The day was dull, but the hockey certainly wasn't. The 4ths secured their first victory on the pitch for eleven months with an ultimately dominant display against local rivals, Nomads.

How could this happen?

The first half was even, with few chances at either end and Nomads' skillful midfield work generally cancelled out by the solid away defence whenever the ball arrived in the Cambridge South 22. Rock Radford and his henchmen, Ho #2, plus messrs Bridge, Thomas and Steed tackled and blocked every move, leaving new keeper Charlie Cadby to watch admiringly before contributing a couple of kicks to keep himself interested. Howard Steed almost managed to score a goal but his deft effort was fortunately deflected to safety by Ky Ho.

The back line were often able to turn defence into attack via the dynamic trio of Creed (S), Dijkstra and Jelley. Wide players Espley, Ali (Shahzad) and Creed (P) were always available for the pass and began to threaten the Nomads' D as the game went on.

Mid way through the second half, South got their just desserts with yet another mazy dribble from man of the match, Creed (P). He left the Nomads defence in his wake and crossed the ball to Creed (S), who atoned for his earlier green card - given for providing some unwelcome advice to the umpire - with a glorious shot from distance just inside the near post. One-nil.

This swiftly became two when skipper Greaves, showing that you can be over thirteen years old and still "run" with the ball, gifted fellow forward Simon Frampton with a rasping cross which the latter gratefully stopped and prodded into the net.

Greaves then proceed to show that his acting/ballet skills are not yet dead with some lemon-worthy diving/falling on the notorious Abbey slope.

South dominance was confirmed when, against a tiring Nomads team, sustained pressure led to a series of short corners - one notable one from a neat pass onto an opposition foot by the calm Shahbaz Ali. He was unlucky not to score himself, being denied by the excellent Nomads keeper on three occasions as his trademark scoops toward the top corner were blocked on the line. The third goal did come off yet another short corner, with Greaves loitering one yard out to smash the ball into the net after a melee.

A comprehensive victory, which hopefully is a forerunner of successes to come once the league season starts.