Cambridge South 3rds head into our Division 5NW programme in upbeat mode after our final friendly produced a 3-1 win over Bishop’s Stortford 4ths.

The opening exchanges were pretty even and played at a decent lick. Both teams looked to move the ball around rather than running too much in the late summer heat, and were maintaining a decent structure. Shots on target were at a premium as both defences played well, but the few that did get through at our end were dealt with highly competently by new keeper Matt S-G.

As the half wore on, South began to get on top, creating chances and forcing shorts. Dave thought he had given us the lead when one typical blast found the target, only for it to be ruled out for height. We wouldn’t have to wait that long for a breakthrough, as Walshy rode a heavy challenge to burst into the circle. His centre deflected kindly to Rob who pushed a shot as he turned, catching the goalkeeper before he had had time to set his feet. Not the cleanest build up, but as Rob said he had been “in the right place at the right time”!

Stortford came back at us in the opening period of the second half and were quickly level. It came from a short, converted with one of those horrible topped shots that loop over keepers pads and defenders sticks and then come back down with top-spin to hit the backboard. However South soon settled back into their play and again looked the stronger team in the latter half of the half.

The chances eventually paid dividends when Rob cracked a straight strike from a short into the bottom left corner to restore the advantage. That meant Dave was no longer the 3rds top scorer, something he sought to rectify as soon as possible; again it was a straight strike from a short, this time it found the backboard, but once again Dave found himself sawn off as the Ump said it had only gone in low because a defender had deflected it back downwards for him!

No matter, with three minutes left Dave finally got all the pieces to fit together right. Straight strike, hard, low, on target and out of the keeper's reach. 3-1, and that was all she wrote. All that was left was our first go at the mountain of pizza that now comprises the post-match teas.