Following a narrow home victory in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, this was always likely to prove a tight game.

Cambridge South, sponsored by PwC, started well, with the midfield trio of Eliot Read, Mike Thorogood, and Suk Pannu prompting good moves, leading to an opening goal. Centre-forward picking up a rebound off the keeper and volleying the ball decisively into the net from range.

Unfortunately Long Sutton were able to snatch an equaliser shortly before half time from a quick counter, finished by a skilful reverse stick effort around the unlucky keeper.

Long Sutton took the lead soon after the break with a neat passing move ending in a shot in by the post. Man of the Match, Mike Thorogood, soon got South back on terms as a Jan Brynjolffssen through ball via winger John Horsley came to him on the edge of the D for Thorogood to crash it in to the net with authority.

Although Thorogood in particular continued to drive the away team on, it was Long Sutton who were able to gain the upper hand in the last ten minutes, with the best goal of the game, a rapid break leaving an unmarked forward with an open shot from the penalty spot. Long Sutton scored again with the last move of the game, a scrambled deflected effort leaving an scoreline unreflective of the balance of play.

South should have got something from the game, but a combination of an unfamiliar team, lack of adequate numbers in the opposition D and some skilful Long Sutton attacking play outweighed South’s otherwise good passing, moving approach.