So here it is: league time! Finished with the trials, the friendlies, the training, that plank of wood and the cricket game (still not sure what that was about) – this is it, the bear pit that is 5NW; now it means something, now we get to leave it all on the pitch (literally) and try to take some points home to the South of Cambridge.

Alas, was not to be – a single goal to the hosts in a very even contest meant March won and kept those points. Fair enough, we were gutted, another day we could have scored a hatful (but to be honest so could they), but for the first game for this young(ish) side in the division, post-last years promotion, we’ll take the positives, learn and come back stronger. Short corner practice also wouldn’t go amiss…

We all managed to meet in March despite the less than co-ordinated travel arrangements, Seb and Andy bringing a car full of spiders, and if his chat is anything to be backed up I don’t ever want to get a lift with Oli S. on his motorbike (who knew there were actually wheelie schools?!?)

The game started with a good bit of pressure for the South - we were all still finding our feet and wondering where we were playing and who some of our teammates were. Early chance fell to an unnamed forward who could only flick into the man on the line with the keeper grounded. The midfield was solid, despite the rotating personnel changes, JJ and Pip pinging the ball around, and Ian, Jelly, Oli and Seb battling for the ball in the sandpit. The defenders were picking off the tackles well, keeping the extremely youthful March attacking line at bay.

At a breakdown of a South attack with the ball being cleared off the side – we all expected the hit to be ours however, the signal was for the other way – their attack was swift and a clinically taken shot beat Mike from the edge of the D. Got to keep your eyes on the ump’s signal – we had enough chances to stop the attack before they got in the D, so can’t complain.

The half ended with more South attacks, several shorts, which were to be honest not threatening - we did hit the post in a goal mouth scramble… God only knows how it didn’t go in (we tried to figure it out in the second half by repeating the trick pass-shot-keeper-stick-post-stick-post-clearance-frustration).

Second half and bodies were put on the line – both teams got tired, midfield was starting to get bypassed. Who could defend the best? Actually it was both teams; we had lots of chances all similar to the last but found the home keeper (who had a great game) in the way or our own final pass/shot not up to it. Time wore on and it got a bit straggly. Jan at the back was having a blinder, but not due to the precipitation building on the trademark glasses – if that young lad can work on his distribution he’ll be a real one for the future.

The game ended with no further scoring, three cheers to the victors – they know they had to battle to win today. It was a great game, highly competitive and played with a fantastic spirit. Kudos also to the two umpires, honest, clear, consistent and fair, can’t ask for more than that.

NB – comment of the day from the skipper at half time: “We’ve got great pace attributes across the forward line, eh, Creed he’s fast, Oli he’s fast…and Paul…he’s got positional sense, eh?”