted nicely to him off a defensive foot. He had been able to see the whites of the ‘keepers’ eyes. From the resulting set-piece, a goalmouth scramble saw Rob’s bobbling shot hit the post. That was the last serious action of the half, the sides turning around level.

Ali’s team talk had called for extra effort with the game so evenly poised, and he was rewarded by an opening press from his team that forced a string of shorts. Play was mostly in the Newmarket half of the field, and it would remain that way for the majority of the second period as we threw more and more bodies forward looking for the all-important goal. Newmarket’s counters were more sporadic than previously, but no less potent for their comparative rarity. The match was definitely on a knife-edge.

It looked like we had the goal early on in the half when Joe intercepted a defensive clearance that had been heading over the byline and squared for a tap-in. But it was chalked off as the Umpire had spotted Joe had been marginally too late and the ball was actually out-of-play before he had collected it. Throughout the half we were putting crosses across the home sides goal without reward. In particular, one lovely move down the left flank which involved five players, first time passing and triangles went unrewarded as the final ball flashed through the circle untouched (pity). Other attacks foundered on hurriedly taken shots from promising positions, in a manner that suggested the forwards were feeling the pressure.

Time was rapidly ebbing away, until with about five minutes left an attempted pass broke kindly for Jan, up so far from right-back that he was inside the circle, level with the forwards (it had got rather desperate). Jan received, rolled his man and found himself in on the ‘keeper. With the stopper advancing, he squared across the face, Rob getting a poke on the ball that sent it just inside the far post. Relief unbounded.

However, there was still long enough left to throw it away. We tried our best, giving up three shorts in the next two minutes. The initial shots caused no major alarms, but a recycled ball from one of them was a serious threat as one of the hosts main danger men (and I think the scorer of the opening goal) was left unchallenged and shooting from an angle. Again he made solid, undercutting contact, necessitating the final fine save of the day from Lino, who then berated his defence for not closing down the opportunity.

A misplaced pass from the resulting long gave us a 16, and this time we managed to clear our lines, finding Rob on halfway via Johnny B and Jan. A sweeping move developed with Rob's weighted pass into the corner finding Andy, who stood his man up and cut inside, pulling the ball back for Olly, arriving in support. Olly found Rob in the circle, whose shot was blocked by a defender. It ran free to Ali, arriving late at the left post, and he swept into the seemingly gapping net. However, the Newmarket ‘keeper, who had gone to ground trying to deal with Rob ‘s shot, somehow managed to regain his feet, hurl himself full length and make an extraordinary stick save. The whack to the back of the head from the astro the ‘keeper got for his pains hardly seemed fair for one of the best saves of any hockey match I’ve been involved with.

After a pause to see if the stopper was OK, play resumed for the final handful of seconds, with the ball not emerging from Newmarket’s half. So we had won. As the other scores came through, the importance of the result was confirmed; St. Ives 3rds had also won 2-1, so if we had drawn they would have leapfrogged us. Boston had won as expected to confirm 2nd place, as had Louth who thereby claimed the title. Only six points separates 1st from 4th in the final table after one of the closest promotion battles around the East League.

Our final points total was 48, with a record of 15-3-4 from 22 games, i.e. a 2-in-3 win rate. Pretty decent for a side only promoted into this Division for this season. An interesting aside (well, I think it’s interesting) is that it is our away form that has carried us to promotion [if indeed promotion happens, unlike our club twitter account I’m holding back slightly until next year’s Divisions are published]. Our only home win since Christmas came via a walkover, with just one other point gained in Cambridge. By contrast our away form in 2013 is played five, won five. Indeed across the season we have picked up more points away from home than at home. This is fairly unusual for amateur sport, and has only happened because of a high level of commitment from the core squad, with the skippers only usually needing to make one or two changes per game. Hopefully we can manage the same next season.

2012-13 squad notes

I’m using Championship Manager positional notations, with the adaptation that a players regular position is in bold [‘regular’ not ‘preferred’. My own preferred position is centre-forward, but can I convince a Captain to let me play there? Can I hell...] and all other positions he can play in plain text;

Chris Collinson - Gk - 5 apps, 2 clean sheets - Our ‘keeper through the Div 6NW(s) promotion season and the opening half of this campaign, until he left to a) go travelling and then b) go to Uni. Capable of high quality reflex saves. Those that saw will long remember the flash of pink Astros as he riverdanced around the St. Neots pitch.

Lino Di Lorenzo - ‘The Cat’, ‘The Prodigal’ - Gk - 6 apps, 1 clean sheets - A more than adequate replacement for Chris, Lino has returned to the action after nearly four years out with injury. He even managed to keep a clean sheet once his defence refrained from giving away a penalty stroke per game. An excellent ‘keeper who was playing for the 2nds prior to his sabbatical, strong on both shot stopping and organising the defence in front of him, he may be the best goalie playing regularly in Division 5.

