Cambridge South approached the game positively, with a full squad armed with a sophisticated tactical plan and supported by the largest home crowd of the season (ten, including substitutes). Nomads were unrecognisable from the poor outfit we thrashed earlier in the season and brought some players who had definitely been spotted in higher teams. Disgraceful.

South started brightly, with the creative midfield pairing of Pannu and Korstanje constantly probing for opportunities, and an improved ability to use the width of the pitch with both wings Lewis and Greaves getting much more of the ball than of late. Our defence often appeared under-staffed as Nomads breakaways down the middle managed to get close to our D all too frequently. Luckily the ever-reliable defence buttressed by Talmage and the sprightly keeper Poole snuffed out any potential chances. A simultaneous multiple Cambridge South substitution disrupted matters temporarily, but at least ensured that we looked fitter as a team, as everyone kept up a reasonable work rate. Towards the end of the half skipper Bridge had to go off with an injured back, which was obviously the result of too much stooping down to ground level from its more natural height of 2m or so.

The second half saw more end to end play and at last some scoring chances. These fell mainly to the home team, with Greaves unlucky with a couple of sharp deflections and Pannu almost connecting with a Korstanje rasper as he attempted to divert the ball in close to the line from a well-worked short corner routine. Soon after this Nomads began to dominate and had numerous short corners, all valiantly kept out, as well as stretching our defence in open play. As well as those mentioned earlier, there were numerous saving tackles from Devereux and Jones, with Dijkstra popping up in midfield to support.

The deadlock was broken by a swiftly taken free hit just outside the home D, which a Nomads forward turned into the net as our defence were still getting organised. This galvanised Cambridge South, who showed excellent spirit in flooding forward in attack, with a number of good crosses from right wing Greaves, the usual persistent dribbling from Lewis and the surprise appearance of sweeper Sutcliffe in the opposition half, choosing to demonstrate his own skills in attack as well as remonstrate with others. We suffered from insufficient numbers in the D when attacking, to get on the end of the ball and provide options.

This was a good fast open game, and we were unlucky to lose to a good goal.