South 3rds' opening league game of the 2015-16 campaign saw us hosting St Neots 2nds with our side showing a few changes from the decent friendly performances. The Rugby World Cup’s fault. Not that that event’s influence was all malign as it meant we got to have Matt K anchoring the midfield, which is always welcome.

Maybe the unfamiliarity of the defence and midfield with each other/their positions explains our sluggish start, or possibly it was more the skill of the Saints team that caught us on the hop. Whatever it was, they could have scored within thirty seconds as they came at/through us straight from push-back, and this set the pattern for the opening fifteen minutes. Somehow we survived unscathed through a combination of good fortune and some desperate clearances, but mostly because of excellent goalkeeping from Steve.

Having got through the bad start on level terms, the team stabilised in defence, which meant we started to have some play of our own further up field. And that produced chances, with the forwards talking afterwards of an open goal spurned (not sure I remember that!). Rob also had a couple of dangerous looking deflections of balls fired, but these went narrowly wide. With circle penetrations come shorts, and we had a handful, only without the precision of recent weeks.

The sides turned around level, and the feeling abounded that the first goal was important. If we could get it, then maybe Saints minds would wander back to the opening few minutes, and a frustration would set in to their team. If, if…

About ten minutes into the half, it was the visitors who finally made the breakthrough. It came from a short. Steve saved the first shot, and the rebound, but was getting no help from his defenders as Saints were allowed to try for a third time. This one got past our stopper (who can hardly be blamed for that!) and went in off the underside of the bar. Blast.

If we could keep it to one, then maybe Saints would still get nervous? Nope, didn’t manage that either, as their skipper got on the blindside of our defence to pop up unexpectedly and sweep home. He added a third soon after when another short wasn’t cleared, allowing a second attempt that crawled across the line at the foot of the far post (but would have been a penalty stroke if it hadn’t gone in).

There were still ten minutes to play at this stage. With two goals conceded in quick succession and the positional re-jig that injuries and lack of subs had forced on us, a collapse seemed possible. Thankful the team showed grit to keep it at three, but we had to hold our hands up at the end and say ‘fair result’.

Hopefully it will go better next week…