John Benedikz - ‘Johnny B, JB’ - Gk/SwD C - 19 apps, 5 clean sheets - Vice-captain, vice-goalkeeper. A mass of vices, to tell you the truth. Also chief administrator, debt-collector and not least defensive rock. As a defender he is a fine reader of the game and generally intercepts rather than tackles, although he is perfectly capable of whipping the ball off a forwards stick if he needs to. Has many Div3 games under his belt from previous years, so it is always encouraging to see him lining-up at the middle of our back-line. No goals this season though, which is unusual for a(nother) frustrated centre-forward. Also fills in decently as ‘keeper when our regular stopper is not available and neither Parky or Shahbaz can double-up.

Jan Brynjolffssen - D R - 20 apps, 1 goal, 5 clean sheets - Appearance leader for the season. Mr Reliable at right-back, first name on the teamsheet, an accomplished defender who never makes a mistake. Knows exactly how hockey should be played, and isn’t shy about saying so. Statistical expert, who provides constant information for which the entire team are always truly grateful. Also writes superb match reports and pen pics and is unfailingly modest.

Ian Glover - D RL - 8 apps, 3 clean sheets - Former 2nd teamer who dropped down to us as his availability became patchy following the birth of his first kid. Possibly the one defender we have who possesses pace. As someone who has shown himself capable of playing at a higher level, his presence is always welcome, when he can make it. But having seen Julie’s return for the L1s - it looked like she had never been away - there might be competing claims chez Glover for who plays hockey on a Saturday next season.

Neil Sneade - D LC - 16 apps, 4 clean sheets, 1 yellow card - Mr Cambridge South, inveterate tweeter and ultra-reliable left or centre back. Has fewer appearances for us than might be expected, simply because the 2nds called him up whenever they had a long distance away game! Solid tackler and often displays skills and spins that allow him to break out when oppositions try and box him in, launching attacks down our left side. Even had a go in goal this season when no-one else was willing and he wasn’t fit enough to play outfield. He was better at it than Wilco... May have made history by scoring the first ever own goal in British hockey when turning the ball past Parky at 10:50am on the day the rules changed, and collected our only yellow card of the season for the heinous crime of kicking the ball somewhere near the halfway line.

Paul South - D C - 19 apps, 1 goal, 5 clean sheets - One of South 3rds most committed players who only missed games this season due to injury. Does nothing half-hearted on the field, be it challenging for the ball or debating with the opposition. In spite of all the efforts of opposition teams this season, his most difficult matchday task has been to extricate his son from bed. Also know for stream-of-consciousness emails that closely resemble hippy poetry.

Stu Creed - ‘The Doctor of Dribble’ - D/M/F RLC - 12 apps, 1 goal - The ultimate utility man, who South captains have long been comfortable putting pretty well anywhere, bar central defence or ‘keeper. Good tackler, hard worker, at his best when carrying the ball in from the right side, using those dribbling skills to cut through opposing defences. Suffers from a possible eye problem that requires the use of sunglasses during play. Missed a significant chunk of the season due to a broken rib suffered against Grantham, though he finished that game, unable to diagnose the problem! Physician, heal thyself.

Andrew Fraser - M/F RLC -10 apps, 2 goals - Teenager who first came into the 3rds squad towards the end of ’11-’12 season and has developed significantly since, to the point where he now bounces between us and the 2nds. A hard-working and skilful midfielder, he provide the key contribution to your report writers nomination for goal of the season; at home against Ely, he went on a 50 yard run down the left touchline, beating three players and then finished it by hammering down on the ball on his reverse side to ping a beautiful cross that gave Rob the time and space in the circle to finish. He will be sorely missed next season as he is off to Uni.

Simon Jelley- ‘Jelley, The Jelleyman’ - D/M/F L - 11 apps, 1 goal - Ex-captain, who lead the team to promotion from Div6 last season, Jelley dropped down to the 4ths at the Christmas break partly as he was struggling for confidence, but also to provide the 4ths midfield with technical ability and experience. Appreciates exactly what a team needs to do to get promoted from their league, so his know-how will be key. 4ths record before Jelley joined them was 2 wins, 2 draws, 10 defeats and since then it has been 5 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats. Not entirely all his doing but not entirely coincidental either.

Matt Kern - D/M/F C - 18 apps, 4 goals - Player of the season, Matt patrols the centre of midfield, giving the team a strong lynchpin to play around. The perfect midfielder as he doesn’t look out of place when asked to fill-in in either defence or attack, tenacious when challenging for the ball and cool when presented with a goalscoring opportunity. About the only drawback with Matt is his commitment seems to result in at least one painful blow per game from ball, body or stick. All can be taken in good humour, possibly excepting the occasion when the ball was smacked into his arse by a teammate!

