A bright and breezy day for a bright and breezy hockey match as the two undefeated teams in the division squared up in a Cambridge derby.

After a rousing pre-match chat from captain Ellie the game started in an even-stevens fashion with plenty of good hockey but not many chances. Nomads eventually broke the dead lock halfway through the first half when a scramble in the circle eventually ended with the ball being poked in from a melee.

South almost scored immediately after the restart but couldn't quite put the ball away after a good break down the left with Kendra and Tash. Lizzie meanwhile showed her goal keeping prowess defusing a one-on-one with a Nomad forward who'd sneaked in behind the defence.

The general pressure though was swinging South's way with sustained pressure on the Nomad's D. Georgie in particular was tormenting the centre of defence with mazy runs in. One of which lead to the equalizer as her shot was tapped in by Tash on the line (poached or vital deflection? who's to say?). This was quickly followed by another chance as Kendra's shot was stopped by a foot on the line but Rhi's penalty flick was well saved.

Despite the concerted pressure Nomad's looked dangerous on the break, one such three-on-two lead to a second goal when a shot in from a tight angle was touched home with a point blank range deflection.

Two-One down at half time but playing well.

The half time oranges obviously had the desired effect as the second half started with a rapid attack down the right from Kelly putting a dangerous ball across the circle and unlucky not to get the final touch. Tash also had a shot well saved. South pressure mounted and was rewarded when Liles drove into the D and put a beautiful ball across the goal which was finished with great aplomb by a Nomad's defender.

South continued to press forward and had chances but without reward.

Whilst Nomad's were forced to settle for occasional breaks, with defence bending but never quite breaking as Ellie, Julie, Rhi and Becca all covered for each other and put in good tackles at vital moments, and feeding balls up to the midfield dynamo that was A.I. and George.

Inspired by the captains cry of "Come on girls, we need one more to win this" (one can tell she's a PhD student), South won a short and showed the benefit of the Thursday practices as Kelly's first time strike was deflected by Tash to Becca who tapped in at the post to put South ahead for the first time.

Nomad's began to have a little more pressure as the game closed but were given no clear cut chances whilst South had a couple more chances and won a succession of short corners that nearly produced results but for frantic last ditch defending.

A really satisfying win in a well contested, good spirited game leaving South top of the table as the only undefeated team in the division and looking forward to keeping it up for the rest of the season.