South 3rds brought the usual amount of sand back from their annual trip to the Lincolnshire coast, but that is all they returned from Skegness with on this occasion. Our most recent trips north have been to play Alford’s 2nds, but this time around it was their 1sts, who had been relegated from the division above last season. It turned out they were a rather different kettle of fish.

The first ten minutes saw us heavily on the back foot as the hosts speed of attacking thought and deed came as rather a shock to our system. The defence was scrambling to keep everything out and just about managing, but our clearances were rushed and hopeful, resulting in the strong home sticks picking the ball in midfield and coming straight at us again and again.

However we didn’t concede during this opening period, surviving both shots and a number of shorts. Then we finally began to have some play of our own. This resulted in a penalty corner awarded for a heavy foul outside the ‘D’, and it was converted with a tried and trusted routine. That being Joe injects to Dave, Dave winds up, aims for a defender’s stick so it deflects up at a high pace right towards a sensitive area of Joe, who, in a spirit of self-preservation, reacts with lightening speed to get his stick in the way and retain the possibility of having children. The ball then spins from this block into the backboard. Textbook.

Unfortunately, having kept Alford out for quite a while at 0-0, we couldn’t do the same when 1-0 up, giving away a short corner straight from the pushback that was eventually converted after rather a scramble. Alford moved ahead towards the end of the half when indecisiveness saw the ball on the end of South sticks in our D but not cleared, and the home forward pounced for an opportunistic first time strike that went just inside the post.

Talk at half-time was that, whilst their attack looked sharp, we had been getting joy against their defence, who seemed somewhat panicky when put under pressure. If we could get at them, there might still be something in the game for us. That continues to be the case as the second half was much more even. In fact, we may even have shaded it as Alford incursions into our circle became much rarer. Unfortunately on one of these a flicked shot through a crowd left Lino unsighted. It found its way home.

We had a big chance to get back into the game soon after when the home umpires [who were excellent throughout, and were using radio mics to talk to each other in a complete first not just for the M3s but I believe for South as a club] dispatched not one but two defenders to the halfway line for early breaks at a penalty corner. Faced with just a keeper and two defenders, all we needed was a sense of calm and accuracy to pass the ball around and create an open net tap in. This didn’t happen as a shot was taken far too early with the keeper still in position, who blocked and kicked clear. Cue much cheering from the home team and connections.

Alford hit us for a fourth on a quick counter-attack, their player getting a crisp shot off on the turn from the top of the circle. We pulled one back late on as the team greybeards combined, Dave picking out Paul with a fifty yard upfield pass, Paul putting it into a good area for Rob, who jabbed it to deflect past the advancing keeper. To no overall avail, alas.

Ah well. That is the 3rds' one long haul for the season out of the way. On to next week, then. Pip, pip!