South welcomed back Rob “blast from the past” Garrett for their clash against mid-table Wisbech, keen to keep the pressure up on 2nd place Cambridge Nomads in the hunt for promotion.

It was South who started the brighter, being alert and first to every loose ball. James Mark and Jack controlled the midfield, and in front of them the forward three were making intelligent runs in front of them to cause the Wisbech defence problems. A quickly taken sideline ball lead to Tom Watson feeding James Cobbe inside the D, and, with the time and space to pick his spot, James calmly drove the ball into the bottom corner. One nil.

However, instead of settling into their passing game as they had done last week, South began to give Wisbech a foothold in the match. A quick ball into the D was deflected towards the goal by the Wisbech forward, and was only denied by an expert save from Steve Parker. “Wis” were also looking dangerous on short corners, with two excellent saves from Steve preventing the opposition actually going into the break in the lead, never mind level.

At half time, captain Dave stressed the need to press home South’s advantage and that the Wisbech chances should serve as a wakeup call. However, the opposition started the second period in an assertive manner, and only a combined goal line clearance from the Wych-Bristowe central defensive partnership prevented an equaliser.

Slowly but surely though, South began to find their feet. Quick incisive passing from Mark Rob and John led to a South short corner. An expert push out was cleverly pushed back to the taker, and Nick finally proved that he could indeed “hit a barn door with a banjo” and doubled South’s lead. More overdue than the new Cambridge South shirts I’d say, but nevertheless a very well taken goal, which settled South’s nerves (or most people’s aside from the lunatic that is Dave Aston- who bellowed at the top of his voice that South in no way deserved the goal, much to the amusement of the opposition and dismay of most of his teammates).

Dave Aston - Mr Positivity

After this goal, South began to look again like a side who belonged at the top of the league. With Cobbe Watson Ta and Chalk tearing down the flanks, and Garrett Williams and Hawkes easily having the beating of their men the home team looked certain to add to their lead. In fact, before John Hawkes expertly lifted in a third following a goalmouth melee, the Wis keeper made what was a contender for save of the season. A dynamic, mesmerising Dave Aston run (or a complete lack of interest from the Wisbech defence depending on which way you look at it) was thwarted by an outstretched toe (or the middle of a foot planted ten seconds earlier) of the keeper, to keep the lead down to two.

In the end though, South ran out deserved and [reasonably] comfortable victors, and will look to keep the pressure up on 2nd place Nomads (who host 4th place Rutland), when they travel to St Neots next weekend.