Mr Jan Brynjollfffsssen's predictions for a close game were true for the first ten minutes of this competitive but friendly…friendly fixture against an unfamiliar St Ives team reinforced with a couple of Umpalumpas (aka brilliant 4ft high youngsters).

Both sides started energetically but it was midfield maestro, Oli Anderson, who showed how it should be done with a spellbinding dribble ending with him slotting the ball into the net from close range. This encouraged the rest of the team to join in the fun. After winning a series of long corners it was calm Dr Marshman sending a corner to Wilco Dijkstra, who made room to fire the ball into the D for John Greaves to smash it into goal from ten yards out on the volley. This was deserved reward after a few good crosses from his new right wing position

By this stage Cambridge South were on top, snuffing out St Ives' attacks by tight defending with Ho/Williamson/Rosenzvaig/South prominent, and sensible passing upfield. After half time, that man Greaves grabbed his second via a goalmouth scramble, once again after a Wilco hit into the danger area. Demon goal hunter Rob Barton decided it was now time to show his wares and, having been unlucky with various efforts (just outside the post, blocked by over-talented GK etc.), he latched on to yet another through pass from General James to sneak the ball through that keeper and gently over the line into the goal. Four-nil.

The home team stuck to the masterplan and further reinforced their superiority with a final move started and finished by our overseas signing, Mariano Rosenzvaig, who gleefully forced the ball into goal from about one metre.

It could have been a good few more had we got a stick on to some booming hits into the D, and had that St Ives keeper not made a couple of spectacular diving saves at the top corner of his goal, particularly from in-form Oli Anderson.

Today we had skill, enthusiasm (maybe a little too much of the latter, as Jason James sought to squash an umpalumpa or two, but they gave as good as they got), fine team play, and a well-functioning formation. These give us hope for the start of the league season next week. Bring on Kettering.