A battling performance by the Men’s 4ths wasnt enough to prevent a strong Bourne Deeping team securing the victory.

Both halves were similar, with the home team dominating play, passing the ball around skillfully until they got into the danger area, where pressure, multiple short corners and numbers in the D eventually broke down the heroic Cambridge South defence. The central core of James Siddorns and Alan Radford were ably assisted by Andy Thomas, Ky Ho and Howard Steed at full back…not all at the same time.

It was a tough debut in goal for Cameron Macleod, who nevertheless learned rapidly and was awarded man of the match for a string of increasingly confident blocks and saves at stretch. Most of the Deeping goals were a but unlucky for him, as he was unsighted behind the packed defence with attackers swarming around.

After the home side got the first three, Cambridge South were finally rewarded for intelligent, flowing breakaway moves - passing early to men in space and looking for the return - with a text book Simon Jelley pass into the D, where John Greaves slid the ball across to the lurking Pip Ho to bury it at the far post. 3-1. Skipper Greaves was unlucky shortly afterwards when, after dribbling into the D, his fizzing strike was saved near the post by the (too good) Bourne Deeping keeper.

The second half actually started more evenly, the away midfielders moving the ball well. Phil harvey, Simon Jelley and Wilco Dijkstra all showed persistance and skill to evade opponents and maintain possession, with that man Greaves linking play with some good passes and youngsters Tom Steed and Laurie Ho scrapping for every ball…and often winning it.

After a fourth Deeping goal from an attacker who found himself near goal in prime position to deflect it past the keeper, South got their second with a well-worked move following a short corner. The brothers Ho combined for Laurie to receive the ball at the top of the D and shoot decisively, from which the keeper was only able to deflect it into the net.

Deeping did manage to add another two goals to give the scoreline a more one-sided look.

This was probably one of the best games the 4ths have played all season, indicated by the fact that most of the team received nominations for man of the match. But, as on a number of occasions this season, it wasn’t quite enough at this level.

The goulash and chips in The Bluebell pub afterwards were excellent.