The Men’s 3s took to the 2017/18 stage against a well drilled and youthful Bishops Stortford side for this beginning of season friendly. Fresh from promotion and with some new players – and a new formation to boot – the group were keen to hit the turf. Bishops Stortford began the game well and gained the upper hand with some efficient moves from their technically gifted young squad, scoring 2 goals in the first 20 minutes. Some fine work from the industrious Toynton in goal kept the deficit to a semi-respectable 3-0 by the interval.

Half time brought about the customary bag of Haribo Tangfastics (other sugar coated sweets are available) alongside an inquest into what had gone slightly amiss in a half that had seen South concede three goals. This was, however, somewhat of a 'first date’ for the M3s, with this promising yet brooding mistress of a formation and she was clearly not to be tamed by the customary agricultural clearances from the 22' that suited less able opposition.

Brazen-faced South began more positively in the second half and with more stick tackles than you could shake a stick at, Bishops Stortford began to show their inexperience. Ollie A’s sprightly runs outclassed Stortford’s defence on occasion, which inspired South to dominate the game for a period of a few minutes. South's defence was unfortunate to be undone once more however, and Toynton again had to save well from the penalty spot before a marvellous overhead pass reached Joe Whittaker for an unlikely first goal of the season.

For all their efforts the M3s couldn’t keep out the Storford attack for a fifth and final time but positivity will be taken from a much improved second half that saw every player continue to slot in well to their new role in a promising tactical shake up.