South 2s cap off Great Escape with yet another hard-fought victory

With safety already secured South were able to approach the game with a freedom denied to them in previous games and while they faced an Instonians team with themselves, seemingly little to play for, the game turned out to be very entertaining for onlookers.

Inst began the better side and their young players moved the ball well around the pitch, threatening the South defence on a number of occasions early on.

South were defending well until a turnover of possession on the left was well exploited by Inst who found themselves one on one with the South defence and after a ricochet, the ball ended up in the net.

The goal was as much as the away side deserved but South found themselves level when Paul Beattie released Paddy Cochrane, and with only the keeper to beat, the South player elegantly lobbed the ball into the net to draw the sides level.

With the Inst centre-back injured in the course of the attack, the away team were briefly reduced to 10 men, allowing South to take a deserved lead. Jack Redpath knocked the ball out of his feet in the circle to expertly crash a reverse stick shot back across the keeper and into the far corner of the goal.

Inst were level again in terms of players, but also on the scoreline when, after a series of short corners, a forward scored with a good strike from the edge of the circle.

Despite being under significant pressure at this point, the impressive Paddy Cochrane restored the home lead, beating two players and the keeper at the near post after good approach play from Mark Conn on the right. South then extended their lead when Cochrane saw his reverse stick shot come off the inside of the post, falling perfectly for Paul Beattie to finish from close range.

Inst did pull a goal back towards the end with a cross and finish but South were able to keep them at arm’s length until the final whistle.

The win represented a culmination of a simply excellent run of form by the second XI. As early as Christmas, relegation looked likely with only five points from the first 12 games. A change in approach and players brought on a run which returned 25 points from 10 games or only five dropped from 30.

If South can keep the group of players together and build on that spirit and ability, they have every chance of competing at the top of the league next year.