Derby day was here again, the first of a couple in successive weeks for the M5s.

This one was against Nomads and brought memories of the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season where South had put in a rather ropey performance, only to bail ourselves out to a barely deserved 1-1 draw through Vincent’s strike in the last minute. Inspired to continue where we had left off four months previously, South scored in the first minute of this one. I would like to explain how it happened, but I started on the sideline and us subs were busy getting the practice balls back into the kit-bag when I heard a cheer. Looking up the ball was in the Nomads net and South players heading back to halfway, prompting the observation “Oh. It looks like we’ve scored.”

This was right – reports from those more focused on play was we had got around the back of the home defence, and then pulled the ball back to Roland on the penalty spot, who finished things off. Sounds great… I wish I had seen it! We tried to build on this with a spell of pressure, but unfortunately weren’t able to score absolutely at will. Boo! In fact it was Nomads, rather against the run of play, who got the next one 20 minutes in. It came from the spot, their talented defensive midfielder flicking home past Joe.

That gave Nomads confidence and our defence were put under a bit more pressure than the hosts previously very sporadic efforts. However we had adjusted our defensive formation following the goal, and this tweak denied them clear opportunities meaning no shorts were given away… and denying me a chance to try out the new facemask I got for Christmas after the heading-the-ball-clear incident at March earlier in the campaign. Meanwhile, at the other end, we continued to knock on the door – retaking the lead only seemed a little way around the corner.

It remained just out of sight for a good fraction of the second half, during which a bunch of rowdy Nomads 2nds players descended from the bar following their game to the sideline to support their clubmates. They were clearly looking for anything to cheer but found very little to get excited about as South dominated proceedings – as Jordan observed after the game “It’s great to play as a forward with Ash, Kieran and Roland in midfield. They chase everything down and the ball comes back to you again and again.”

The sustained pressure had to bear fruit eventually. Especially with a poacher like Rob on the pitch. When he wasn’t howling at the wind at his strike partner Nev heinously trying to score, that is. Rob eventually got his chance from a move that started from a South penalty corner breaking down. Once again we were able to stymie Nomads attempt to break out, Jo with the turnover this time and a sensible pass back to Jan. This allow a simple passing move around the advancing defenders, Jan moving the ball on to Kieran, on to Ash and then fired at goal where Rob poached a little touch just in front of the Nomads ‘keeper to nutmeg him. The crowd were quiet about that one.

2-1 was good but didn’t really reflect our dominance of general play. 3-1 was closer, which we got to with a little over 2 minutes to play. This was an entire length-of-the-field move… literally as it had started an inch over the backline when the Ump at our end missed a ball having gone out of play! Nomads kept that alive, but understandably hesitated expecting a whistle for a 16 – and as they waited we turned them over and then launch a passing move up the right that was both straightforward, 10 yard diagonal balls to the next free man, but also done nice and cleanly so that it happened fast. Four or five simple passes later Ash and Jordan were through on the Nomads ‘keeper. Ash drew the stopper and then unselfishly squared the ball for Jordan to slap into the open goal.

That strike killed the game. It was also enough to move South above Nomads in the 4NW table by all of +1 Goal Difference. It capped a good overall performance to back up the equally excellent win over promotion-chasing Spalding in the previous match, leaving the side in confident mood ahead of the next derby with City 5ths (another pushing to go up) next Saturday.