Could the M5s emulate the M1s with a thumping win at Fortress Long Road ?

Never in doubt - especially after St Ives got their excuses in early ("This is a 5th team really…players have left the club.") So now was the time to revise the pecking order of previous seasons.

The home team dominated the half, with waves of attack, neat early passing, good positioning to grab a couple of goals from simple short corner plays (Wilco D and Simon Ta) and a further goal from Simon Ta after a zippy move out of defence. Three-nil. Time to relax.

So after half time, following MoM Laurie Ho's first goal from close range, that's what we did. We were so relaxed that St Ives scored two and looked increasingly confident at only four-two down. After this brief hiatus, we knuckled down again. At times with too much enthusiasm as skipper on the day, Sean Gardiner, following a somewhat woody-sounding tackle felt the urge to discuss the matter with the protesting opponent. "I was just expressing myself," said Sean, which encouraged the inscrutable umpire to express himself with a spot of greenery.

Let's get back to playing hockey, said the team to itself. So we did. Fast flowing moves (fast by M5 standards that is; be kind), coupled with the realisation that as players started to flag in the heat the ball should be doing the work, led to the final two goals from Ta(S) and Ho(L), supplied by assist-meister Greaves via long, accurate passes upfield.

Greaves(J) was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, with a neat airshot (it was deflected just before it got to me, guys. Honest) and a rasping effort from a narrow angle off a well-worked short corner just going wide

The M5 defence and increasingly authorativite and confident goalkeeper, Jo Dant, rightly wish to add that none of the St Ives short corners produced a meaningful shot.

Everyone once again played a part and MoM nominations were widely spread, with hat-trick-sexyman Simon Ta, defensive Mr Calm Garth Wells, keeper Jo D and midfield giant terrier Wilco D all featuring in the votes.

And that was that. A full squad of sixteen, substituting well with little confusion; a large enthusiastic crowd; the sun shining over a comprehensive victory.

Happy days.