This was the second of two crunch games for Cambridge South 3rd XI. Having slipped up at Newmarket the previous weekend a result here was vital to preserve South’s lead at the top of the division.

A reshuffled defence saw Simon Jelley dropping to fill in at left back while Neil Sneade moved to sweeper to make room for Benjie Groom at centre back. At the back, old member Phil Le Gouais was appearing for one night only in the keeper’s pads.

St Neots were close behind South in the league and featured a strong mix of experience, skill and power. It quickly became apparent this would be another challenging game for South, particularly with their makeshift defence still finding its feet.

Despite this South gradually began to assert some dominance, pressing the St Neots defence and pushing up the pitch. St Neots remained dangerous with accurate balls out of defence to their strong attackers and some skilful midfield play. The balance of play was favouring the home side but, with echoes of the previous weekend, South were having difficulty converting pressure into goals.

As half time approached, South’s worst fears were realised when a ball not properly cleared from defence was promptly returned into the D with a slight lift that bounced it through Neil, the covering defender, to fall neatly for the St Neots forward who slotted it past the advancing Phil in goal.

The second half followed a similar pattern, South pressing hard for an equaliser while St Neots defended resolutely and threatened with break outs. As with the previous week, South won a succession of shorts but were unable to get the equaliser. South were playing dangerously high up the pitch in search of a goal, with even their centre back taking the odd corner.

The killer blow came from a free hit out wide just inside South’s half. The St Neots taker spotted a gap in the home defence with an unmarked forward lurking by South’s keeper and quickly sent a hard, accurate pass straight through it, requiring the simplest touch from the attacker to divert the ball into the goal.

So for a second week in a row, dominance in possession and chances was to no avail for South as they were outwitted by a smarter and more clinical opposition. Two defeats to their main league rivals have seen South surrender their once-commanding league lead and slip down the table. Good individual qualities need to be more effectively combined and marshaled to produce the results the team are capable of if the promotion push is to get back on track.