Peterborough 5s have always proved fairly matched to South 2s: the games may be hard-fought, but eminently winnable. So we were all keyed up and keen to get some goals past the hosts. Who is this "all", I hear you ask, who was on the pitch for this spectacle of pleasure? Well, for starters, not a full team. In a weekend when the unavailables were numerous enough to field their own team (and then some), it was only through a miracle - and selfless support for 2s by Joe Whittaker and Oliver Lamming - that we had 11 people signed up for the day. Imagine our dismay when only 10 showed up at the pitch, Ross having managed to get lost despite the pitch being right next to a hulking big hospital. You have to love it when someone corner the market for Lemons before he's even rocked up!

Still, with 10 men on the pitch we all worked our socks off to  keep the Peterborough wolf from the door. so when Ross had finally found time to amble onto the pitch (in fairness - he had to wait until we worked our way through a short corner. An attacking one, no less), a collective sigh of relief was heard all around. So relieved were we, in fact, that we promptly lost focus and gave Peterborough the space they'd been craving. The hosts took the lead with a clinical strike into the near post; with a healthy dose of luck, they soon followed it up with a flick squeezing between Joe's pad.

To the team's merit, going 2-0 down didn't dent their spirits. With concentration reestablished, man-marking sorted out and a full complement of 11 Greens playing, we started to look for goals of our own. Good pressure and calm passing presented Russell with an opportunity - and he didn't hesitate.

From here on, the play was pretty equal. Peterborough got another goal when a cross bobbled past Jan and cunningly fell to the attacker to deflect it home. Short after short was won by South, but couldn't be converted. As the second half wore on, South was putting more and more pressure on the hosts, but despite sterling efforts by each and everyone of the attackers, no goals were forthcoming anymore. Then again, equally sterling efforts by the almost-forgiven Ross and club newcomer Elliot made sure Peterborough didn't get any more either. So the game trundled to a disappointing end with a 3-1 loss to South.

Lessons learned? Try to start the game with 11 men on the pitch and stay focussed for the full 70 minutes. But the scoreline is somewhat unfair on South, as we matched Peterborough for most of the game. We'll sort out the record on the return fixture, no doubt!