Today. Today was different. Today was empty. We were not complete. Something, or someone, was missing. One of South’s greatest supporters and followers of the modern era was no longer available for selection. In a week that started brightly for the talismanic beast, disappointment and heartbreak ruled after a seemingly innocuous injury that would leave all gasping, ‘How?’ and ‘Why?’ Megan - a mother and a friend to all that have played in the M2s over the last five or so years - had gone into retirement. Many had ridden her, many had spent a Saturday inside her, many had put their sticks in her boot but she had been taken up the Fen road one too many times and - to the distress of many - had finally called it a day. The empty space in the car park where she should have been was enough to bring many a grown man to tears. Her dented and scathed body was no longer there to smile her team on and off the pitch and tell them that everything would always be alright.

The Megane - whose booty was big and bold enough to hold any goalkeeping kit - received a respectful moment’s silence after the match. Even the hardened team captain (who had done his best to dress up as the silver wagon, wheels and all) shed a tear in her memory.

RIP Megan - you will live on in all of our hearts.

Other vaguely notable absentees included skipper, Simon Cooper (after attempting a Lua Lua-inspired celebration at training and no longer having a functioning back), and suave oddball, Menzies (who was off on a public school boys’ retreat somewhere in Norfolk).

Before the warm up had even begun, NBM cemented the role of Lemon by picking up a discarded gumshield off the floor by the side of the pitch and…well…five second rule? Finders keepers? Regardless, Shin would not have been happy with his oral hygiene.

Once the ‘incident’ had been dealt with, South began their warm up with stand-in skipper, Anns, getting used to the weight of captaincy (literally as well as figuratively, due to the added mass of the armband - which stood out proudly on his muscular bicep). Needless to say, his first job - winning the toss - was executed to perfection.

The match began evenly with both sides easing their way into the game. No obvious upper hand was gained by either side. South put some good passes together in the midfield with Mann, Walsh, Polge and NBM linking up well but the final ball was yet to be found, with the Peterborough defence picking up any loose balls: nothing less than expected. Peterborough had their fair share of possession too, playing the ball around nicely but, mirroring their own defence, Rug, Engine and the newly-reacquainted Anns and Troll (an M2 defensive partnership from Olden Times) kept them at bay.

The game needed spicing up so Anns, in a bid to ignite his team (and also clear the ball from the defensive D), smashed the ball at Colin’s ankle (*sidenote: this was Colin’s first match back after being injured with a…broken ankle). Luckily, the resulting short corner did not prove fatal and Colin remained on the pitch although slightly more grumpy. Would this Napoleonic approach to captaincy, clearly showing that no prisoners would be taken regardless of side or excuse, spur on the battling South side? It would for one man - a man who delights in war time pain and harsh treatment: Jon Mann. His passing, running and defensive game was beginning to give South a very slender upper hand in a game too close to call.

With five minutes until half time, Nev calmly played the ball into Dom in the D who pounced on the opportunity to slap the ball against the backboard on his reverse stick. One-nil. It was then that a new spectator was spotted on the horizon: Mrs Walsh had come to see her husband for the first time and was later quoted as saying, ‘You’re a very vocal team, aren’t you…’ Obviously, this translates to, ‘You communicate brilliantly and really motivate each other.’

Half time - evens, apart from the scoreline.

Director of Hockey for the day, Cooper, talked about solidifying the winning position by being more attacking in the second half. The team took these words and put them into action, and began to stamp their authority on the match.

Jon looked more and more threatening as the match went on and finally got his reward after running around the outside of the right-hand side of the D, cutting in, pulling the ball back to Sam, who returned it to the stampeding iron man to finish it off neatly from a tight angle. Two-nil.

The Engine made a dashing run to the edge of the opposing D: memories of a young Shane Williams were suddenly at the forefront of everyone’s mind, especially when he was taken down in a way probably more suited to the sport played by Shane. Not long after, Jon completed his brace after deflecting (yes, the training is working) a pass from NBM into the waiting goal. Three-nil.

The defence were solid and, with good tackling and communication throughout the team, Peterborough had few chances. On the occasions that a couple of shots were hit from the top of the D, Jason was equal to them with solid saves, made to look easy. A late green card for one of the tourist’s quite frustrated midfielders also helped the Southerners see out the game with a clean sheet.

After the match, Coops ensured that NBM was aware that food would be provided at teas and so he would not need to forage in the local bins for any further ‘freebies’ that ‘could be his’. South were in high spirits and it should be noted that the M1s' captain, in his role as Professor X, was especially impressed by the captaincy of the talismanic Anns, stating something along the lines of him being the Standard Bearer for the team and club.

Another three points! Let’s keep them coming!