The on-paper result of losing three-one to a side several places lower in the league did not reflect the true picture of a sterling effort by Cambridge South, who did most things right but squandered too many goal-scoring opportunities. It was an exciting match with end-to-end hockey right to the end. The score line stood at one-one until close to the end, when March capitalised on two short corners to score two late goals against a tired Cambridge South. Though it would be unsporting to a much improved March side to suggest it affected the outcome, Cambridge South were not helped by the failure to show by the twelfth man and a hamstring injury affecting Paul McIlwaine, who formed a very solid part of the Cambridge defence on his debut game for the club.

The match started as it went on, with attacking play by Cambridge South met by counter-attacks by March. South had several shots on goal which went wide or were saved by the March keeper. March managed to hit the Cambridge post. The Cambridge defence tackled well against the March counter-attacks but the first honours went to March, who managed to get superior numbers into the D and swamped the Cambridge defence during a lapse of concentration.

Cambridge were not disheartened and at the start of the second half their attacking hockey finally paid off when Wilco Dijkstra scored an excellent goal having placed himself in an unmarked spot to receive a pass from Cambridge players at the back of the D.

The match continued at an exciting pace which demonstrated to Cambridge that fitness is as crucial as hockey skills if they are to fulfil their promotion promise.

Cambridge had several short corners but failed to capitalise on them, as did March until the last ten minutes of the match when March converted to go 2-1 up. Then right near the end March converted a second to win 3-1.

The whole Cambridge South team gave of their all. Jack Chalk was lively on the right wing, Hannes Roux gave solidity to the midfield, in defence Andrew Pounce made some key tackles, but man of the match this week goes to Will Benedikz for a series of magnificent saves in both halves.

It is invidious mentioning only a few names when the whole team has played well, so why did Cambridge lose? It comes down to the last 3%. Passes were well thought out and made to the right people but too often lacked accuracy which allowed key, and very experienced, March players to intercept. Great goal scoring opportunities were created but then not converted; this perhaps comes down to rushing the shot, though there is also an element of luck. The taking of short corners from push-to-goal-shot is perhaps a second too slow. Finally, end-to-end hockey against a young and fit side requires equal or greater fitness. Cambridge South kept up attacking hockey for the whole game but tiredness was setting in and it was in the crucial last quarter that the match was lost.

To end on a positive note, Cambridge South demonstrated that it had learned from previous matches with good passes predominating over attempts to dribble for long distances. The team should learn from this match and go on to consolidate their leading position in the league over the next few matches.