With the build up all week to the greatest team sceptical of the year pushed back on Saturday morning as the Men’s 6ths took on St Ives. As Andy’s research showed the 6th’s have never better St Ives before in 7 meetings it was time the plucky under dogs took their chance before any World Cup distractions. [Editor's note: Sandy pointed this out in fact]

South started brightly controlling the ball and using the width of the pitch to create space moving the ball around a slower opposition, putting into practice all the hard work from training. Pressure was building and while St Ives were able to break, a strong defensive unit lead by Sean and Ky were able to break down the attack and deliver the ball back to the forwards. Unfortunately a momentary drop in concentration while moving the ball round the back on one of the few St Ives attackers earned Sean a green card as his verbal filter failed.

St Ives pressed hard during the advantage but good control and using the pace of the ball and the width South created while good movement off the ball provided safety. Back up to full complement, South pushed hard getting into the St Ives D but failed to get the final pass or shot away. Shahbaz received the ball at the top the D and broke past the first defender but when blocked by the Center back was unlucky not to find a foot. With the pressure, building St Ives were trying to clear their lines and our midfield was whirling very hard to pick up loose balls and use the width through Henry and Baz. On one of these attacks John Greaves was fouled in the D giving South their first short corner, which Shahbaz flicked past the keeper to only be denied by a defender playing the ball down onto their foot. The resulting flick gave South a much deserved lead going into half time.

At the start of the second half South had switched off a little and at Ives pushed into our D only to be denied a clear shot with some last ditched tackles. St Ives pressed their new-found confidence from the ring start making it harder for South to pass. A slight drop in accuracy made more pressure. South worked hard and pushed control back into the game by passing round the opposition and trying to use quick passing to go round players but the first opportunity of the half was squandered by James trying to over complicate the passing giving Andy too much to do to get onto the ball. As South pushed out of their half more, we used the width really well. As Baz brought the ball back inside to get Ash through towards the top of the D he was steamrollered by the defence, resulting in a Green card [Editor's note: I believe to their Captain]. South tried to push the advantage but were unable to get a clear opportunity and had to be mindful of a breaking St Ives team. Finding some of the small gaps, one of their forwards pushed through into the D. Our keeper-for -the-day, Sandy made a strong tackle to make sure. One shot was given. As the teams tired there was more end-to-end play and South were unlucky not to get a second with some last-ditch tackling preventing getting a shot away. South pushed through for a solid 1:0 win. With the belief that they can move the ball around the back of the opposition defence they just need a little work on the sharpness and accuracy when they face City of Peterborough next week.