Cambridge South finished their league season on a high with a majestic team performance to beat a March side that had scored league goals at a rate of over four per game prior to this match.

Due to confused communication the game started nearly an hour late but this did not seem to bother South in the least. Calls from a nervous captain for a walkover to be awarded were rejected by the team who wanted to save themselves with style – and they did.

In a classic game of strike and counter-strike, short corners, heroic saves and fast flowing hockey, South emerged victorious and thus staved off what could have been a very unfair relegation.

South were fired up from the start of the gam. However despite having several good chances, it was March who scored first. In a goalmouth scramble, March tried to push the ball home but it was a South clearance that rebounded off the prone form of keeper Will Benedikz into the net for an agonising opener.

This goal knocked South a little and gave March confidence to push forward looking for a second. It was the heroic defending of Andrew Pounce, Ky Ho, Will Marston and sweeper John Benedikz, along with the dogged tackling back of the midfield that prevent March from having another real opportunity to score in the first half. As always South looked dangerous on the counter attack with midfielders David and James Bridge, Stuart Creed and Finn Johnson making fast breaks down the wings to Nick Wong and Wilco Dijkstra. South had a number of chances including three short-corners which were just pulled wide of the left-hand post.

Following an inspired half time team talk from captain Will Benedikz, South were roused into playing their best half of hockey all season. It was fast flowing, committed and determined without a pause in concentration or confidence.

South pushed forward from the off and, notwithstanding the risk of a rapid March counter attack always hanging over them, pinned down the visitors inside to their own twenty-five yard line and bombarded their goal with shots. Despite this pressure ironically the equalising goal came from a Cambridge counter attack. From defence the ball was spread wide to the right where Finn Johnson moved the ball on with a pinpoint pass down the line for Nick Wong to drive into the circle. In the melee of players that filled the circle it was Nick who reacted first to fire home from close range for the important point-securing goal.

The next twenty minutes were a battle for midfield supremacy. Having gained control of the middle of the pitch James Bridge and Stuart Creed continued to move the ball wide down the wings away from March's talented danger men. South had a clear flick turned down when the March umpire saw the ball played with the back of a stick instead of the kicked clearance – March's captain did apologise for this decision at the time.

With the score, and the game, balanced on a knife edge it was clear that another goal for the either side could secure the game. March, fired up by the thought of defeat, came back into the game and used their wingers to good effect. With several attacks down the South left, March crossed balls towards the penalty spot, only for keeper Will Benedikz to produce some excellent diving saves to clear the ball from the danger area. On the one occasion, when Will had missed the ball, Finn Johnson popped up amongst three forwards to spoil the shot and save a certain goal.

With sixty minutes on the clock and the pace of the game steadily increasing, South won what was their eighth short corner of the game. James Bridge pushed the ball rapidly out for John Benedikz, who with the aid of a powerful shot and a slight deflection up over the keeper's foot, scored in the middle of the goal as the team and partisan crowd erupted.

The last ten minutes were played at a furious rate as all the team defended as far up the pitch as possible then broke back in support at the first sign of danger. Once again the defence and midfield ran themselves into the ground to prevent an extremely talented March side from spoiling the day. The final whistle was a relief for South knowing their fight against relegation had been won in stupendous style.