Cambridge South 2nds, sponsored by PwC, got their season up and running again with their first earned three point haul this season, (the walkover awarded to South over Bourne on the opening day never felt like a ‘proper’ victory). Thus South nipped in the bud what had been shaping up into a worrying start to the season, with the side now sitting in mid-table with the chance to build on towards the hoped for promotion campaign, in what is a pretty tight division this season (by last Saturday there were no unbeaten teams left, rather early for that to be the case).

South had begun this derby on the front foot, passing and moving into space to pull the Nomads side around. Probing attacks were occurring, but the Nomads defence had dropped back to the edge of their own circle and held that line very effectively, with South’s territorial dominance not seeing many chances produced.

Nomads 4th Xi had been struggling for players due to it being half-term week, and were forced to rely on some players sticking around from their earlier 2nd Xi game. These players were obviously an issue for South to deal with, having skills used to a level higher than Division 5; conversely they each had one hard match in their legs already, so were not going to be the most mobile. In the last 15 minutes of the first half, Nomads managed to get these players onto the ball and forced South backwards. Some slack marking was seeing players free, and it need good reactions from ‘keeper Ian Evans to keep the scores level, when he came flying off his line to dispossess a Nomad who was otherwise clean through.

That was Ian’s positive playing contribution of the half. He also added to the levity of the affair, when jogging to retrieve a ball for a South 16, he somehow managed to pitch himself into a headlong dive to the turf. Apparently “My pads tripped me up!”. On any other day, this piece of slapstick would be a guaranteed Lemon-of-the-match award winner, but on this occasion it wasn’t even the most clown-like action of the half. That was left to vice-skipper Gareth Hebbron. Gareth was putting in a strong performance, which reminded all of just what a good player he is. But in the midst of this fine showing, he shouted for a ball to be passed to him on the top of the circle, lost his footing as it was coming towards him, skidded feet first into the orb and ended up sitting on it! Not elegant…

South turned around at half-time level, with skipper Kevin Rowland calling for a return to the hockey of the opening twenty minutes. And it was quickly present. Determined play in the midfield meant that South were exerting a near stranglehold on territory and possession. Nomads were forced to play on the break, but with man-of-the-match Leo Tomita organising his defence superbly, and George Wych at centre-back giving a master class in the art of the jab tackle, Nomads didn’t manage a single shot on target in the entire period.

In the attacking zone, South were still probing away, looking for that crucial goal. It nearly came when James Cobbe worked a yard for himself in the left corner, and picked out Colin Singleton in space in the circle with a superb cross. Colin’s first-timer was good for connection, but awry in terms of radar. Going into the last ten minutes, just when South were looking like they might run out of time, they were giving a helping hand by Nomads, who took a poor 16-yard hit that Stuart Creed cut out on the 25. Stu shipped the ball instantly right to Samin Ishtiaq, who fired a hard ball in goalwards, where Dave Stock was on hand to flick into the corner of the net. Speed of thought, and of action, passing the ball first or second touch = victory. You couldn’t ask for a more perfect demonstration of it than this goal. It was home before the Nomads midfield had had a chance to get back amongst the South players to disrupt things.

Skipper Kev was delighted by the efforts his team had showed in the second period, commenting "We gained a well earned and much needed 3 points today against Nomads who featured 4 of their 2nd XI squad. We had good periods today where we played our better hockey, a passing and moving game but we absolutely must learn to do this for the full 70 mins. Another week where everyone worked hard and deserve to feel good about the win"