South Men’s 3rds completed our away programme for 2015/16 with a 2-0 win at Spalding that was a bit more comfortable than the final scoreline suggests. Whilst we weren’t exactly prolific up front, we did have have more of the territory and possession, particularly in the second half, and forced the home keeper into a few saves. Meanwhile the hosts didn’t manage a shot on target the entire match, and that despite a couple of helping hands from our backline. The final score was about right, therefore.

The opening period was something of a stalemate, with the play bogged down in midfield. Our only short of the half summed things up as the injection was miscontrolled and then the attempt for a second phase pass misplaced, to see the ball trundle harmlessly out of play. At the other end, Neil’s pass across the backline picked out the Spalding centre forward, leaving him clean through, but he lost control of the ball entering the circle and Douglas was able to tidy up.

After the break we improved our play markedly, moving the ball around the back crisply and down the flanks well. The pressure led to a penalty corner midway through the half. Joe’s strike was aimed at the far post, where Chris was racing in to deflect home. It looked a sweet move. Exactly as planned, right?

1-0 became 2-0 from our next PC. This time it had an element of fortune about it, as Rob’s shot deflected wildly high in the air. With no whistle sounding, Dan did the right thing in playing on and put an overhead swat into the back of the goal. The umpires conferred and decided the goal was good. Question for Dave for next season – can you do that?!?

The last action of the game was around our goal, as volunteer goalie Jan got in his traditional pass straight to the opposition forward. The forward jinked this way and that, Douglas retreated to the line to put his pay-and-play goal line clearance skills into action, but in the end no shot was forthcoming.

Twenty-one games down, just the M3s vs M4s derby to go. Bring it on…