Cambridge South, proudly sponsored by PwC, cruised past Peterborough Exiles in their first warm-up game before the league season resumes in a couple of weeks time. With Peterborough languishing in the league below we were always hopeful that it'd be an easy game to shake off the mince pies and chocolates and, in the end, so it proved. A beautiful Saturday morning made for perfect hockey conditions and as the shouts of 'Happy New Year!' faded, the game began at a leisurely pace. Cheggers had a shortage of defenders but plethora of strikers so had switched Forrest to the back of the diamond, with Thorogood slotting into central defence. James Cobbe made his second appearance of the season, playing at left mid, which allowed Russ the chance to play up front for a game. Unfortunately he had to come off with ten minutes remaining after he twinged something in his leg - nothing too serious, we hope.

The game started slowly, but we were able to control the majority of the possession and contain Peterborough to only minor forays into our half. And soon enough the scoring was opened as the in-form Mark Taylor grabbed the first of his 4-goal haul. Mid-way through the half he added his second to make it 2-0 at half-time. Some stern words were spoken at half-time as Cheggers urged the team to up their game and show some proper hockey.

With more expansive play on show and some crisp passing, we managed to carve open their defence 4 more times in the game, despite some enthusiastic and optimistic goal keeping from the visitors ("Come on guys - 5-0 down and 10 minutes left, we can still win this!!"). Russ got on the score sheet (at last!) before Cheggers rounded off the win with a goal after JB made a mazy run from left back, via the right-wing and over to the left wing and on into the D, before unselfishly squaring the ball.

A comfortable win for the start of the year, but a sterner test awaits next week as we take on Ely. They beat us 2-0 there when we meet earlier in the season, but the game was tight and it could have gone either way.