Olly Lamming - M RLC - 9 apps, 2 goals - Promoted from the 4ths squad at the start of the season, it took Olly a couple of matches to adapt to the pace of our game, but once he did so he put in a string of fine performance that happened to correspond with our best team performances of the season. Brings energy and dribbling skills to the midfield, and also always brings a supporter with him, which has the effect of doubling the ‘crowd’ whenever he plays. Football club chairman pay through the nose for such individuals...

Tom South - ‘The Five-Toed Sloth’ - D/AM RLC - 17 apps, 6 goals - Our most skilful player, and Lemon-of-the-Season. Possesses a surprising turn of pace and is capable of ripping open opposition defences on his own when the mood takes him. He probably has the most potential of any player in the current squad. Second top scorer (if one includes friendlies) and almost certainly top assist man (but we don’t record that stat). Only drawback is an advanced case of narcolepsy, the apogee of which was turning up late for a home match on a pitch round the corner from his house when the push-back was 3pm! His impressive commitment to sleeping also lead to the rare feat of being Lemon-of-the-Match for two different South sides on the same day. Off to Uni next year, when such behaviour will be exceptional and not tolerated. Wait a second... Someone had better make sure he takes vitamin D pills with him, a vampyric type existence is in the offing.

James Tanner - ‘JT’- D/DM C - 16 apps - Leader, legend, future captain? New to the club this season, and a real find. Brilliant in the tackle, comfortably the best in our side and one of the best club-wide (I would say almost on a Parsot or Gravelling level) and has the best technique on the ball of our squad. Also a visionary passer of the hockey ball. Or possibly hallucinatory? Often on a different, higher wavelength than his teammates, who end up staring after his through-balls as they race out of play going “Wow, man, did you dig that? It was beauuutiful.”

Joe Whitaker - M/F RLC - 9 apps, 1 goal - Promoted from the 4ths midway through the campaign and quickly became an integral part of the side. Got to play up front on a couple of occasions and showed extreme promise, along with a scorching undercut. This provided one of our more important goals this term, a quick equaliser when we had gone behind away at St. Ives 3s. Adds ‘youth’ (well, mid-20s but that does move our average age downwards!) and energy to the midfield and forward areas.

Rob Barton - 'Lord Barton of the Reverse-Stick (with pike)' - S C - 19 apps, 31 goals - Goal machine, and the probably difference between a promotion chasing season and a mid-table one (or worse?). Dropped (himself) down from the 2nds last summer, and instantly made us much more likely to convert circle penetrations into goals. First seven goals this season all came from the patented reverse stick sweep with arse-over-tit fall, but from then on he added more variety. Can he repeat the trick next year? Will he score more on the front stick than the reverse? Will ‘keepers get wise to him? And is Just For Men all that keeps him from being slate grey?

David Doupé - ‘The Disappeared, #1’ - S C - 3 apps, 2 goals - Clever striker who would dovetail nicely with Sir Barton in our new 4-4-2 formation. A good finisher but more selfless than Rob, he provides a steady stream of assists as well as goals. Went AWOL some time prior to Christmas, and has been missed since. We presume he is OK, and would like to see him back in a green shirt at some point...

Ali Edge - AM/F RL -18 apps, 5 goals - Skipper and colossus (metaphorical). Has lead South 3rds brilliantly this season, as evidence by our breaking of team records left, right and centre. Adaptable in mid-game if the formation isn’t working and keeps it positive in the teamtalks, batting down some of the more negative voices in the team. With a stick in his hand, he is a lively winger, capable and comfortable playing on either side of an attacking three or wide in a four-man midfield. Chips in with goals when an opportunity arises, but his focus is more on assists. Was forced, due to multiple injuries and feeling the responsibility of skippering, into defence on one occasion and looked a bit lost, proving he is most effective at the other end of the field. Needs to study benevolent dictatorship as a governmental system.

Rupert Espley - F RLC - 16 apps, 6 goals - Rather than a scorer of lots of goals, Rupert instead proved himself to be the scorer of big goals. Of his six, two in particular stand out as utterly fundamental to our season, both against St. Ives 3rds. First, there was the equaliser scored inside the final 10 seconds of our 3-3 home draw. Then there was the winner in our 2-1 victory at their place. Given the final margin between the sides was just two points, without either strike the finishing positions would have been reversed.

John Parker - 'The Disappeared, #2' - F RLC - 2 apps - Another, like David, who adds skill to the attack but has vanished since the New Year.