Cambridge South 3rd XI went into the first match of a crucial double header heading the league table and feeling confident of getting a result. Newmarket 2s were one of the chasing pack but the pre-season friendly between the sides on the same pitch, which had featured a mixed 3rd/4th XI for South, had resulted in a well-earned 5-3 win for the visitors.

One thing that might have given the visitors cause for concern was the three week gap since the previous win against March Town. Unfortunately, a friendly against Ipswich Cranes scheduled for the previous weekend had fallen through due to lack of numbers. South would come to regret missing the opportunity to keep their game sharp.

South’s team included Benjie Groom making his debut for the 3s in defence while another defender was playing his last match for South, James Lee moving to Oxford at the end of the year. A stalwart player over the years for South, James’s contribution will be missed.

From the outset, it quickly became apparent South would be in for a much tougher contest than the previous meeting. Newmarket’s strong midfield made it hard for South to get any hold on the game and the reward for the home team came quickly. Less than five minutes into the match Newmarket won their first short corner and promptly despatched it with a clean strike into the far right corner of South’s goal, beating keeper Shahbaz.

Stung, South regrouped and battled their way into the game. The match became very evenly contested, neither side able to establish a clear superiority. Newmarket’s midfielders continued to funnel the ball with South’s best play coming down the wings. South’s midfield position probably wasn’t helped by the, in retrospect, odd decision to deploy midfield ball-winner and defensive shield, Matt Kern, high on the right wing for the second half.

Chances came and went, the most notable featuring an attempted reverse-stick cross from South captain Simon Jelley that instead popped up to strike the opposing captain right between the eyes, felling him like a tree. Fortunately the spectacular and bloody collapse looked worse than it actually was and after some pitchside treatment the bandaged player was able to rejoin the match. The injury score was somewhat leveled with Tom South being flattened with a tackle from behind as he ran through on goal, knees and elbows bloodied as a result.

As the game progressed the score remained unchanged but South began to win an increasing number of short corners. As the tally mounted, the inability to convert became first concerning and then embarrassing. Newmarket had several further opportunities to score themselves via fast breakaways that had the South defence backpedaling but were unable to extend their lead.

That was the story of the rest of the match, as the clock ran out to leave South frustrated at losing to an early short corner that they had been unable to recover despite a plethora of opportunities. Calmer finishing and more clinical decision-making, particularly at short corners, will be needed to avoid a repeat of this result.