Having beaten Spalding 5ths by the narrow margin of 1-0 away a few weeks ago, it was difficult to know what to expect of their 4th team. South started by having a 'proper' warm up as James Hodge started to exert his authority.

South decided to play the now familiar Premiership style 4-5-1 formation by packing the midfield. This did lead to South winning a lot of the possession even though, occasionally, players were literally tripping over one another. South dominated the first half with a number of chances to score but were unable to convert any of them. Notably, James R missed another one of his (in)famous reverse stick flicks and put it just wide.

In the South goal, Phil Le Gouais, on the other hand, had very little to do except for one shot on goal in the entire first half. The Spalding forward flicked at goal and the ball bounced off the South keeper and tantalisingly away, just wide of the keeper's left post. At the end of the game the entire team was still puzzled as to which part of his body Phil saved the shot with!

The second half started with James Hodge deciding to take a rest and his absence was very much noticed as Spalding started to play more in South's half. Spalding were looking the more likely to score by winning a number of short corners but the South defence somehow held on and the forwards even managed the odd counter attack.

It was during this period of Spalding pressure that South won a free hit five yards outside the Spalding D. A sharply drilled in hit was turned in by Dom Nelson to make the score 1-0. Shahzad was also on hand to make absolutely sure.

The remainder of the half was quite even and South had further chances, while at the same time having to defend. South nearly managed to repeat a carbon copy of the first goal but this time Dom swivelled and mistimed the shot. Another highlight was the umpires stopping the game in the middle of the second half to wait for the flood lights to switch on as it got dangerously dark!

It was a good performance as the team continues to gel and 1-0 doesn't quite reflect how well the team played.