South Vets secured their firsts points in the Vets League this season in high-style, comfortably beating town rivals Cambridge City in a match played at the Perse School.

City had turned up for the game with only ten players and South took advantage of this from the beginning, keeping the ball well and enforcing pressure. This soon turned to goals, with a spectacular opening strike from Rob Barton. He picked up he ball in the right corner of the D by the byline and then dribbled back outwards past a couple of men to the top edge of the circle, but still at an acute angle. From here he fired in a precise reverse stick shot, in off the far post. One was soon two in more prosaic style, a quick counter allowing a second reverse sweep from Barton from directly in front, and two was three when Keith Davidson’s run and cross from the right flank found James Bridge on the penalty spot, who crashed home first time.

City found their way forward with a rare attack soon after and won a short from a poor stick tackle. A clean routine and shot gave Steve Riches, playing in goal for the first time in his life, little chance. However, this was against the tide, with Stephen Fleck, James Bridge and Rob Barton combining well in the spaces left by City being one man light. Barton would profit twice more before the half, one of which was a beautiful goal. Flecky floated a ball into the right channel for Rob to run on to square. From here he drove into the circle and unleashed a purler into the far corner. Off the front stick as well.

With South turning around four in credit, it was to be hoped the win was in the bag. The only concerns were whether City could rain more shots in on Steve, possibly exposing his lack of experience in the pads.

City looked like they might force their way back into the game when a short corner routine was cleared off the line. Debate raged about whether it had been cleared legally or not: South claimed it had been the defender's stick that stopped it, City that some foot had also been involved. The umpires consulted and sided with the home team, who dispatched the ball confidently.

There followed a five-minute spell where the game hung in the balance. Another back for City and South might have got unsettled, but as it turned out it was South who struck next to re-establish the four goal cushion. Flecky’s shot from the right was saved by the City keeper, only to run free to David Bridge, all alone by the left post. David controlled, sorted his hands out on the stick, and pushed home from about 50cm.

With this, the game was decided. With the interplay of the front two and Flecky, South had no need to commit extra bodies forward, as there was always a chance of a goal. In fact all three players fashioned similar chances for themselves. First, Flecky was sprung clean through, took it around the keeper’s right and aimed a reverse stick at the goal. And missed inches left. Then James Bridge was scooting around the keeper the same way. He opted for a reverse stick flick, giving the ball was air for extra purchase. Too much extra purchase, inches wide right. Finally, Barton, the reverse stick specialist was rounding the keeper. This time, a sweep was employed, the backboard was found, and it had turned into a rout.