The M5s, having won our first 2 league games were raring to face our next false summit on our way to the ultimate prize of an undefeated season and winning the Southerners (best in South) league. This would be a good test against the top of the table (by one on goal difference) on unfriendly grounds. But as good luck would have it the L4s played the match before, with many staying to support and drowning out the less committed Neots supporters.

Due to the M5s forwards being made up of 40-a-day smokers, who have massive crippling debts to Just Eat, we originally intended to use all 3 of our subs on the attackers. However, the forwards did end up sparingly lending some of their players to the other positions, with much begrudgement at having to spend more than a second over 35 minutes on the pitch.

There was a lot of grit on the pitch and not just the sand, unfortunately Neots didn't want to play quite like Spalding and let us chuck in 6 goals without much objection. There was actually a good reason to warm up our keeper this week as he didn't just watch the action from 30 to 90 meters away. Some of the particularly Gritty Gritters were:
* James T, playing all the positions and playing them excellently.
* Joe L, making some excellent saves in the first half keeping our goal difference down, securing our win.
* Josh, brilliant forwarding as always, with a cracking stint in midfield, and for grating off a concerning amount of his skin on the pitch.

Jimbo, wanting so badly to be truly accepted in the notorious 5s and hearing our famous reputation, saw his opportunity, and passed to the Neots CF to secure an early concession. The team clearly seeing Jimbo had done his research, and was willing to do whatever it takes to be a true M5s player was embraced with open arms, quite literally for several seconds slowing down push back.

Ivo quickly fired back from the first Neots goal, with his usual fantastic reverse, hitting the top corner, getting us a much needed equaliser. Only a few minutes later Jude skillfully took it around the keeper to get us 1 point clear of Neots. Finally in the second half Ivo crossed it masterfully to Danny who made a beautiful reverse tap in securing the win for South 3-1 .

During the match Danny made a brilliant play down the right passing it to Josh for him to skillfully put it between the posts, sadly he was robbed of this goal by it hitting a South foot along the way. Despite the author of this historic document being renowned for his Superman like x-ray vision and perceptiveness, I cannot tell you when or even where this offending act occurred! I know reader, honestly no one is more shocked than me that I can't supply more information, I have no idea how I could have missed it.

The team put in a really good shift against a much tougher side than when we faced them at home. I was very proud of the South performance and how well we worked as a team with the defence shutting down Neots and with the forwards executing some wonderful goals. We look like a really good side and I truly believe this team will do amazing things this season as long as we keep up the work rate and cohesion that we have shown in this match.  

MOM: Ivo, Crazy good goal
LOM: George, got my first green card for not being 5 and playing the ball with feet. The opposition described it as harsh possibly considering there was another South player in front of me, and the ball was fired at our feet. But that's the way it goes.