Cambridge South Lesson 1: This is why we play the game.

South 2nds made the long journey to Rutland more in hope than expectation. There were certainly few portents that the day would finish in a turnaround of similar proportions to that played out by Henry V's army on St Crispin's morning 594 years ago. Indeed the corresponding result last year and Rutland's performance so far this season were reasons for the team perhaps to feel that they were on a hiding to nothing and their time would be better spent catching up on sleep rather than setting off at 08:30 on a rainy morning.

However, South are made of stern stuff and fear no-one. Right from the pushback the team unleashed such an irresistible wave of attacks that the Home defence conceded 2 goals in the first 10 minutes.

First up was a splendid move down the right by Bhav Virdee and Kev Rowland which set up Jack Chalk to drive into the D and win a short corner. Everybody was set up for the pre-planned first routine (a short injection by Graham McCulloch to Manu Bhardwaj for a drag-flick). Everybody except Graham that is who went off-script and pushed out to Jack at the top of the D. Caught by surprise, surely Jack would find himself in trouble? Nothing of the sort. No panic, Jack calmly dribbled around the onrushing runners and slotted the ball past the keeper's left into the bottom corner.

One-nil, but wouldn't that just force Rutland to raise their game? Who cares? South simply moved up a few gears themselves and swept up the left hand side this time. A move started by the irrepressible Nick Bristowe was continued with interplay between Dave Aston and Tim Clapp that would not look out of place in Div 3 and a second short corner was won. This time a classic Route 1 routine was executed flawlessly and Nick drilled a fierce shot into right of the goal to score his first goal for South.

Two-nil! But there was still an hour to go and now finally Rutland realised that there was a game to be played. The Home team pushed forward relentlessly and forced a series of short corners. The first five or six were all charged down by George Wych and then cleared by the defence 5 but finally one got through and, after a melee around Shabhaz Ali's pads, the ball rolled towards the goal where the Umpire spotted an infringement and signalled a flick which was put away confidently by the Rutland centre-forward.

Into the second half now and, despite playing into the rain, once again it was South who started the brighter with the midfield and forwards forcing Rutland into a number of simple mistakes to concede possession. Great work from both Rob Barton and Graham piled on the pressure and won South their third short of the match. Surely we couldn't make it 3 out of 3? You bet we could! This time Graham read the script and pushed out to Manu who placed a beautiful drag flick into the goal between keeper and defender.

With a 2 goal cushion restored South could begin to dream the impossible dream but Rutland had other plans. Once again spurred on by their impressive Number 10 the Home team began to dominate possession and time and again made headway into the South 25, only to break against unwavering resistance from Nick, Manu and Ron Oren. The few times that they did break through, the attacks were comprehensively snuffed out by Shahbaz. However, something had to give and South again conceded a string of short corners which (also again) were cleared out by the defence but finally one shot got through and rolled into the goal to make it 3-2.

With everything to play for Rutland now pressed forward yet more, calling for heroics from all the team but then the unthinkable happened - yet another attack seemed to have been dealt with but the other Umpire this time signalled for Rutland's second penalty flick of the match. It looked to be a matter of “so near and yet so far” for South and that a point was all they could hope for. However, cometh the hour, cometh the man - and that man was Shahbaz, making a fantastic stick save against the well-taken flick to keep that precious 1 goal lead.

Even then, the game was not over and skipper Dave Aston had to rally the team to concentrate against further advances, one of which provided a contender for “Miss of the Season” as a Rutland attacker contrived completely to miss a ball rolling invitingly across an open goal. South themselves were also often on the front foot, with most attacks featuring the evergreen Kev despite his injuries (see below) but it was Rutland who were to have the last significant play of the day. With less than a minute on the clock, the home team won a final short corner and brought all their outfield players up in search of the equaliser. Squeaky-bum time for South's travelling support (who am I kidding?) but there was nothing to fear as the defence imperiously snuffed out any threat and swept the ball upfield for the midfield to hold it until the final whistle and scenes of delirious joy.

No battle would be complete without injuries and this match was certainly no exception Tim Clapp (head), Kev (head), Manu (chest) and Dave A (knees) merit mentions in dispatches but there were not many of the team who left the field without at least one bruise to treat.

After the game Captain Dave Aston said:

This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

(or something like that)

What an epic match! And that's without even giving mention to numerous wrong turnings in the journey, Rob Barton's lecture on the properties of old treacle, Bhav overcoming his never-nude paranoia, the cold showers, Graham's trousers magically shrinking and Kev's catwalk routine. Well, some things are best left to the imagination!

(And OK, I know it's not St Crispin's Day until tomorrow but give a guy a break - it's pretty close!)