A win at last!

That this derby match was the source of South 3rds first ever points in 4NW was somewhat unexpected, as Nomads came into it in third place in the table after a run of victories.

But this was no bottom-beating-top smash-and-grab where a chance is taken against the run of play and then the lower team hangs on for grim death. No, we created the majority of the clear opportunities in the game. In addition to the two we scored, we also hit the post, missed a penalty flick given after a goalbound shot hit a foot on the line and had three golden opportunities in open play. We could have scored four or so, but even two was a significant advance on our previous (league) best of one.

That we also won the short corner count further emphasises that the play was in the Nomads circle for at least as much of the time that it was in ours. Approximately half a dozen or so (I didn’t count exactly) spread through the game for us, definitely nil for Nomads. There were three occasions in the first half where I was expecting a whistle after the ball appeared to hit a South foot in our circle, but the blast never came. If Nomads could legitimately count themselves unlucky not to have had any chances in that period, none in the second half was exactly right.

As if all this wasn’t good enough news, we did it with another scratch team, following what Ron described as ‘a perfect storm of unavailability this week in the 1sts and 2nds’. The 3rds squad, fortunately, turned out thirteen men but with the gaps higher up, five of them were needed by the 2nds (JT, Olly, Simon, Tom C, Tom S for those counting), which left us needing Chris R from the 4ths, Simon F from the 5ths and Jack R doubling-up from the 2nds just to have 11.

At least in theory, because as push-back time approached it slowly dawned that there were too few of us; where was Paul? A phone call found out he was turning up for an 11:30 start rather than an 11:00 one, and was currently stuck in traffic halfway across Cambridge. Despite some slightly risible delaying tactics from various members of our team, we were forced to start with 10, with everyone giving an extra 10% to hold Nomads off until Paul finally showed after eight minutes play. Good practice for if we get a yellow card this season [n.b. let’s not get any yellow cards this season!].

The closest Nomads came in this period was when Lino attempted to kick away a through ball, sliced it, the ball trickled slowly towards the post and went an inch wide. In retrospect maybe this was a sign that it was to be our day, as it feels like on many others this would have gone the other side of the post. When things are not going your way, a little luck can make a huge difference.

Once we had a full compliment on the pitch we began to look like a goal threat. A shortie midway through the opening half lead to a bit of a scramble, and a shot that was heading in until it hit a Nomads foot. After a brief pause to see if the rebound could be forced home, and another for the Umpires to consult and make sure a flick was the right call, Simon F was stepping up to the mark. Apparently he had been practicing flicks at training. Possibly some more is needed as he didn’t really get hold of this one.

This could have been a kick in the gut for us, as our confidence was rather fragile (that is what nine straight defeats will do to you) but no, there was good resolve as in the next five minutes we created two clear cut opportunities from open play. Rob’s reverse stick cross created the first as it eluded Simon on the near post and reached Ali on the far. With the goalkeeper having moved to his near to cover Simon there was a gap to thread the ball into, but Ali didn’t get quite enough purchase on his sweep, the ball sliding off his stick and wide of the far post. The second came when Chris intercepted a clearance, drove forward, drew the last man and fed Rob in one-on-one. The Nomads' keeper flew off his line and blocked Rob’s shot, and then a scramble for the rebound just wouldn’t fall right for Rob to get a second shot away, though this did result in a further South short (unconverted). Maybe this was the one that Ali apparently hit the post from. I will admit to not remembering this incident, but people have told me it happened at some point though they couldn’t recall when, so reference is going here as as good a place as any.

In the last few minutes of the half it looked like we could do with a rest as Nomads pressed us back and we struggled to clear our lines. But good effort in defence despite the tiredness, staying on our men instead of watching the ball, prevented any clear opportunities from being created. The game turned around goalless, with our team talk being one of encouragement and optimism, emphasising that we had had the better chances and the goals would come if we continued to play at the same level.

Our best chance of the opening minutes of the second half came from a short corner; the Nomads ‘keeper laid out to block the straight strike, saving the ball but also taking himself out of play as the rebound dropped to Simon. With just defenders on the line to beat, Simon didn’t get hold of his shot. Unfortunate, but redemption would come.

The goals came in a flurry midway through the second half. We took the lead when Paul showed neat tricks to drive along the byline from a long corner out on the right, getting into the circle and pulling the ball back towards the near post. Simon tried to deflect, didn’t get a lot of the ball, which worked to neatly present it to Rob on the penalty spot, who gleefully swept home.

We were in the lead for the first time in a league match this season. Could we keep defending as solidly as we had been? Erm, no, as three minutes later a loose ball was collected by a Nomads forward, who moved away from goal to give himself space to turn and then flicked home a shot from a ridiculously tight angle. Well finished from his perspective, but annoying soft from ours as we had had (to quote Lino) “multiple chances to clear that ball!”.

Within two minutes we were back ahead, as Paul mugged a Nomads defender on the 25 and fired the ball in towards the keeper. Simon got in front and added a little reverse stick deflection which took it through the stopper and home. It is always good to see stuff from training used effectively in games. It makes our coaches feel that someone is listening to them! Also, the instant response meant it was Nomads who felt they had been sucker punched in the exchange of goals rather than us.

The remainder of the game took on the aspect that most would have expected the entire match to demonstrate, as Nomads piled on the pressure and we mounted a rear-guard action to keep them out. But, as Rich Morgan (present but wearing the wrong colour shirt!) noted after the match, once they reached our 25 they stopped passing and instead tried to dribble through us. Johnny B and Jack were having none of that, making tackle after tackle.

As time ticked away there were scares when a short corner was awarded against us (the decision was reversed after the non-active Ump advised that it was a Nomads foot onto a South foot) and a goalline clearance from Johnny B, I think. But despite being pressed deep, it wasn’t really that fraught in our defensive zone. It became more and more apparent that we wouldn’t lose, but it wasn’t until the final whistle that anyone could relax about the win.

So we are off the mark with a determined and committed effort. Nomads were probably rather unhappy with their performance, but despite that and the scoreline today we should try and draw inspiration from how their season has panned out. At one point they were down among the dead men with us, but when they broke the sequence by winning a game they turned that into a run of victories that lifted them well up the table. We need to do the same and back up this win with more points in our next two matches against St Neots 2nds and Alford 1sts.