Men's 2nd XI Vs Chesterfield 3

Chesterfield 3's 1 – 3 South Nottingham 2's

South packed the midfield but gave away a scrappy early goal following a short corner. South fought themselves back into the game but both sides lacked fluency for much of the first half. The Chesterfield goalie pulled off some good saves but South finally broke through when Neil Batty, standing just inside the D, deflected, possibly deliberately, a high pass from Gary Pickering into the corner of the goal, leaving the Chesterfield goalie rooted to the spot in surprise.

A change of formation to 4-4-2 by South in the 2nd half proved decisive, with greater control and improved passing in the midfield; a number of short corners were won, although none was converted into a goal with good defending and saves from Chesterfield. The deadlock remained until Gary Pickering found himself with space in the D, received a cross and fired the ball into the roof of the net. Gary had a further goal disallowed as the ball was deemed not to have travelled 5 metres when he took the ball from a free hit into the D and shot into the corner of the goal.

South withstood some pressure but Chesterfield only managed one clear chance as the defence repeatedly stopped them getting any controlled possession in the D. James Fildes, in goal, was a spectator for most of the half. Mike Shapland seized an opportunity late in the game to shoot past the goalie in a crowded D to seal the win for South.