The first friendly match after the end of the season was a competent performance from South although the game was always likely to be a let down after the previous weeks excitement.

The game could be compared to two de-clawed, toothless bears wrestling in a vat of crude oil – there was a lot of struggling in midfield as neither side got to grips with the other and there didn't seem to be much likelihood of either inflicting any real damage.

South turned up to the game with just nine players and borrowed the services of midfielder Hugh Bucknall. The game also saw the return of Andrew Leonard after a spell with the 2nds and Jack Chalk, back from university for Easter.

From the start of the game it was a midfield battle as both defences held firm. Nomads showed why they had finished third in Div 7NW by attacking quickly down the centre of the pitch. The rearranged South defence of Andrew Leonard, Ky Ho and Andy Pounce had little difficult in tidying up most of the surges forward and keeper Will Benedikz was left with few opportunities for action.

As the first half progressed South played a increasingly relaxed game which, when the passing was sharp, looked good and several reasonable scoring opportunities presented themselves to Jack Chalk, Wilco Dijkstra and Shan Golar. Alas South were thwarted by the Nomads keeper on all occasions.

After the break the game ebbed and flowed a little more with both sides having attacking opportunities. The South midfield of Hugh Bucknall, David Bridge, Shan Golar and Finn Johnson worked well as a unit and continued to move the ball round well. They also took advantage of the Nomads tendency to bunch around the ball and opened up the defence by spreading the ball wide. Finn, Jack and Wilco all had goal scoring chances from this simple manoeuvre.

Nomads won a couple of short corners during the second half but were unable to get a clean strike on all but one of these. Fortunately for South the one good strike was directed wide of the near post.

At the final whistle the game could be regarded as pleasant post-season wind down with South never looking troubled by the lower division team.

Honourable mention: Hugh Bucknall – We owe Hugh our thanks for swapping sides and helping out South. He played a committed game against his teammates and worked himself into good positions that could have resulted in a crucial goal.