After three consecutive weekends without a game, South 4ths returned to action against a young and enthusiastically supported Wisbech team and recorded our first on-field victory of the league campaign. This happened in the absence of Captain/Leader/Legend JG, who was laid low with man ‘flu. At least he has had some success moonlighting with the 3rds whilst the 4ths' season has been on pause.

The selection was a bit mix-and-match and included three debutants: Zeeshan, the latest South recruit from the Ali clan; Alan, returning to the sport after a few seasons away; and Will, available due to there being no school matches during half-term. This latter source also saw us joined by Laurie, a.k.a. Ky Jnr, who put in a very impressive shift in midfield and attack to take man-of-the-match plaudits.

In what proved a game of limited chances, the opening goal was always likely to be vital and it came for us midway through the first half. A counter involving Wilco and Will fed Shahbaz in the circle. He opted for a reverse-stick tomahawk shot, and launched the ball in spectacular style into the top corner of the Wisbech net. Technically this was our eleventh goal of the campaign, but one to ten were from walkovers so it was the first ‘proper’ one. However many more the 4ths score this season, they are unlikely to manage a better one.

As the match progressed we were the team creating the majority of the chances, but it needed a second for people to relax. This came fairly early in the second half and was all Will’s own work, as he dribbled to the top of the circle, moved the ball right to shift the keeper and then shot across him into the gap created in the left corner. Another very impressive goal.

2-0 was a much more comfortable lead as Wisbech struggled to create scoring opportunities. We had some half chances of our own to extend the advantage without ever really coming close. The games short corner count, 5-2 in our favour, gives an indication of where the play was concentrated, i.e. in the middle third of the field.

As time ticked by, some of our team begun to look pretty tired which lead to a ‘hold what we have’ last ten minutes. Good defensive cover meant we negotiated this without undue worry and had claimed the three points, which has lifted the 4ths to the giddy heights of 8th place. Now to try and back this win up next week at Spalding.