Cambridge South III 2-1 Occasionals

This friendly would be the last home game for the thirds after a long and often rather hard season. However, with St Ives unable to raise a team, the prospect of crossing sticks with our own clubmates seemed the perfect tonic to compliment the fresh spring day and soothing prospect of the Hat and Feathers after.

The match began as it continued – at a vibrant pace interspersed with some silky passes and some rather more woolly ones. The Rest had the upper hand in the opening minutes with Jim Thorpe and Chris Graveling (both kindly doubling from the 1sts) distributing the ball swiftly up towards the 3rd’s D.

However, the 3rds soon found their feet and, recovering from their initial realisation that a friendly still meant they actually had to run, managed to reassert some equilibrium. The back line of Ian Evans, Neil Sneade, Phil Le Gouais and Steve Morrell put in some timely tackles to steer the ball out to both David Bridge on the left and Andy Kennedy on the right on several occasions. It was on one of these occasions that David Scott in the centre was able to snaffle a lose ball and, after some good inter-play in the midfield, Wilco slotted the ball under the feet of The Rest’s on-rushing keeper.

This proved to be the catalyst (albeit perhaps a bit of a flukey,-against-the-run-of-play sort of catalyst) for a tirade of 3rds attacks, complimented by another tirade of defences against the Rest’s equally penetrating runs. It was vintage “champagne hockey”, with end to end runs, thirty yard hits to nowhere and goalmouth scrambles aplenty. Nik Oettle was so engrossed, in fact, that he missed seeing the ball entirely and got hit in the foot, sadly leaving the field after a great game and season.

Despite the high stakes and pressure-cooker intensity, many seemed strangely relieved to get a breather at half time - the author definitely amongst them. Having crossed and recrossed the pain barrier several times in the first, the second half started well for the 3rds with a well worked goal in the opening minutes. This came via James Bridge to David Scott who did well to finish it past the keeper with no name and even better to avoid the author poaching it off him as it crossed the line (a common problem…).

However the Rest were by no means beaten and with composed performances in defence and midfield by Jodee Davies and Jo Read, as well as the introduction of Steve Fleck on the left before the break, they often threatened the 3rd’s goal – forcing some smart saves from keeper Tom James.

With further good work from Dan Pippard, Andy Passmore and Chris Davies helping their cause, the Rest struck back. Although it was by all accounts a well worked goal, the author would have to use his artistic licence (he shudders at the thought…) to recreate it as he was up the other end somewhere knackered from yet another headless-chicken-like run.

And two-one to the 3rds it ended; with both sides to be congratulated on an entertaining game, played in excellent spirit and even with several good passages of play. As Tom James was heard to say at the final whistle, “It’s the first game I’ve actually won with the thirds.” Enough said.