Smarting from two points being cruelly snatched from last week's trip to St Ives, South 2nds set out to put their promotion chase back on track. As ever, the talismanic captain stirred up passion, commitment and a hunger for the win, tempered only by the desire for quality passing, possession, movement and marking, our three most devastating weapons.

The Boston team assembled before us were mostly young and fleet of foot with two or three older and more experienced players. Unlike some other matches, South started brightly, posing most of the threats, and taking a deserved early lead through Mark Pears as he slipped the ball between the keeper and the post off a rebound.

Despite this bright start, both teams looked menacing on the break. South's defence snuffed out open play attacks effectively, though often lacking the coordinated discipline that have made South such a tough team to score against. South could have stretched their lead at several points, but Boston's keeper wasn't going to give away anything too easily. Despite the South pressure, Boston equalised with the only short corner of the half, a frustrating rebound that the defence failed to clear before one of their young whipper-snappers sneaked it into the corner.

1-1 at half time and South knew they were in a game and had to step up the tempo. More rousing words from the skipper and South set about the second half with purpose, quickly taking back the lead through Alex Pooles and another great shot, hit along the deck from the top right of the D with a slight right-to-left fade that brought it back just inside the near post, almost skimming the keeper's foot at it sneaked in.

Boston weren't quite done yet, and won the game's second short corner. Wych charged down the shot with his characteristic pace and tenacity, but deflected the shot up towards the goal, where another youthful scamp stuck out his stick (at something approaching shoulder height – though more like an adult's chest height) and steered the ball into the goal, to fierce protestations from Monck and Oren. South were in danger of losing another two points in a winnable game.

But this week was not the week before. South's defence reorganised themselves, taking pressure off the midfield and giving them more space. Shortly after, Tomita played what can only be described as the pass of the season. From close to our twenty-five yard right hand touchline he picked out Aston, flying into the opposite corner of the pitch. Three passes later and South were again back in front through a Tim Clapp finish, but this time determined to remain there.

With the South defence holding strong, Boston were struggling for attacking options. Price, in goal, in fact barely touched the ball in open play and it wasn’t long before South surged forwards once again to make sure the game was theirs. South's fourth goal of the second half, a second for Tim, reflected the margin between the teams as the match drew to a close and this was capped minutes from the end with a fifth, courtesy of Arsenal. While Boston were in with a shout at half time, persistence and stamina saw South through to a convincing victory. Clapp's brace and his bump on the nose meant he richly deserved both MoM and Lemon awards.

South 2nds promotion hunt continues, but a whole match of real quality will be required against tough opposition at Newmarket next week.