South were at home to Bishop Stortford 2s in the first pre-season friendly of the year. A team full of new faces, from both the M2s and from new members joining over the summer, greeted the Bishop Stortford side in blue. In the opening minutes, the game was fairly end-to-end with plenty of chances for both teams, although both looked rusty with mis-traps and unforced errors making for a slightly scrappy first half.

Things began to change when South captain Jim 'Xabi' Hockley found himself one-on-one with the keeper after a silky bit of play from Jon Pawson and Chris Pearson (a combination that would come back to haunt Bishop Stortford). With significant composure he slid the ball under the diving opposition keeper. Chris Pearson kept the momentum in South's favour with a second goal before half-time.

In the second half, things opened up for South. With a lead in place, the unfamiliar team began to gel and the long summer hiatus from holding a stick wore off. Debutants Dave 'Fluffy' Bennett and Rich 'Saffa' Hollidge looked very comfortable in the side, contributing to the midfield attacks and holding back the Stortford wingers, respectively. South old boy Matt Readman also had his (re-)debut for the squad, holding off attacks in the deep defence.

The second half was punctuated by three more goals from Pearson, a goal from Pawson and about seventeen short corners for South, from which we did eventually score. Also of note was Jamie 'Testimonial - I've always preferred Oxford anyway' Inshaw, whose top of the D bobbler at the goal had the Bishop Stortford defence running for cover, or at least gave them some rest from Pearson's constant onslaught.

Harry Chalk made a fine run from midfield, beating two defenders and the keeper only to fall at the last tap-in, earning him Lemon of the Match; a title closely contested by Jim H after dropping his stick in the D in spectacular fashion. Pearson's hat-trick + 1 earned him Man of the Match.