Surprising many, temperatures this week rose just enough for the 9.45 fixture to be frost free, with glorious sunshine taking the edge off and brightening the place too.

Before starting the match, confirmation was needed that this was indeed a league match, traditionally South only playing Newmarket in friendlies before the league reshuffle [Ed - yes and no to it being a league game: Newmarket are a designated Development side. Games against Development teams are organised by the league and are fixtures that must be fulfilled like a league game... but they don't count towards the league table!]. Both teams having ex-opposition players added to the cordial relations, if a bit of banter...at least until Jude (ex Newmarket) opened the scoring for Cambridge South.

South were faster out of the blocks in the first half, and it took a few minutes before Newmarket built up their play, celebrating getting into South’s half for the first time about 5 minutes in. Celebrations clearly stoked the team as the next 10 minutes were even, with Newmarket even troubling South’s D once or twice. But South turned up the pressure, and Jude got his opener, making way for a period of South dominance. Several chances were made, but many foiled by some 'familiar' defenders. Newmarket still threatened our D too; with a defender’s foot being lucky to get away with one of Newmarket’s potent shorts. Still, a clean sheet remained while Rob and John managed to add to the score line before the whistle blew for half time.

The second half opened, and South managed to resist the temptation for selfish goal hunting that can set in in such circumstances. Working as a team, South quickly moved the ball around Newmarket after every interception, unleashing wave after wave on their defence.

The young on Newmarket side’s heads dropped, giving South space and time to own the middle of the pitch. South started scoring again, with goals from Jordan, John and Rob. Newmarket responded by moving their experienced players up the pitch, but this only led to South enjoying the ownership of their opponents’ D instead. Cue John Greaves scoring 3 goals in 3 minutes. Alex then tried to join the fun, taking a cracking shot from the left shoulder, only to see his chairman callously add the goal to his own tally with a deflection half a metre from the goal line.

Andy, Rob and John managed to find the net before the end of the game to make it 11-0. Who knows it could’ve been 12 if Rob hadn’t selected the comedy lob during a 3 on 1 with the keeper… but we probably didn’t need that one.