Men's 3rds v : Awaiting Result

Cambridge South 3rds arrived with high hopes for a change in fortune. Shahbaz Ali did exceptionally well to raise a side for this game.

Alford fielded a team with several youth players, each with excellent close control and promising futures ahead. They also had some older players whose movement did not match their youthful counterparts!

South started strongly and moved the ball around with composure, patiently probing for openings. The returning Wilco Dijkstra combined well with stand-in skipper Paul South in central midfield. Tim Dean was very effective as Rupert Espley's replacement and made some great runs on the right wing, linking well with Nick Bristowe, who in turn was brilliant at right back. John Sharp filled the corresponding position on the left and had a great game too. Shahzad Ali provided great support on the left wing. The two Ians, Glover and Evans, were assertive with their well-timed tackles and good distribution to the midfeld.

South took the lead when Dean surged down the right wing and laid the perfect ball off for Andy Lewis, who gathered the ball at pace, rounded the keeper with some deft close control and slammed it in from an acute angle. A ripple of applause from the massed spectators never actually materialized.

The lovely goal opened up the game and South should have added to this score with several good break-aways from Paul South and Toby Bull. With John Greaves absent, a number of players decided to fill the void by acrobatically falling around under slight challenges. John Sharp and Paul South were notable performers here.

After the break both teams looked to get the next goal. Shahbaz Ali, growing in confidence with every game, was superbly commanding in goal, saving two certain goals and shutting out the tenacious opposition with some fine smothering saves. On one occasion Shahbaz looked like he had gone on gardening leave, almost getting stranded, but the defence wilted not and Shahbaz was able to return to tend his plot, back in the D, with his pride intact.

South's pressure on the home team finally paid off when a comedy goal put the game out of reach. Pinball Wizard Dean's shot ricocheted between defender and keeper before creeping beautifully over the line. He sure plays a mean pinball! - must be those crazy flipper fingers!

A really well fought victory in a strange, far off seaside town. Well played all!

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Shahbaz Ali
Player of the Match