Cambridge South slipped to defeat against the league leaders Spalding, having put up a brave performance. South who have performed below standard in recent weeks raised their game several notches and, aided by the return of several key players, proceeded to put up a good display.

South started the match with several attacks pushing Spalding onto the back foot. One attack down the right flank was finished off by a magnificent James Pope strike, which took a small deflection off the on-rushing keeper to land millimetres over the bar.

After five minutes Spalding arranged themselves and looked much more solid at the back, allowing them to push up the field. Spalding pushed South onto the defensive and the back line of Ky Ho, John Benedikz and Rod Richardson, ably supported by Tom Harrison and Andy Kennedy in the defensive link roles, were all required to stay alert to keep the visitors at bay. From one attack Spalding won a short corner. However, their eventual shot was stopped on the line. Unfortunately for South it was a foot and not stick which stopped the ball and a penalty flick was awarded. The resulting flick was crucially saved by keeper Will Benedikz keeper; his third save in four flicks this season.

Spalding finally made the break through after fifteen minutes when a ball went loose along the back line and was lifted over the keeper from a very acute angle into the net. With the score at one-nil a pattern of attack and counter attack developed from which a number of short corners were awarded for both teams. Whilst South failed to make the most of theirs, Spalding used theirs to good effect, their third short corner being cleanly struck into the bottom right of the goal.

The second half was a real credit to the third team's ability to play for one another as a team. They defended from the front with the Bridge brothers, James and David, shadowing players back whilst the defensive links and back line closely marked players running through. On South's sixteen yard hits the Spalding ring was broken up allowing the ball to get to the wingers Ali Blake and Wilco Dijkstra. These two, plus James Pope and Finn Johnson, were then able to launch some effective counter attacks at the opposition defence. Conversely when Spalding were trying to clear their lines South players were always making life difficult by tackling and blocking passes.

In the end the second half reached a stalemate with neither side having many chances on goal.

Cambridge South put up a spirited performance against a team that, last season, were two divisions above them and ultimately were unlucky not to take a point from the game. Spalding failed to live up to this season's fearsome reputation and South made them look fallible. Certainly had South played against any lesser team goals and points would have been forthcoming. The side should take heart from this performance. They can really believe that by playing with this degree of level-headedness, commitment and determination there will be many more wins than losses this season.

Special thanks to Rob Barton for umpiring us in such atrocious weather conditions.