After a positive pre-season the 4ths began their league season with a home game against St Neots 4ths, whom blended youth with a  couple of oldies at the back. Despite the later start the team arrived in their dribs and drabs and showed little incentive to warm up despite Joe’s authoritative voice (!!) calling for one. Although special mention should go to Charlie for being on time, probably wanting to make amends for his LoM award the previous week. After the eventual pre-match warm up and 1 on 1 drills, the skipper gave one of his memorable speeches to stir the blood, although in this instance the opening word of “Chaps…” drew some criticism from the Monkosaurus. However, the importance of playing as a team and not as individuals was taken on board by the whole team except Ky who was already warming his seat on the subs bench.

South started the game very strongly in their new look 3-5-1-1 formation showing straight away a desire to apply pressure high up the pitch. South’s dominance soon led to a number of chances and drew a few desperate saves from their debut goalie who was only there to support his son but soon called upon to be goalie when St Neots realised they were short of players. Again and again South created some great chances with the midfield and wingers driving from out wide into the centre D. Alex had the measure of his man and used his pace to do exactly this on a number of occasions. The opening goal soon came from South when a rebound fell to Joe right of the D. Although not a crisp finish, a bouncing ball was too much for the inexperience St Neots keeper to deal with and South found themselves 1-0 up.

Again and again South’s pressure told culminating in goal scoring opportunities or ending in a short corner which their defence did well to close down. Despite his many chances to score, for Boris it looked like one of those days when scoring didn’t just seem as if it would happen. Many chances went begging when a push would have been the better option instead of the shot he was attempting. His luck did change thanks to Joe’s quick thinking, taking a quick penalty just inside the 25 and driving for goal he passed to Boris who smartly finished to double South’s lead. Chances continued to come for all with one attempt by Wilco looking like it was heading into the top of the net until John G found himself in the ball’s path and only a quick dab with his stick the only thing between him and a painful ending.

The second half began with South leading 2-0 and looking likely that the continued pressure would result in more goals. Continuing the same fluid passing shown in the first half the ball was worked to the wide areas for Nathan and Rasmus to apply pressure down the flanks before cutting into the D to feed John and Boris. But despite numerous attacks and chances South just couldn’t find that killer blow with many including Boris, John, Wilco and Joe missing many chances. At times the rush to execute the final shot ended in frantic mayhem which Nathan described post-match as being similar to the board game Hungry Hippos.

South still looked comfortable as the game entered the 4^th quarter but then a lapse in concentration gave St Neots a rare chance. George, attempting to play a ball across the middle to Charlie ended up being a little weak and went straight to the opposition who drove towards goal with only Dave to defend. The St Neots player drew Dave across the D before shooting to the right post and right of JB. Despite Dave getting a stick on it the ball just crept inside the right post to make it 2-1. With 15 minutes left on the clock South didn’t drop their heads and started applying pressure from the re-start and within minutes were winning another short corner. Whether it was the “push” that culminated in John G in taking a spectacular dive or a foot by one of the St Neots players, a short was awarded. Whichever, John G’s dive, something straight out of the Premiership, was received with laughter from the spectators and a newly found admiration for his theatrical abilities from fellow players, culminating in the Best Actor Award aka Lemon of the Match award. Within the last ten minutes South manage to seal the game with a  second goal from the skipper from another goal mouth scramble. Game, set and match.

A great start to the season with some great hockey although the score line was slightly flattering for the opposition given the number of chances South had. St Neots were restricted to only a few attacks as the South defence worked hard to repel most attacks and cutting out the long balls through the middle, a task that was well executed by Charlie in the holding role, for which he duly received Man of the Match. The back three showed that the Monk smash wasn’t always needed and showed that the ball could be played around the back switching play to open up the spaces that the wingers could capitalise on. Such was the infrequency of St Neots attacks that JB had a very quiet afternoon and more impressively that South conceded no short corners.

A great team effort from the 4s.