Whittlesford travelled to Hundon for what in ordinary circumstances would have been a stern test, with the home side unbeaten at home. With Dazzler added to the absentees the away side lined up without 80% of its ‘usual’ back five. Ben Johnson made a seasonal debut and Jim Tavare returned, albeit in an unfamiliar centre-back role, to join ‘regulars’ Tunero and Hesser. ‘Man flu’ also robbed them of Barks, who froze in the dugout as a sub, where he was joined by Tubes and Franco (Barresi).

The line up was not the only shock for the assembled faithful, many of whom turned up late, and had endured a protracted journey, having, seemingly, followed SAT-MAN’s directions, as worse was to follow when a £1 admission fee was demanded, however the ‘on-demand’ tea in proper mugs was a more welcoming feature of the trip. Only ex-player, ex-manager, ex-player manager, ex-legend (* delete as appropriate) Roberto Wilsonez who arrived mid way through the tie escaped the fee.

The home side started brightly, on a very heavy surface, which had been considerably improved by a heavy rolling, kicking up the not inconsiderable slope and away from the changing rooms. They looked a useful outfit with a couple of decent midfielders, one a left footed artisan (Hughes) and the other a slight and wiry box to box player (Farrant) who continually fed a skilful centre-forward (Cutts) who held up the ball well and then brought his team mates into the game with neat passing. They dominated the early central midfield exchanges and the visitors’ only foothold was on the flanks where they probed the channels trying to feed the eager front two.

The home side went close with a left foot drive from the centre forward, Marco just pushing him wide to make the angle acute; and from a free from the edge of the area which went under the wall. They were also profligate with a couple of headers from close range, but Sam had to make a good save with his feet when a forward got a clear sight of goal.

It was very much against the run of play, a couple of scuffed shots apart, when the visitors won a corner. The deep delivery was headed back into the danger area, from beyond the far post, and Jim hit a sweet goal-bound volley. The keeper looked like he was in line to make a save but Shrew cleverly deflected the shot above his dive and into the roof of the net.

The home side hit back but again spurned a couple of decent headed chances, although Marco must take some credit for pressurising the attacker on one of them. When the home side hit the underside of the bar following a good move down the right, the faithful thought that Whittlesford had got away with it, but a couple of rebounds eventually found there way to an attacker (Fulcher) at the back stick. To the relief of the agitated home bench, that contained more coaches then a National Express depot, the striker made no mistake and the home side were deservedly even.

I think the faithful was hoping the visitors would hold onto until half time, when, they delivered a classic counter-punch. On a quick break the ball was switched right to left and Shrew powered away from the trailing defence. He was just about to pull the trigger when a last ditch tackle took away his standing leg. This led to the inevitable penalty and unfortunately, given the rules, to the dismissal of the poor defender. Shane coolly slotted the penalty, for his seventeenth goal (in 17 matches) of the season, and the visitors went in 2-1 up.

Half time – Rooney did the decent thing and bought the teas, and also went back to his car to fetch a nice tin of barley sugars (looking every bit a spare Chrissie present). Enricho was worried about the second half onslaught (‘the Alamo’) from the home side kicking down the hill. The PO tried to soothe nerves by suggesting that playing up the slope may suit our style better.

The visitors started the second period well again probing down the flanks and channels, with the full backs also joining the attack whenever possible. Hesser even managed to play some delightful balls on the left with his ‘swinger’. The front two supplemented by the powerful running from deep by Shrew ran the home defence ragged, and at times we looked like we would score at will. We even joined in the ‘fun’ by missing good opportunities, Martin shooting weakly with the goal at his mercy and Tobinho not making the most of a couple of opportunities from the edge. They then made what looked like a tactical change when Enricho entered the technical area, to even up the numbers a bit. However, it turned out that he was only sheltering from the snow, the ‘wuss’.

The visitors again stretched the home defence with good runs from Shrew and Shane, down the left channel. Shrew passed to Shane who cut in and hit a shot from just inside the box. This time a heavy deflection took the ball over the diving keeper and into the net.

The home sides’ attacks often broke up by over hit passes down the slope, but they always looked dangerous from set pieces and long throws. The home keeper, then, made a good full length save from a Shane free kick about twenty five yards out. Marco, clearly getting carried away by last week’s goal, had a couple of shots and a couple of marauding runs. The visitors nearly had another from a quick and precise break down the right, Shrew narrowly failing to convert at the near post. However, the fourth and Shrew’s second did arrive minutes later when good work by Ben and Shouey again set Shane free. His perfect near post cross was given an excellent finish as Shrew outpaced his marker to the near post for his fourteenth goal of a productive season. A tired Weeman was then replaced by Tubes.

The home side then hit back and Sam J had to make some decent saves and he produced a ‘worldy’ to deny them from a point-blank header. The respite was short lived as Cutts finally added a goal to his impressive play, smashing the ball powerfully into the net as he cut in from the angle. The superb Hughes then, inexplicably given his general play, failed to take advantage of a couple of decent chances.

The visitors again hit Hundon on the break, Shouey feeding Tubes, who almost converted one chance himself before he set Martin up for another. Turner failing to cap an excellent performance with a goal he deserved.

A grandstand finish was avoided when the home side again hit the bar and the goal bound return was sensationally blocked by Tobinho, who also made a couple of excellent headed clearances as the visitors tired and were pushed deeper by a resurgent home team. Hundon also managed to miss an absolute sitter with a far post header, with the goal wide open.

Supporters MoM – Marco Tunero for his display, particularly in the first period, together with his demonstrable leadership was a clear and deserved winner on the terraces. However, do be fair there were seven or eight others that could have won the award.

My vote however goes to Van Cart who stuck to his guns regarding the formation, and personnel, and in a difficult week even survived Bark’s failing a late fitness test. His pre match motivation, and his calm work in the technical area (in stark contrast to the opposition’s) contributed greatly to what he stated was ‘our best win of the season’.

It was indeed our best win, given the circumstances, in a game that could have ended 8 all, but it was also a mature and disciplined performance where we carried an extremely potent attack and where we refused to be shaken from our focus on playing football. A lesson for Hundon, perhaps? Who for me wasted a lot of their energy in needless moaning, disputes and actions that detracted from their undoubted abilities.

The side need to complete their hat-trick of good performances to keep their good run going and also to right the wrong of one of their poorest performances, with the return game against Ely.