Cambridge South started brightly in the warm sunshine, but in spite of some good moves and pressure were unable to find the net. Skipper Greaves was narrowly wide with a swept effort from a sharp Laurie Ho pass into the D, and a couple of excellent crosses went tantalisingly across goal untouched. Newcomers Darrach Bass and Peter Creed were supplying the forcefulness and pace respectively…and not a little skill, with some lovely triangle moves orchestrated by the central Wilco/Creed (S)/Jelley gang.

Unfortunately, Stortford got the first goal with the otherwise solid defence caught understaffed for once. There was some dispute as to whether the ball had actually touched anyone in the D. We are not bitter.

After half time the away team began to tire and Stortford dominated, capitalising with their second goal which was a swift breakaway with the South Defence screaming for reinforcements. This didn't stop Cambridge South battling on, with chances of their own - two Greaves efforts well saved and others from Stu Creed, the returning James Raikes and Shabhaz Ali snuffed out by the advancing keeper.

South did get their just rewards at the very end, when a goal-bound Creed thunderbolt was intercepted by a stray defender's arm, deflecting it to that man Greaves who smashed it into the net (the ball, not the defender's arm) only for the umpire to decide that a P-flick was in order for the arm-block. Confused? Luckily dead-eye Shabhaz Ali made no mistake with a confident flick to the goalie's right to make it 2-1 at the final whistle.

All in all a decent season opener, with everyone playing their part for the team, trying to bring others into the game, moving into space to receive, and getting the ball forward together. Losing was particularly unfortunate for the defence, led as ever by Alan "The Rock" Radford, with his henchmen Thomas/Ho/Ho/Steed, sticking to the task manfully and effectively throughout and finding time to forage upfield from time to time when the opportunity arose.

Notable performances from our new boys weren't quite enough to wrestle the man of the match award from perennial hero Rock Radford.