The gathering storm clouds parted as we approached the One Leisure centre in St Ives, revealing a glimmer of blue sky. Was this a sign of an impending victory over old adversaries St Ives 4s……? Alas not.

This was always going to be a tough fixture on the back of the defeat at the hands of Nomads the previous weekend, who along with St Ives and Kettering probably represent the biggest barriers to a top-three finish for South in Div 6NW(S).

The home team definitely came out of the blocks looking the stronger, pushing into the South D with relative ease and were soon ahead courtesy of a well-struck shot from just outside the left post beating keeper Michael G. This was followed by a second from a deflected short corner, which debutante defender Luke B very nearly cleared off the line.

The opposition continued to press which gave South several opportunities to counter, but alas these were snuffed out by the well-drilled St Ives defence. The home team almost had a third as a ball trickled past the beaten South keeper and amazingly rolled the entire width of the goal line without going in. Fortunately the gods and the VAR were on our side and the goal wasn't given, but it wasn't long before a third did come.

The half-time motivational talk from Rob seemed to have the desired effect and South spirits were immediately lifted, communication was better and we started to show some of the intensity from games earlier in the season, but it was too little too late as St Ives grabbed a fourth, effectively ruling out any chance of South coming away with a point.

MoM was a close call between Garth W and Micheal G, both of whom undoubtedly helped keep the opposition score to a minimum.

Andy T was back on form in the LoM stakes…based largely on what he might have done rather than anything specific!