M3 2-2 Wisbech Town Mens 4

South travelled northwards for their penultimate game of the season requiring a single point to confirm promotion from 7NW, although needing a win to stand any chance of taking the league title from rivals March.

A bright start to the game saw the sides evenly matched with South pressing forwards in numbers but Wisbech taking advantage of space to counter quickly. The open game continued for about fifteen minutes until an unmarked Wisbech player was able to shoot against the post. An infringement in the ensuing goalmouth scramble led to a penalty corner, which was swiftly dispatched leaving the visitors 1-0 down.

Going a goal down gave South a little more fight and Jack Chalk, supported by Will Marston and Hannes Roux, made good progress on the right wing against spirited defending. It was Chalk's persistence, preceded by a good build up from James Bridge, that led to the equalising goal. James Bridge passed the ball to Will Marston who fed Jack Chalk on the wing. His cross was not well cleared and several South players managed shots which were blocked before Chalk forced the ball under the horizontal goalkeeper and into the empty net.

Wisbech came back with aggression and for the remainder of the half, were the sharper of the two sides. Their pacey attack forced a late save from keeper Will Benedikz and another shot was turned against the post by full back John Benedikz. Defenders Mark Jackson and David Bridge also proved to be a match for the Wisbech attack and prevented a number of dangerous attacks from reaching the D.

Changes made at the start of the second half saw Paul McIlwaine return to the back line and Matt Heap push further forward in midfield. The team began to put pressure on to Wisbech, winning a number of penalty corners and playing very positive, passing hockey. The penalty corners gave the two best chances of the half for South. Firstly a low strike from James Bridge, which appeared to be goal-bound, was deflected towards the roof by Jack Chalk. Unfortunately, this just cleared the bar but proved that the well-rehearsed routines were paying off. The second attempt saw the strike pulled to the left of the goal where John Benedikz pounced to score his first league goal of the season past the wrong-footed defence.

With just five minutes remaining, South were doggedly breaking down the Wisbech defence through Rory Johnson and striker Wilco Dijkstra when a break from defence caught the visitors' defence exposed. A timely pass committed the last of the South defenders and the Wisbech forward may no mistake in slipping the ball home.

It was a disappointing end to a competitive yet goodnatured game between two well matched sides and the dropped points somewhat overshadowed the importance of the point gained.

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