Another win for the M4s maintains their perfect league record for the season, but it wasn't all easy. A new approach was adopted for this game…starting fast and keen (rather than a more gentle ramp up), with some jitters towards the end of the match to keep things lively and give St Neots hope of a comeback. Luckily, hope was all it was and Cambridge South held on.

The enthusiastic start was rewarded with a classic from the Book of Barton, as Rob B latched on to a Stu Creed through ball, shimmied around to get on to his reverse stick, and thwack: one-nil.

The man Creed repeated this tactic shortly afterwards, this time passing into the D for the (almost) scampering John Greaves to place a neat deflection goalwards, only to see the guesting Nathan Monck pounce on to it to ensure CSHC alumnus Tim Poole in the Saints goal had no chance of stopping it. Two-nil.

Throughout the half South played intelligent hockey, using the width and passing neatly. Man of the Match, Greaves, spent the half demonstrating his previously well-hidden repertoire of dribbles, passes, chasing, tackling and good positioning, to go with the usual array of crosses from the right wing. Paul South on the other wing ensured there were always options, which he consistently made the most of, as ever. Jason James, and Nathan Monck in midfield were at the core of most of the good moves, supported by the skilful Peter Creed and annoyingly (to the home team) effective Ian Marshman, except on those occasions where sweeper Dave Monck decided to launch his masterblasts consistently straight into the opposition half. St Neots were looking shaky.

The second half was a bit different. Cambridge South still had the bulk of possession and created chances, with Greaves and Barton unlucky not to increase the margin considerably, but a combination of near misses, excellent goalkeeping (Tim Poole - respect, sir), passes delayed just too long, and insufficient composure around the danger area, prevented further scoring. St Neots took heart and were playing well, spreading the play, and winning short corners. Nevertheless the away defence stood firm, giving guest keeper Darren Farmer (one save made; calmly: clean sheet) an easy time, with emerging star left back Ben Williamson and man-of-granite, Rock Radford, stalwart as ever. Rock's reward was a nasty clonk on the head. Luckily his head won that contest too. It was Stu Creed who seemed to be the one in pain as he fell to the ground inexplicably but this was in fact a cunning tactic to bamboozle the opposition, as Stu continued to play - rather well - from this prone but illegal position for some time. Lemon it had to be.

CSouth M4s finish October still top of 6NWS, alphabetically, and if we stick to the style of play from the first half of this game, a realistic chance of staying there, although tougher battles lie ahead in November. Bring it on.