Cambridge South 2's set out on a wet Autumn morning for a crunch derby match against local rivals Cambridge City 5's, keen to build on an impressive victory the week before.

City's first trick on this Halloween day was to turn up with only 9 players. Most teams would consider this a treat, but South did not, playing the opening 20 minutes in a somewhat sluggish manner and failing to make their two man advantage count.

However, after the two final players did turn up, South seemed to suddenly spring into action. A number of half chances came and went, before Rob Barton took the game by the scruff of the neck, neatly nutmegging his marker before sending an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of the goal. This lead to further positive play until half-time, especially down the right from Bhav Virdee and Rich Morgan, but no further rewards arrived.

South re-appeared after the break somewhat aggrieved they had not made their two-man advantage tell, and wasted little time before doubling their lead. Manu Bhardwaj proved that his eye-of-a-needle short corner goal the week before was no fluke, threading another flick into the bottom corner just inside the near post.

Two quick goals then followed, both from Graham. The first was a lovely deflection of a left wing cross into the far corner, and the second was a crisp finish after being put through one on one by an incisve pass by Rob Barton. South were now comfortable early in the second half, but a few lapses of concentration let City back into the game. Firstly, the “enemy” nicked a goal after a goalmouth scramble, and then a second goal ensued following some fine work down the left.

However, South regained their concentration, and despite City winning a number of short corners, South saw out the game relatively comfortably, with the help of some good saves again from Shabhaz Ali. Graham McCulloch also struck the post from close range following another expertly worked short corner. South now sit joint top of the table on 15 points, but face a potentially difficult match again next week away against Wisbech, another one of last year's promoted sides who have had no trouble adjusting to life at a higher level.