After three defeats on the bounce, South were revved up and raring to go against an Alford team propping up the league table. Or at least they should have been. Maybe it was the diminutive stature of some of their opponents inducing feelings of benevolence or the fine spring day producing a sense of laid-back frivolity but South's early performance seemed to lack something of their customary snap and vigour. Whatever it was, there was definitely a sense of demob-happiness amongst the Southerners.

Alford's team consisted of a handful of senior players manning the defence with a good number of youngsters filling the forward positions. This produced some bemusing contrasts, most notably with South sweeper Dave Monck towering over his Lilliputian opposite number like a Ray Harryhausen special effect from One Million Years BC (his bearskin jockstrap was safely hidden beneath his playing kit).

From the push-back, Alford made some energetic advances into South's territory and the defence had to be alive to clear their lines. As South used their dominance at the back to establish control of the play, the home team were able to move up the pitch. The Monckosaurus advanced from his position at sweeper to adopt a libero role in the middle of the park while full backs John Benedikz on the left and Neil Sneade on the right pushed on to support and overlap with the wingers.

Although South were rarely threatened at the back, Alford's defence proved stubborn. It was finally opened up by a move down the right which finished with Neil crossing the ball into the D for Mark Pears to knock home the opener. However, by half time just two further goals had been added, through Dave Aston and a second for Arsenal. On the break, Alford were showing they could still threaten. South keeper Lino Di Lorenzo had to berate his defence to keep their marking tight and the midfield to get back and fill the gaps when South's attacks broke down.

The half time talk consisted of exhortations by acting captain George Wych to increase the intensity and movement off the ball and threats of violence by the Monckosaurus for any more displays of training-game style indulgence. His prediction that South should be capable of scoring at least eight in the second half was to prove a prescient observation.

Resolved to cut out some of the Hollywood dribbling and lackadaisical positioning and step up their work rate, South came out hard after the break. Matt Readman and Tim Clapp controlled the middle of the pitch and Daves Aston and Stock out wide stretched the defence to get in behind it. The improved cohesiveness from the home side quickly paid dividends. A flurry of goals was triggered by Rob Barton before Arsenal completed his hat trick and then Rob completing his.

By this point Alford were well beaten but, to their credit, never allowed their heads to go down. Matt, a dynamo through the centre, got on the score sheet before Arsenal added a ninth and Rob rounded off the display with a further brace. The job done, South almost blotted the copybook on their most convincing win of the season by jeopardising Lino's clean sheet. Lack of cover against attacking Alford players allowed the visitors to have the best of the final five minutes, including the concession of a short corner after a saving (if illegal) tackle from Neil.

So, the best result of the season, if not the best display. South weren't at their sharpest although to be fair, from a match that never required South's 'A' game it was still more than sufficient to get the job done. More importantly, the boost to South's goal difference mean that they are now almost certain to record their highest-ever league finish in fourth place ahead of chasing St Neots.

After the match, acting captain George Wych said, "It was men versus boys out there. Literally. To be fair to the defence, it was sometimes hard to pick up their forwards as it was easy to miss them if you weren't looking down."

"Sympathy to the Alford youngsters, who must be disheartened by the result, but a great result for South. In the second half we showed what can be achieved when we play a high tempo pass and move game. A good morale-booster for the St Ives return match next week."