Cambridge South 2nds, sponsored by PwC, gained a second successive victory and clean sheet, to begin to progress themselves up the Division 5NW table.

Boston had arrived at the Leys with a 100% record, unfortunately not the one you wish for, as their previous five games had yielded no points. This gave South confidence, and we were at their throats from the first minute, forcing the first of many saves from the Boston goalkeeper.

After the good start, Boston showed South that they could play, with a good ten minute spell when South struggled to clear their own half. A couple of shorts were given away, including one where an on-target shot hit a defenders foot. He may not have actually been the last man, but on another day, this might have been given as a penalty flick.

Having started the match, stopped again, and weathered what Boston could throw at us, South opened the scoring. Neat interplay between the forwards saw Rob Garrett and Rob Barton play a one-two on the halfway line that left Garrett running on a diagonal into the circle. He drew the ‘keeper and slid the ball back square for Barton to tap home.

Settled by being in front, South were now in full control, and forcing regular saves from Boston’s ‘keeper (who, btw, had an exceptional game in keeping the score manageable). With so much territorial advantage, there was a temptation for South’s defence to edge forwards to try and ‘help’, leaving some large spaces for Boston to run into if they could get hold of the ball. One such counter-thrust, in the closing seconds of the half, saw Boston’s centre-forward through one-on-one on South 'keeper Tristen Knight. Tristen came flying out to the top of his circle, and smothered the ball well, with the rapidly retreating defence clearing the rebound. As the first half had ended, the second half began, with Boston’s danger man in clean through on Tristen. This time he played his flick earlier to beat South’s stopper, maybe too early as the defenders scrambling back were able to shepherd the ball wide.

A scare for the backline, as South should have had the game wrapped up already. And seemingly in the spirit of “I don’t want to feel that nervous again”, the killer second goal was almost entirely a defender’s own work. Sweeper Dave Monck picked up a loose ball on his own 25, and charged into some yawning midfield spaces. He drew in the Boston left-back, and slipped the ball to South right-winger Samin Ishtiaq. Samin bounced it back to Dave, who headed for the circle. Another neat triangular one-two to take a defender was played with Rob G in the right channel, and once again the ball was with the bullocking defender, who was by now into the circle and winding up the howitzer. Dave’s first time shot was marvellously placed/scuffed into the far corner of the goal, depending on your point of view.

South’s front pair of Robs combined for the third. Barton slipped to Garrett on the top of the circle. Garrett pushed down the left channel to the byline, round the outside of his defender, and with the reverse stick squared the ball across the face of goal, where Barton was on hand to tap home. Simple stuff. A final goal was added when Samin picked up an attempted Boston clearance, and slipped a pass to skipper Kevin Rowland. Kev’s shot was going wide of the right post, only for Colin Singleton to appear on the byline and pick up the ball very neatly on his reverse stick, a single decisive touch which took Col from being out of possession outside the posts to being in possession, behind the ‘keeper, directly in front of goal, inches out. The ball was gently rolled the ball home.

Kev was happy with the win, saying “The 1-0 scoreline at half time illustrates how we have been a bit slow out the traps of late, but the team turned this start around in the second half and got the goals and the 3 points we deserved. An important win that leaves us in a healthy position in the league”