Sitting comfortably at the top of the log (copyright, Jason James), Wisbech 3s probably expected a slightly easier match than they encountered.

With only 80% of the flood lights working, a muddy pitch and a 3.30pm knock-back, it was never going to be pretty.

Cambridge started well and held their own until midway through the first half when Wisbech scored from a stunning reverse stick strike from the edge of the D that left Mike G with no chance. Wisbech’s hope were up but they hadn’t factored in the new M4 fighting spirit, which was typified by Oli Weston’s MoM performance as he defended from the front, covering every square inch of mud pitch.

Five minutes before half time, South won a PC and JJ’s superb drag flick was stopped on the line by a Wisbech foot – the resultant stroke was converted by JJ utilizing his elaborate double-jointed elbow, double-body movement, with the stick simultaneously going in two different directions (defying the laws of physics) which flummoxed the Wisbech keeper who had dived to his right five seconds earlier.

One-one at half time – the opposition weren’t expecting that; nor were they expecting what was to come in the second half…

Buoyed on by the equalizer, South sensed an opportunity to win the game.

Everyone, especially Ciaran and Jonny, worked their socks off to keep the score at one-one and seek out a goal. This came midway through the half when John G pounced on a loose ball and fired in from the top of the D… South’s spirits were raised even higher.

The defence were rock-like, the midfield were terrier-like and the front line was also terrier-like (I’m running out of suitable adjectives).

With ten minutes to go and Wisbech’s spirit failing, JJ converted a PC with another expert drag flick.

Wisbech kept fighting but to no avail – even when the South defence was breached there was no way Mike G was going to let them anywhere near his goal (literally).

The final whistle was greeted with the joy that typified the team’s performance and the great spirit that the team has.

The beers and curries tasted good – well, for everyone apart from Jo Dant, who spent the evening wandering the streets of Cambridge looking for the stick he somehow lost between leaving his house and arriving at LR for the meet; an error that earnt him LoM.