A long, and on the whole successful, season draws to a close for the mighty 3s. Wins against City, St Ives and Long Sutton had been sweet, but this was the one we really wanted. After a hard-fought draw earlier in the season, could ‘home’ advantage help the 3s cause an upset this time around? Or would it even be an upset, exclaimed a few of the more optimistic amongst us.

Weather-related delays meant playing on a Tuesday night. Strangely, availability was much better than it is on most Tuesdays (what a coincidence) and soon a seventeen-strong squad had been assembled. But then, just hours before the game, disaster struck as Ash A pulled a hamstring. This not only meant losing a quality player, but also our plan to infiltrate the 2s by giving them one of our players was in tatters.

Game time was soon upon us. Ed managed to retrieve his kit from Stansted just in time, and Dan Loy arrived complete with a headband and ponytail combo best described as interesting. We all wondered who the scruffy looking lot with mismatched shirts and bibs were, before realising it was the 2s.

The whistle went and we were away, and before long the ball fell to Matt who took a tumble and landed awkwardly on his shoulder. ‘I’ve dislocated it,’ he screamed, and it seemed captain Kern’s game was over after just thirty seconds. But no, as it turns out the skipper enjoys a bit of DIY surgery and simply popped it back in place, and after eventually locating his stick was back on the pitch.

After this some actual hockey began and the opening exchanges were played at a decent pace. We were composed and comfortable in possession, while the 2s looked dangerous on the counter. Soon though the relentless pace of the game became too much for Toby, who added some appropriately lemon coloured decoration to the pristine Long Road pitch. Rumours flew later of a pre-match kebab, but Inspector Nev’s thorough investigation of the evidence didn’t yield any results beyond it being ‘chunky’. What’s more Toby was too preoccupied to alert the subs of the problem, and so we continued with ten for some time.

At this point Dom decided to show up, a mere hour after everyone else. As the game progressed the 2s put us under more and more pressure. The defence were holding firm, until eventually a scramble in the D ended with a scrappy 2s goal. 1-0 to the dark side.

Not long later we conceded a short. Aha we thought, we know what’s coming here. They’ll go to Menzies on the left post, the 2s classic. And so, with a cunning plan in place to stop this, we were confident of keeping them out.

Ball injected, check. Ball stopped, check. Ball goes…right?! The defence were so shocked by the idea that the 2s could remember more than one short corner routine that before we could recover, Coops(!) smashed home for two-nil.

After this setback came our best period of the match. Some great interplay between the midfield and the forwards was causing the 2s problems. Toby, having now recovered, went close from a short before a fast, slick, flowing counterattack that has been typical of the 3s this season was finished off by Ash D. Two-one and we were right back in the game. Our pressure continued to mount on the 2s goal as Dan twice struck the post and we were unlucky not to be level.

Right back Alex L then decided to get in on the action. Picking up the ball mid-way inside our half he turned on the afterburners and left the 2s' players trailing. Soon enough he reached the D and just in time noticed the end of the pitch, squaring a dangerous ball across the goal which didn’t quite fall for a 3s player.

Half time, and a lot to be encouraged by. The defence looked secure against a 2s side full of running in attack. Neil was as solid as ever and Will performed well in an unfamiliar role at the back. Our attack also looked dangerous, with Ed, Ash and Dan making excellent runs and being supplied well by the likes of Joe, Toby and Ollie. More of the same please, said the skipper.

Another drag flick went close early in the half. Another short brought a terrific save out of Darren in the 2s goal. We were knocking on the door but couldn’t quite find a way through. Slowly however the 2s got on top and after a couple of near misses, they reacted fastest to a loose ball in the D to make it three-one.

The ball then fell to Angry Dom, who unfortunately for us decided to stop being angry at this point and instead be good at hockey. Some nice skill took him past a few of our players, and after Ash’s attempt to stop him ended with the 3s man on the floor, he whipped home a reverse stick shot into the corner. Four-one and probably game over.

The effort levels didn’t drop off; however, where much of the first half had been full of fast and flowing hockey, the final fifteen minutes resembled more of a rugby match, with bodies flying everywhere and countless fouls. Toby’s grievous knee wounds after colliding with Dom didn’t garner enough sympathy for anyone to forget his earlier exploits and Kenzie (of the Ollie variety) finally got a bit of sibling revenge, going past his brother in the midfield into some open space. This obviously pleased him greatly, as rather than going forwards he decided he wanted another go, and much to everyone’s surprise he turned back around to try to beat Matt again.

Full time: four-one. A pretty good performance and an enjoyable game of hockey, although we were perhaps a touch disappointed with the final scoreline, especially Ash who seemed sure it was five-one. Despite having one more game, post-match in the Green Man had an end of season feel to it and we can reflect on a good season, having pretty much secured a top half finish and with it another go at facing the 2s next season. Bring it on!

As a side note this was (probably) my last game for South, so thanks to everyone for what has been a thoroughly enjoyable four years. I hope to be back at some point in the future.