The M2s entered the weekend off the back of two promising, yet ultimately unfruitful, performances against league leaders Bourne Deeping and Kettering. Both games were tight affairs and gave confidence the team could collect a haul of points against the mostly mid-table sides in the end-of-season run in.

With a squad depleted by illness, and a lack of desire to play in Peterborough at 5:30pm, Eric Wong yet again faced a defensive “crisis” (optimistic words from the captain) with only a single recognised defender in the travelling 13. At this point in this season it would be easier to list squadmembers who have not, at some point, started in the M2s backline. After a quick eenie-meenie-minie-mo in the changing room, Olly Weston was selected as guest Centre Back, and based on todays MOM-worthy performance, it might not be the last time he finds himself there.

Pushing back under the floodlights, Peterborough’s talented young players were immediately threatening and took an early opening goal. South responded well and grew into the game thanks to driving runs from John W and Oli L, shots on goal from Will H, and dangerous balls played into backpost from Jonny C, but couldn’t find an equalisier going into the break. Despite this, the team agreed it was one of the most promising attacking performances of the season so far and felt that more chances would come.

South continued to attack well in the second half, and got their reward through Will Havelange, shooting from a wide angle with the keeper off his line, with Andy W on the back post to touch it in “just to make sure”. Eric, feeling the need for another rousing teamtalk in the closing stages, tactically reverse-stick aerialed into a poor man’s face to earn a medical timeout. This gave a brief chance to huddle with his team and stress the importance of cool heads and controlling the remaining minutes of the game.

Not part of that huddle was 16 year old goalkeeper Joe, who despite having an incredible game until this point, then immediately got himself sent off for brazenly calling the umpire a “*** ******* ****” and suggesting he “** ** **********, *** ****”. That left South with four minutes on the clock, keeperless, and facing down a short corner, thankfully saved on the line by a 5-wide post-to-post human chain. After a nerve-racking several minutes, the M2s were able to see the game out - points shared with the home team.

Man of the match went to Olly Weston, for effortlessly slotting into the backline and solving yet another M2s defender “crisis”. Lemon went to Andy W for goal stealing, and a unique face-to-groin slide tackle technique that earnt him a green card.