This was not a great day for Cambridge South 3rds. A combination of unfamiliar players, enforced positional changes, injury to Dom Nelson and the fact that St Ives were more "up for it" made for a tough afternoon…and St Ives were better, particularly after they scored the opening goal by carving through the South team.

Dom Nelson, heroically ignoring his injured back, equalised with a neat dribble and shot before half time. Sadly South were undone twice more in the second half without reply. Although the away team had their share of attacks and possession with multiple short corners, we were unable to get clear shots on goal and the immense and excellent St Ives goalkeeper repelled the chances that did come. Greaves, Creed, Somerville, Espley and Nelson could all have scored on another day, but sadly not this one.

South did string some good moves together and, as in the previous week, used the space and passed the ball around well. However, the canny St Ives defence stood firm and it was always South that appeared hurried. In the end Stuart Creed resorted to desperate tactics by almost knocking an opposition defender out and inflicting a spectacularly blood injury.

The thirds are almost safe in Div 5NW but certain security is delayed another week, when the return game against Boston provides the chance for revenge.