Southbank successfully returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 4-2 win at IBIS on Sunday. With the opportunity to play at the excellent IBIS pitches, many of the lads were looking forward to a good playing surface but had to move pitches when the main pitch failed a late pitch inspection due to frost. With many of the big guns back, Hightower was able to rest Bellman and Gale in preparation for the ‘big game’ against Video next Sunday, yet fielded a strong team with plenty of options. In total 4 players returned after last weeks defeat including Benji Williams, Woodrow, Donal and Fletcher. IBIS clearly struggling for numbers started with 10 men but within 10 minutes of the start had their full quota and provided excellent opposition and made for a good game. With a good surface, wet but not soaked and the sun shining this made for an excellent day to play football and both teams enjoyed this encounter. In a tight first half Southbank started with a different formation, allowing Archie a free role but for all the excellent football that the Bank played failed to breakdown a stubborn IBIS and found themselves behind after 20 minutes following a break down the right by IBIS. Bank responded well and played some of the best football of 2007, a number of forced corners and near misses culminated in a Ricky Haimes finishing at the back post after a good corner from Wagner. At half-time the message was clear, keep working hard, they will tire but we must take our chances. The first 15 minutes of the second half was scrappy as neither team settled into a pattern. Yet with 20 minutes gone of the second half the Bank found themselves behind again, a simple ball over the top seem to be running through but the nice surface was slippery as Charlie found out, allowing the striker to beat Hightower to the poke which rolled helplessly into the net and leave the Bank on the brink of defeat. Disaster perhaps, we shall see. For 10 minutes or so Southbank huffed and puffed but couldn’t find a breakthrough. The best opportunity fell to Wagner who with a free-kick 20 yards out failed to find the target. By now HT had replaced himself and Mig to give the team the best attacking options, with Jason Wagner captaining the team for the first time slipping into the centre of defence. All out attack effectively and then with 15 minutes or so to go, Benji capitalised on good work by Archie, Woodrow and Donal to pull the team back into the game and give them a footing. Welcome back Benji and 2 each. From here there was only one winner but it made for a difficult game to watch. Then another Southbank corner found Bradbury 5 yards out and he beat the keeper to it to put the Bank ahead for the first time with 10 minutes to go. From here on there was no way Southbank were going to let this slip and as IBIS pushed, the Bank struck on the counter-attack. This time, the impressive Woodrow rounded the keeper to give the 3 points to Southbank and allow Hightower to breathe a huge sigh of relief. Next week seems Southbank entertain Video. Fireworks are a definite as the local teams with plenty of contacts go head to head at Coley Park. Video are favourites to win the title for sure but Southbank have the ability to provide a good challenge and see how much of a gap exists between the teams.   Team: Cook, Haimes, Frade (Gull), Bradbury, Price (Tully), Mackie, Wagner, Roughneen, Bellman, Woodrow, Williams