This gloomy Saturday saw the return of the hotly contested Benedikz cup – a match with ex-South player JDB leading Newmarket 3’s. Newmarket usually sends a few ex-South players who are without exception eager to score goals against South - particularly if they happen to be the keeper. This is not wishful thinking since, in a previous instalment, 'keeper JDB took a flick against South - and luckily missed. Hence the stakes were again high and both teams were keen for the win. This time our Captain (in his infinite sportsmanship) decided to further increase the number of South players in the opposing team by lending them 3 experienced players to “make up their numbers” despite having enough players in the end. Did I say the stakes were high?

Both teams fought hard from the start and the match was pretty close. South wasn’t able to get past the Newmarket defence, despite being awarded several short corners. Somehow the balls kept bouncing off their keeper and suddenly we were running back to defend... Newmarket however did take advantage of a short corner and scored from the deflection off our keeper. Early on in the second half a Newmarket attacker ran through our midfield and defence and scored again. Despite now being two goals down, South didn’t give up but stepped up a gear. Every 50:50 ball was being chased, passing was more accurate and before long South was making chances and regularly had shots in the opposition D. Many were on target and eventually James Yu managed to get a shot past JDB. South was on fire and didn’t stop there, a lifted strike from the top of the D was skilfully deflected past the keeper by Matteo Meunier. The end result was 2-2 which was well deserved. If the match lasted a bit longer more goals might have been scored.

The MoM award goes to Rob Garrett who played a great match in the midfield. I believe it was his debut 6th team match after returning to South after 10 years of absence. LoM goes to everybody for not playing as well in the first half as the 2nd half.