Cambridge South took to the field for the second time this weekend with a makeshift side short on numbers but full on commitment and a desire to reverse the club’s bad record in the competition. Cancelled trains, family shindigs and Blackpool football club had conspired to keep South to a bare 11, which on a surprisingly warm Sunday afternoon at the Leys meant a tough day ahead.

The team’s guests, Ipswich East Suffolk started the match full of the confidence that comes from sitting top of their respective division. South found themselves penned back in their own half for the first few minutes without reprieve. Fortunately, Ipswich weren’t able to get a stick on any of the well hit balls into South’s ‘D’ and eventually the home team managed to get a foothold in the game. Finn Johnson and Nick Bristowe were both very reliable in possession and despite not having too many options to aim for, were able to relieve pressure with some sweetly struck long balls or by simply working the ball across the back four.

Wearing the club’s new bright yellow away shirts, South should have been able to pick out their teammates easily but too many passes were aimed through an opponent’s strong side and frequently South’s possession ended abruptly with midfielders, Chalk, Pearson and Williams having to scamper back to help the back four tidy up after a sloppy error. Ipswich’s basic skills were far too good throughout the side for South to get away with not passing accurately and eventually the team took the hint and raised their game.

South were looking good down the right with Ron Oren linking well with Russell Johnson and when the ball was then moved back into the middle to Chalk and Williams, South were able to penetrate the ‘D’. Rob Barton, Pearson and Ali Ward all had half chances snuffed out by the committed Ipswich backline but there were enough chances created for South to have taken the lead despite Ipswich shading the possession pie chart. Courtesy of some increasingly wild challenges in their own 25 South began to concede a few short corners and shortly before half time one was converted with a low drive beating Shahbaz Ali in goal.

Disappointed but not disheartened South regrouped at half time and came out with all guns blazing in the second period. Asserting their authority in midfield, South threatened the Ipswich ‘D’ consistently during the early exchanges but failed to register a solid chance on goal despite winning their first short corner of the game. South started to win the 50:50 challenges and at times it looked like a more physical approach might pay dividends. After a ‘physical’ but scruffy challenge on Ipswich’s right back Williams was called over to the Umpire and immediately shown a straight red card. Fortunately the umpire in question had picked the wrong colour from his deck and it was immediately downgraded to a green, much to South’s relief.

As the half progressed Ipswich regained their involvement in the match and looked increasingly dangerous on the break, forcing South’s players to work hard to track back and shut out the danger. This obviously started to take its toll on South’s players as they began to tire. At this stage a couple of substitutes would have been warmly welcomed, there were none and South deserve great credit for their work rate under increasing pressure. Rather than wilting, South found a second wind and created their best two chances of the match, first Williams played Russell Johnson in, who was first unlucky to see his touch saved and then doubly unlucky to be wiped out by the keeper for his troubles. Shortly afterwards Johnson had his revenge as he motored down the right, along the baseline and into the ‘D’. His pass was controlled by Chalk whose trademark spin and shot worked yet again and the ball crashed against the backboard.

Two yellow cards, one for either side reduced the game to 10v10. South’s recipient, Bristowe should count himself unlucky, after a harsh umpire’s decision went against him, the whole team shared his frustration. Throwing one’s stick however is apparently a straight yellow and the Brizzle was gone!

The final minutes of the match belonged to the away side who saw a succession of short corners saved by the excellent Ali or shut down by runners Dave Aston and Finn Johnson. For their hard work and commitment to the cause South thoroughly deserved the draw and had it been a league fixture, the team would have been delighted. Unfortunately South faced the hardship of Extra Time, the first period of which started as regular time had ended with Ipswich putting pressure on the South defence and winning a series of shorts. Unfortunately the writing was on the wall for South, as the pressure mounted it seemed inevitable that eventually Ipswich would break through.

And so it was that for the second season in a row South succumbed to a cruel ‘Golden Goal’ that perhaps doesn’t give the team the credit they deserve for the progress they have made in the past couple of years. Maybe next year will be different?