After last weekend's weather-imposed break the M5s were fired up and ready to exact revenge for the three-one defeat inflicted on us by Ely in this season's away fixture. The squad of 'regulars' were boosted this week by P&P stalwart Martin Grove and son Thomas, making his league debut for South.

The home team got off to a lively start, inspired by the captain's suggestion that we should start every match on the basis that we were already two goals down given our recently discovered expertise at almost snatching a second half comeback from this situation.

The game got underway with the away team still awaiting the arrival of three of their players. South were able to capitalise on this when an early foray into their D offered James Y the opportunity to get a shot away. The strike ricocheted off the keeper's pads straight to Ian M, who delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Howard S waiting on the far post. One-nil; we were up and running!

South continued to press hard with Simon T making regular incursions into the Ely D and it was one of these the delivered a second goal. Two-nil at half-time. This sounded strangely familiar, except we were in the driving seat this time.

The Ely team were clearly having none of it and immediately put the home team defence under sustained pressure which, despite some characteristically amazing saves from keeper and MoM Micheal G, resulted in the away team pulling one back. This wasn't going to be the walkover we had planned. South continued to apply the pressure with a series of short corners, alas leading to nothing, but we managed to hold on until the end…just!

A closely fought match played in good spirits and enjoyed by all.

MoM was Micheal G for once again 'saving' the day if you'll pardon the pun?

LoM went to Andy T who has clearly re-discovered his 'lemonesque' skills in managing to spread his hockey kit across three different counties!