(i) Was it a dream?

(ii) I must have had a bump on the head…

(iii) surely Cambridge South 4ths couldn't overcome confident, high-flying Spalding?

(i) No, it wasn't.

(ii) You did.

(iii) Yes, we could.

A battling performance by the home side was rewarded with a deserved win, with two spectacular goals from man of the match Shahbaz Ali in the first half proving sufficient. Spalding came back after the interval, but their solitary goal wasn't enough.

South dominated the early exchanges with John Greaves, Rupert Espley and Boris Lossy going close, but it was Shahbaz Ali who broke the deadlock with a looping flick over everyone that ducked under the bar to the surprise of all…except Shabhaz who claims to have planned it all along.

One-nil looked secure with the central defenders Ky Ho and James Siddorns looking mean and aggressive, striking fear into every ball that came their way.

Soon after this skipper John Greaves's head had an argument with a deflected ball…and lost. Dying swan collapse and a bit of blood ensued, but the team doctors had him patched up in time to reappear towards the end with a serious looking bandage and steristrips, to usher the team to a memorable victory.

Shabhaz got his second just before half time with a Barton-esque reverse stick effort giving the keeper no chance from a narrow angle.

Spalding attacked for much of the second half but South were always dangerous on the break, with Tom Steed causing alarm with his darting runs, Boris Lossy playing the target man role well, Stu Creed popping up everywhere as needed and Ian Marshman back on after medical duties, marking the Spalding captain and playmaker effectively.

Although Spalding did grab a goal back and had a number of short corners, South held on well and Spalding began to get agitated, mainly with themselves and anyone in yellow - enough to prevent them using their superior skills to good effect.

South generally ignored the grumpiness, stuck to their mission and could have had more but were satisfied with the win and the plentiful, and nutricious, teas at Cantabs afterwards.