M2 1-2 St Ives Mens 5

This top of the table clash proved to be as close and competitive as expected. St Ives started better and dominated for the first ten minutes, whilst Cambridge South, with a number of enforced team changes, found their range. Thereafter, it was the away team who swept forward in numbers, giving the excellent Lewis in particular many opportunities to make dangerous moves into the D, supported by Taylor and Greaves in midfield and new winger Ash on the right. The makeshift defence of Bridge, Bleach, and Creed held firm whenever the home forwards threatened, sticking well to their positions and making numerous decisive tackles. Keeper Poole showed his usual fierce commitment to the battle, although he had to take a mandatory count after one particularly hefty challenge left both forward and keeper on the ground.

The old habit of giving the ball away too easily seemed to have been eradicated too and the free hits were getting through to the opposition half. This was partly as a result of the hitherto maverick Hendrik finding his true position at sweeper, covering across the back energetically and hitting out hard and positively from both 16 yard hits and in open play.

The only goal of the half came via a Taylor through pass to Barton close to the penalty spot, who made no mistake, poking the ball passed a stranded keeper.

The second half was a different story, due to a couple of lucky breaks for St Ives. They scored soon after the interval from a short corner, pushed wide, resulting in a miss hit shot which confused the keeper and bobbled over the line frustratingly. Heads went down and the away team lost a bit of confidence, and weren't able to get the ball into dangerous positions often enough. Cambridge South did however have a number of short corners, but few shots resulted. Barton was unlucky on a couple of occasions close to the goal line and the tactic of hitting long balls into the D failed to find the final touch. The home keeper made some great saves and proved difficult to pass all afternoon.

The winning goal came right at the end after a couple of missed tackles in the D let allowed the waiting St Ives forward to shoot in from a narrow angle.

This was an excellent aggressive game, which the umpires allowed to flow, between the top teams in the division. Cambridge South displayed many improvements in their game, retaining possession well, and getting the ball into the opposition half rapidly, but ultimately the match hinged on their failure to convert first half dominance into goals and on 2 soft goals let in during the second half.

Man of the Match honours went to Hendrik, for his efforts at sweeper stopping many St Ives attacks and not hesitating to get the ball up the field with minimum delay.

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