Men's 3rds narrowly lose to Spalding

Unfortunately the momentum gained through the dominant victory a week earlier was dissipated by an unbeaten Spalding team, who grabbed victory by a single, albeit well taken and unstoppable, goal.

CSouth tried hard, largely kept their team shape and fashioned some chances all through the game, mostly through the efforts of central midfielders Paul South and Tristen Knight, and the buzzing Tom Watson just behind them. Shahbaz Ali, his usual commanding self, prevented numerous shots, but couldnt get near the one that gained Spalding a deserved lead. At the other end, Tristen Knight was unlucky with a couple of long range efforts from short corners going narrowly wide, and John Greaves had a neat angled effort touched over the bar by an unsighted defender. Greaves could have snatched the equaliser late on when put through on goal after a swift breakaway from SouthKnight, but his shot went just past the far post as the extremely large keeper advanced. Similarly Sanjay Agarwala, playing although not 100% well, couldn't quite turn a penetrating Greaves cross into the net right at the end.

The home team did have other chances, but couldn't convert them. It was Spalding though who had most of the ball, sometimes gained too easily due to some robust play, and less than timely or effective tackling. The CSouth defence, led by MoM Neil Sneade, made it tough for Spalding near the home D, and passed well to turn defence into attack.

This was one of those games when the winners were the better team, but the result could have gone either way, leaving CSouth 3rds frustrated and seeking the consistency required to thrive in 5NW

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Neil Sneade
Player of the Match

Like a terrier at an unfamiliar left back position, never letting Spalding attackers through, and pinning them down frequently by the corner flag