A new look South Men's second team opened their season with a close encounter against a rampant Blueharts team, who started the stronger and opened the scoring ten minutes into the game after a period of possession in the South D. The visiting team comprised players from a mixture of teams - their sharp forward's touch was particular exquisite

- but they quickly exerted pressure on the South team all over the pitch. With half a dozen new faces South struggled to connect straight away and to cope with this early onslaught and found themselves two-nil down before the half-time whistle. Goal custodian Shahbaz Ali was unfortunate and could do nothing about either goal.

South realised at the break that they needed to step-up their game in order to compete and the second half was duly an altogether different affair. Inspired by both a combination of newly discovered energy and a few tactical changes - such as Ron Oren stepping up capably into the midfield role - it was South's turn to take the game to their opponents.

Manu Bhardwaj, Ron and Simon Ta were seeing a lot of the ball down the right hand side, and likewise on the left Tom Anns was supporting Nishant Patel and Sanjay Agarwala on the left. At the back, new Dad (of 9-day-old Elijah) Dave Monck and Andy Passmore were gaining in confidence. Everyone, it seemed, found just a little more effort and all of a sudden the game was being played further up the pitch, fifty-fifties were breaking South's way and half-chances were beginning to be created. It was time for South to sustain pressure on their Hitchin friends' goal.

One particularly promising counter-attack saw Bhav Virdi lift an aerial ball supremely out from defence and look to set-up a fast two-on-one break. The ball sailed high out of the twenty-five metre area. It sailed high over the lurking opposition strikers. It sailed high over the marooned midfielders. Unfortunately, the ball sailed high over the outer perimeter fencing too and on to the athletics track! And this earned Bhav - who had otherwise had an outstanding game in central midfield - the lemon award.

Chances were being engineered by South but Blueharts always managed a last ditch tackle to scramble the ball away before any clean shot could materialise. Still it was no surprise when the host's reward came.

From midfield, Bhav played the ball to Rob Barton in the D and after he tried to turn and shoot the ball fell nicely to Nishant who pushed it towards the empty net. Simon Ta had positioned himself under the crossbar and waited patiently until the ball was actually on the goal-line before stamping his name on the goal.

South were on top now and ended the game strongly and enthusiastically despite not having the luxury of any bench men. Overall, a decent run-out against friendly but well drilled opposition. South will look to take the energy and commitment of the second half into their next friendly at Bishops Stortford, and will need to maintain this rhythm if they are to challenge for a top slot in the league come March next year.

After the game, skipper Bhav Virdi was pleased despite the result: "We took time to settle down in the first half but I was quite happy to see them stunned with how we played in the second half. It is always very satisfying see that we can raise our game against top quality opposition".