Cambridge South 3s took on a young Shefford & Sandy side in their first match in three weeks after the cancellations brought on by the spell of arctic weather. Having played only twice in the past two months, South were glad of the friendly fixture to try and rediscover their match form ahead of the resumption of their league campaign.

Neil Sneade's late addition to the squad was welcomed when holdups on the A14 delayed the arrival of Ian Evans until mid-way through the first half. The Sandy team was a non-league development side, leavened with a few more mature heads. Despite their lack of league practice, Sandy's young players showed some promising skills. However, the experience of South 3s quickly started to show as the home side took control of the game.

An understandably rusty start was gradually polished as South found their rhythm, asserting their control of possession to compress the play into the Sandy half. Indeed Neil, playing at centre back, found himself frequently holding near the Sandy 25 yard line! When a run and lay-off led to the ball being returned to him inside the top of the D, the resulting altitude sickness led him to prove why we don't usually let him play that far up the pitch as he tamely pushed his shot straight at the Sandy keeper.

Despite this heady profligacy, South's control was solid and by half time a comfortable 3-0 lead had been established with goals from wide forwards David Doupe and Rupert Espley. Novice stand-in goalie Andrew Fraser was yet to touch the ball and more was promised for the second half.

Sandy refused to roll over and continued to play some neat hockey while lacking that final penetration or cutting edge. In the second period, David completed his hatrick before being hauled off for an early bath while Rupert finished with a brace with further goals from Tim Clapp and, his first of the season, Wilco Dijkstra. Things weren't looking quite as smooth at the back with occasional confusion in clearing the defensive lines, some wayward passes and, in the most comical moment of the match, a magnificent parachute roll from Ian getting entangled with the ball without another player within 10 yards of him.

Andrew finally got to make a save from a late Sandy attack but his goal remained intact at the final whistle. A useful warm up match played in a friendly spirit, with South glad for the opportunity to get back into their stride after the enforced break.