In a pulsating game studded with big scoring chances at both ends, South finally emerged triumphant after surviving a determined second-half onslaught from a Spalding side still looking for their first win in Division 3NW.

Such a close-fought outcome seemed unlikely after a twenty-five minute opening spell in which South played what captain Chris Baker judged to be some of their finest hockey ever. Spalding, relegated twice in the last two seasons, were under the cosh from the very first minute when Rob Garrett, racing through on one of his many tantalising breaks, forced the visiting keeper to put his body on the line right at the edge of the circle. A flowing five man move from left back was followed by a neat, swift interplay between Keith Hewitt and a hungry-looking Lukas Snetler and it was Snetler's aggressive thrust forward that led to South’s first short corner, parabolically despatched by Baker via some part of the Spalding rearguard to give South the early lead.

Spalding looked to hit back quickly but, just when one of their pacy strikers appeared to be away, Chris Graveling consummately filched the ball from him and slid a pass to Garrett, who delivered a precision cross for Keith Hewitt to rifle in a classic turnover goal after nine minutes. Moments later, Garrett put in a deft three point turn and motored across the circle, slipping the ball just wide with the keeper in no-man's land.

Undaunted, Spalding counter-attacked, creating a golden scoring opportunity which Steve Parker in goal diverted away with an excellent split-second pad save. Spalding's first short corner, a hard, low drive, was swept clear by Graveling after the block by Parker.

South resumed their authoritative passing game, with Mike Thorogood, playing an assured role further back than last season, combining well with the busy Chris Massey to feed Hewitt and Baker. A beautiful take in midfield by Rupert Webb, whose positioning and thoughtful close passing work were features throughout, led to goal attempts by Snetler and Baker, both saved, and, after Matt Readman had displayed his prowess at the reverse-stick tackle, Baker held off a challenge in midfield to feed Snetler. With the next move, Snetler, Hewitt and Garrett sliced through the Spalding defence and Garrett gave Russell Johnson, bursting forward, the perfect cross for a clinical finish with the keeper relentlessly drawn out and beaten.

The game remained open, however, and, though South created numerous further chances (and Hewitt became the latest neophyte to be tricked by the bewildering number of sidelines at the Abbey), Spalding refused to throw in the towel. They gained just the luck they needed when, from their second short after thirty-two minutes, they pulled one back through a pair of bizarre deflections which left the scorer clutching his head in either agony or disbelief, or possibly both.

Seizing the moment, they attacked once more from the right and the ball again cannoned against the backboard as Parker was unsighted. But South mustered late resolve, with Hewitt setting Garrett up for a near-miss as he cleverly slipped the ball over the advancing keeper and then forcing a short as the ball got stuck near the penalty spot. Using one of the well-tried variations, Baker and Garrett executed perfectly, leaving Baker to shoot in low via the keeper's jersey to create a two-goal advantage which was nevertheless threatened in the dying moments of the first half when a lone Spalding striker tried an angled deflection which Parker, flying to his right, athletically sticked wide.

The second stanza began in similar all-action style, with the visiting keeper denying Snetler with an extended stick after a fine move authored by Readman and Jim Thorpe. Despite tenacious forechecking by Snetler and Hewitt, Spalding broke away to outpace the defence but were thwarted just inside the D by a diving Parker, who then gloved away a rising hit after a further Spalding short had narrowly failed.

As Spalding made space up the right, Thorpe was repeatedly called upon to deliver several of his magisterially calm clearances, whilst Readman hoovered up spare men and skipper Baker, predatory as ever, tried to seize the initiative in midfield. A fast approach by Garrett up the Spalding right was followed by a textbook pull-back cross which went unconverted, but South were forced increasingly on to the back foot as the visitors drove forward in numbers. A heavy drag-flick from their fifth short hit the bar and the rebound looked destined for the net until Parker miraculously found a way to cover with his left foot and then block-and-tackle the ball to safety.

It was all hands to the pump again as Parker made another triple save and Thorpe and Graveling briefly relieved the pressure with cool tackling and blasts upfield; moments later, the keeper's glove took another hammering, Massey cleared with some nerve across the face of his own goal and a sixth short, again a flick, was batted spectacularly away to the right. After this sustained pressure, something was bound to give and, following another dangerous slipped short, Spalding got their reward when a raking run to the right led to the perfect square-back and an easy lift-in while the massed South ranks were outpaced and outmanoeuvred.

At 4-3 with five minutes to go, it was anybody's game but, with the South defence keeping their heads and Readman and Massey working anxiety-soothing triangles, enough breathing-space was found for a counter-attack which resulted in skipper Baker slipping the ball under the visiting keeper's armpit for the insurance marker. South then put everybody behind the ball and a real elevan man effort saw the game out, with Johnson working hard in left defence, Webb straight-driving a boundary into the far corner and Readman conjuring a great reverse interception before, in the last action, Hewitt narrowly failed to convert a pass from Baker.

Skipper Baker was understandably pleased with the team's performance and it was much to South's credit that they were able to weather the storm from a determined Spalding outfit who were never prepared to say die and whose short corner routines in particular always looked dangerous. This was an excellent all-round effort in which, despite being severely tested on occasions, South's experience and resolution came through with all boxes ticked.