BackSat 03 Oct 2026 · East Open - Men's Division 5 North West
Cambridge South 5
Mens 4th XI
3
0
And after 553 days……
Stuart Mitchell
Men’s 4s vrs Cambs South 5
Spoiler alert – after 553 days since we (Men’s 4s) last lost in the league, and our unbeaten streak came to an end.
A glorious sunny day saw us travel to Cambs South. A good start saw Kettering on the front foot but it was clear this was a well matched game. Our defence made up of Ben S playing CD for the first time and Wilf playing back right for the first time also held strong. But on about 20mins our own attack broke down and South transitions really quickly and scored. A couple of attacking shorts came to nothing, so 1:0 at half time.
An unfortunate start to the second half when an almost carbon copy of the first goal occurred and we were 2 goals down. Despite all our efforts and endeavour nothing seemed to open up for us. More shorts, one was mis-trapped with no backstop, one injection (my bad) didn’t go more them 3 feet, and others were dealt easily ….least I know what we need to do at training.
With 10 to go South scored a third from a PC. The final whistle came, (a fair result but a flattering one). I would say we had more circle penetrations then South but we were just not clinical enough (at all!). So after 553 days we are finally beaten in the league.
That said with a 5th of the season gone already we are still sitting 4th in the league. We would have taken that at the start of the season. Now the hard work starts, and that is to stay there.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Captain’s thoughts – Injury prevention – the club has experienced many injuries at the beginning of the season. Players are reminded that they can help keep themselves injury free by:
Undertaking pre-match warm up
Core strength exercises through the week
Don’t play injured!
Player of the Match – Wilf ––Playing in a new position of right back, and despite the score line the MoM voting was predominately for defenders, kept Cambs South opportunities low to about 5 (unfortunately they were clinical scoring 3 of them)
D0D Martin – several times left lying on the ground and getting called over for a stern word from the umpire, take your pick. Core strength exercises th.
A glorious sunny day saw us travel to Cambs South. A good start saw Kettering on the front foot but it was clear this was a well matched game. Our defence made up of Ben S playing CD for the first time and Wilf playing back right for the first time also held strong. But on about 20mins our own attack broke down and South transitions really quickly and scored. A couple of attacking shorts came to nothing, so 1:0 at half time.
An unfortunate start to the second half when an almost carbon copy of the first goal occurred and we were 2 goals down. Despite all our efforts and endeavour nothing seemed to open up for us. More shorts, one was mis-trapped with no backstop, one injection (my bad) didn’t go more them 3 feet, and others were dealt easily ….least I know what we need to do at training.
With 10 to go South scored a third from a PC. The final whistle came, (a fair result but a flattering one). I would say we had more circle penetrations then South but we were just not clinical enough (at all!). So after 553 days we are finally beaten in the league.
That said with a 5th of the season gone already we are still sitting 4th in the league. We would have taken that at the start of the season. Now the hard work starts, and that is to stay there.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Captain’s thoughts – Injury prevention – the club has experienced many injuries at the beginning of the season. Players are reminded that they can help keep themselves injury free by:
Undertaking pre-match warm up
Core strength exercises through the week
Don’t play injured!
Player of the Match – Wilf ––Playing in a new position of right back, and despite the score line the MoM voting was predominately for defenders, kept Cambs South opportunities low to about 5 (unfortunately they were clinical scoring 3 of them)
D0D Martin – several times left lying on the ground and getting called over for a stern word from the umpire, take your pick. Core strength exercises th.
Further reading