You can’t win anything with kids. At least that’s what Alan Hansen says but unfortunately no-one had thought to tell Rutland who fielded a team with most of the players under 18 years old and consigned South’s 1st XI to their first League defeat of the season.

Rutland fielded an experienced team

Going into the game South were well aware that this would be a tough challenge (Rutland are top of the Division, having scored 77 goals in 12 games) and the home team did not disappoint. Displaying a mix of pace, teamwork and great individual skills Rutland had South on the back foot for much of the first half and the midfield and defence had to be at their very best to keep the attacks at bay. Steve Parker in particular was on fine form and as the half went on the Rutland players began to show their frustration and as a result some of the composure went out of their game. South themselves were now able to press forward and had a number of good efforts on goal. Much of our success came up the left flank where Bhav Virdee linked well with Graham McCulloch and Simon Ta to create several chances but sadly none could be converted into a goal. Then close to half time Rutland scored their first goal and it took a very clever piece of play to finally break down the South resistance. Rutland won a long corner on their left hand side which was self-taken and then the attacking player played a perfect aerial ball right over the South D to an unmarked Rutland midfielder on the other side of the pitch. It was a great move that wrong-footed South and, although first George Wych and then Steve Parker saved the resulting shots, the ball was finally bundled over the line and Rutland took a 1-0 lead into half time.

Despite the goal South had matched Rutland for effort in the first half, probably creating the better chances and so went into the second half with high hopes. However, right from the whistle the home team started very strongly, pushing almost all their players forward in an attacking surge. With slick passing and superb ball control they forced a number of shots and short corners, scoring one goal from open play and another from a fantastic piece of individual skill off a short where the ball was stopped, then dribbled past all the South defence and walked into the goal.

At 3-0, South were rocking and Rutland also had a goal disallowed when their drag-flick from a short corner was ruled out due to one of their players encroaching the D before the ball was injected. It was to the team’s great credit that they continued to work hard and narrowed the deficit with a goal of their own off a well-worked short corner played back to McCulloch as injector who maintained his record of scoring on every Sunday game this season. However, any thoughts of a come-back were quashed almost immediately as Rutland continued to commit numbers forward, forcing another series of short corners, one of which was converted to make it 4-1.

Aston forced his way into the D but couldn't quite get a clear shot on goal

At this stage it could have gone badly for South as Rutland were completely dominant but the team showed admirable strength and composure first to keep out the Rutland attacks and then, slowly, to turn the tide and force a number of chances themselves. Unfortunately no goals were forthcoming and, although Dave Aston did have a gilt-edged chance in the dying seconds that he somehow contrived to put wide, Rutland ended up worthy winners by a fair score line of 4 goals to 1.

However, on the bright side there is hope for the reverse fixture at the Leys later in the season as surely Rutland will struggle to find enough players old enough to drive!