For the fourth match between South 2nds and Ely this season the umpires finally decided that Cambridge South Green and Ely Green were too similar in shade, so it was that South looked to continue their winning streak and promotion charge in a fetching shade of luminous orange.

The first few moments of the match perhaps justified the umpires decision as lots of South passes went to players in green. South consequently found themselves under unexpected amounts of self-inflicted pressure from a team fighting against relegation. When South did string some passes together they had to be wary of an Ely side which, like their 2nds, were eager to counter attack at high speed and pressure the opposition defense at all times.

A combination of a defensive slip under pressure and this speed gave Ely the first break through as a rapid attack couldn’t be contained and Ely slotted home to take a 1-0 lead. If there had been any complacency in the South team it was well and truly blown away by this.

Stung by the goal South began to up their game, passes began to go to sticks and Messrs Clapp, Claes and Stafford began to show that charging breaks from midfield were not an Ely monopoly. Ely still looked dangerous on the break though and Shahbaz had to advance rapidly to stifle some dangerous moments, but South were getting more pressure.

This pressure told when Tim was found on the penalty spot from a pull back from the left and swept into the goal to level the scores. With the scores even the play remained even with South not quite at their best but challenging the Ely rearguard and Ely threatening with their speed at the other end. The crucial next goal was South’s though as in the mirror image of the first goal a Rob Barton pull back found Tim again, who swept into the goal again.

Half time came with South 2-1 up but making it hard for themselves, with a pep talk emphasising simple hockey and going for the 50-50s. The next goal was going to be crucial.

South started the half with more control and composure than they had in the first and making dangerous use of the wings. It was just reward when Rob Barton popped up to extend the team’s lead and his lead in the Goal Kings competition with a clinical finish. A two goal margin gave South a slightly more comfortable cushion which rapidly got more comfortable as Alex who’d been roaming dangerously on the right wing buried a trademark reverse stick hit to make it 4-1.

While Shahbaz and the defense still had a couple of rapid breaks to stifle the last fifteen minutes now found South in their comfort zone and able to play their rapid passing hockey, helped a little as the Ely side tired so didn’t pressure the defense as much but still tried to press forward with the ball leaving space behind them.

Rich was the first to take advantage as a quickly taken free hit found him at the top left of the D allowing him to drive in and slot under the keeper to make it 5-1. Rob made it six when he met Alex’s cross at the near post to deflect in, and then avoided having to buy a jug by getting one on one with the Ely keeper, but having beaten him could only bounce the ball off the post with pinpoint accuracy.