Having been pick pocketed (again) by the Men’s 4s (this time just moments before the start of play - Is there any end to their scheming misdemeanours ?), captain Rob turned up to a wet St Catz pitch to realise there were now just 11 players to take on the mighty Cambridge City 6ths.  Tom had been abducted … but… where was Nev?  Apparently “at Thorpe Park getting very wet”!  Oops...

Undeterred, Rob rallied his men with a baffling display of tactics, formations and instructions. This including telling us that Kieran was old enough to be the opposition goalie’s uncle. Now Kieran is a mature young man granted, but the lack of a dummy in the mouth of their goalie made this very unconvincing.  Thankfully it ended with “come on fellas – let’s play hockey” – at last something made sense.

So play we did. At first, with some vigour and style pushing forward to threaten the City goal. Then City found their touch and soon it was South’s net which was repeatedly under siege. Our back line of  Paul, Jay Jay, Alan and Andy held firm, and when breached and the shots were fired in, up stepped Jo for save after save from pads and gloves in equal measure….a performance to quite rightly earn him man of the match.

But the wave after wave of City attacks finally broke through – It was 1:0 to City by half time.

Rob’s half time team talk was much more convincing. We could win. Certainly there had been positive signs in the first half with Tom and Stu both making breaks up field passing on to Ahmed and Rob with Andy and Kieran providing useful width.

Water on board to add to the ever present stream of water from the heavens, South again started positively with some good possession, movement up the flanks and aerials from the back. This earned a series of short corners forcing saves, this time from the City keeper – who proved himself no nursery pushover.

But City’s energy, movement (especially of the ball) and accurate passing again began to dominate, winning short corners of their own. Three further goals was the result despite determined defending.

But rather than give up, South again pushed on forward to win yet another short corner. A shot from Jay Jay - saved - but Stu is first to the rebound and passes it to Rob who pushes the ball to his strong side (reverse) and ….. the ball finally finds the back of the City net with a firm, lifted shot.

4-1 it finished – a deserved consolation goal. Hopefully a sign of more to come. Soaked through, the two umpires Jan and Sean deserved more than their appreciative handshakes for a job well done.

Next week Bourne Deeping. Can someone please keep Tom South under lock and key to prevent theft for that one.