On a wet drizzly November day, the M2 travelled to Peterborough to their 4s who were sitting a few places above them in the league.

South were feeling positive after a good result against Kettering the week before, and when Puds discovered a new door out of the changing rooms, we all thought this could be our day.

Right from the opening push back M2 looked strong. A passing move down the left wing resulting in Eric winning the first short corner of the game. Could this be the dream start to the game we had spoken about in the warm up? Sadly not, but despite this M2swereoff to a flyer, and settled into the game very quickly.

Peterborough however were clearly up for it too. And took there first proper chance in the game, a quickly taken free hit and slight deflection into the ‘D’ meant the Peterborough forward was right at hand on the post to knock it in. 1-0 Peterborough.

Peterborough continued to push South, making it hard to get out of defence and create chances. However, South’s heads didn’t drop. And Henry seemed to trouble the defence like he had been playing upfront for years. (Which he assures us he hasn’t been).

On one burst forward when the ball came out to Wicks at the top of the ‘D’,he pushed it hard in the direction of the goal hoping for a South deflection. Yet a ‘well timed’ miss by Eric resulted in the ball missing everyone including the keeper. 1-1 South had equalized.

Another chance about 5 minutes later fell to Wicks again. But this time the keeper made himself big and kept the ball out. (Little did I realise at the time this would go down as hattrick avoidance!)

Peterborough weren’t without their chances, and seemed to get the ball away on 16s easier than we would like. Halftime.

Some tweaks to our press, and we came out for the second half ready to take it to them.

Structurally the second half was much better for South. The press worked a treat, and our passing was clicking all over the pitch. Including Dimitri (a South newbie) who was knocking it around with real confidence.

Maz, after putting his first aerial into the dug outs, was causing really trouble with them now. The forwards were linking up with the midfield and defence nicely, and when Henry hit a ball whizzing across the face of the goal to Jim at the back post, he couldn’t quite catch it. It felt a goal was coming. The odd short corner came and went for both teams.

But a goal did come. After another attempt on goal down the righthand side, the ball found itself lose just in front of goal, and Wicks was on hand to score his second. 2-1 South! Come on!

With still 20 minutes to go South still needed to see out the game. But it seemed, thanks to South’s passing, that Peterborough was tiring. Nevertheless, with 5 minutes to go Peterborough were awarded a penalty corner. Oh no, were South facing another last-minute equalizer two weeks in a row. Thankfully a Peterborough player got in the way of their own short corner and the chance had gone. Phew.

South continued to work hard all the way to the end, and when the final whistle went there was a great of sense of job well done. Well done lads great work today.

Lemon: Steve Wicks

MOM: Henry Blower