A frustrating game all in all. Although Peterborough are a dangerous opposition, well organised and capable going forward, during the first quarter South showed that we could contain them well. During the first half South carved out a hatful of chances and the forwards were being consistent with their shooting - every strike seemed to go just wide of the posts or else straight at the Peterborough keeper! With numerous attempts at goal but nothing to show for it, it came with some relief to hear the satisfying sound of John’s goal-a-game effort hitting the back board to put South ahead.

Pinpoint passes distributed by Nick from the back kept a supply of balls coming but the Peterborough defence held strong at the edge of the D. The ferocity of the South attack was then torn apart by a number of dangerous counter offensives from Peterborough. With the midfield caught napping more than once, Stu Creed did excellent service helping defend over the full length of the right side. Stu then coupled well to a great birthday cake fuelled performance from Jan to offer an escape channel for the ball which at times was struggling to leave our 25. Peterborough eventually got the ball in the back of the net but fortunately a foot had played the ball into the D to disallow the shot. The narrow escape brought home quite how precarious our 1-0 lead was in the lead-up to half time.

At the start of the second half, South came out with tenacity. Peterborough, now playing into the sun, were finding it harder to penetrate. South were moving the ball better producing a couple more chances, including one magnificent double save from their keeper, but no rewards. The match was becoming a stalemate with both sides struggling to get dangerous balls into the opposition’s D. A push from South’s attack finally broke through with Tim taking a shot only for the ball to find its way to David, in his first game back for South after a year in Singapore, arriving at the left post who calmly put it away.

Peterborough, faced with the 2-0 score line, regrouped and pressed forwards, troubling the South defence. With the tiring midfield struggling to subdue charge after charge, Peterborough found their way to South’s D winning short corners and looking dangerous. It was only a matter of time before they found the net and after a powerful top-D strike found a slight deflection from skipper Simon’s stick to wrong-foot Josh in the South goal, Peterborough had broken South’s clean sheet for the season.

With only three minutes to go South tried to play the possessional game to disarm their opponents but with tired legs and tired heads, the ball found ever more dangerous territory until a last minute short was awarded to Peterborough. Only the fearsome sight of James Lee charging the striker at top-D could save South… and it did, as South were let off with a failed stop letting the ball slip out to midfield.

The final whistle blew with the 3s glad they came away with three points in a game where they perhaps should have been looking to come away three goals up. Credit also goes to a young and skilful Peterborough side who competed all over the pitch and kept pressing until the final minute.