Division 3 team Cardea FC took on division 2 Walnut Tree at the Bushfield 3G in a very competitive match that was played in overcast conditions. The conditions were welcomed by the players following a week of searing heat.

The match was a slow burner to begin, with both teams forcing various set pieces in the first ten minutes but no one was able to find the back of the net. Mark Weekes started well at left back using his significant strength to clear most balls.

However the deadlock was broken in the 13th minute when a long ball from the back was flicked on by Tom Broughton over the stranded goalkeeper and Adam Simons just had enough pace to reach the ball before it went over the by-line and slide it into the empty net.

Soon after it was 2-0 after Michael Williams played an exquisite chip pass to Broughton who controlled and struck the ball against the inside of the post and into the net.

More chances came along for Cardea in the next twenty minutes for Broughton and Ali Stewart, who was making his Cardea début. Captain Daryl Patrick also showed off his break-dancing skills to keep the ball well on the floor despite being fouled.

Just after the half hour Robinson scored the first of his quick fire double when a poor defensive header found him unmarked, 18 yards out and he unleashed an unstoppable volley into the top of the net. His second was less emphatic but just as effective and came two minutes later when a cross by Simons found Robinson at the back post who somehow bundled it into the net.

Broughton saw another shot go wide and just before half time Walnut Tree had the chance to pull one back from a free kick. The ball was swung in from the right and poor marking left the attacker with a free header which had to be tipped over by Anton Fountain.

Half time arrived with Cardea 4-0 up against a team a division higher than them. Changes were made with Louie Cooper and Chris Arnold among the players to come on and make their débuts.

It was a frantic start to the second half, after just three minutes Walnut Tree managed to pull one back after a high cross came in and was palmed out by Fountain to the attacker and neither keeper or defenders could react quickly enough to stop the goal.

Cardea responded superbly with Dale Moore throwing the ball onto Mike Dandrilli who managed to produce a toe poke lob over the goalkeeper. Dandrilli had managed to recover from a viscous beating inflicted before the game to participate in the match!!

Just four minutes later and Walnut Tree had scored again after a cross from the right found their attacker in acres of space to tap in. Cardea then adjusted to the changes made at half time and saw the next ten minutes out with no more chances conceded.

Cardea won a corner kick on 60 minutes and Dandrilli produced an "Aaron Yeoman" moment after he managed to get the ball into the net direct from the corner with a lot of help from the opposition goalkeeper. Yeoman must be fearing for his set piece role after taking time out of pre season to heal his new nose.

Further changes were made and the game seemed to just drift along with not much happening apart from the ball being kicked out of the court on numerous occasions. Dandrilli did managed to create a chance for Ali Stewart after he outpaced the defence and passed to Stewart who shot wide from 20 yards.

Tony Harper was in the wars after clearing the ball from inside the Cardea box and receiving a kick to the chest from the Walnut Tree midfielder which finished his game and left him to mope on the bench and wonder how many ribs he had left.

The scoring was completed by the Walnut Tree when their midfielder wasn't closed down and produced a superb curling shot from around 30 yards out that just evaded the back peddling Fountain's finger tips.

Ref Paul Osborne brought the game to and end and Cardea's unbeaten pre season continues.

Kev Webster was happy with the performance in his interview after the game: "The first half was up there as one of the best halves we have played as a team. High pressing, good closing down, touch tackling, hard work and good passing moves were key throughout the game.

"We started the second half slowly, which was to be expected after the changes, but we settled well and looked good for the win against a Division 2 team."

Next up for Cardea is a game vs Parkside Athletic Reserves on the 28/07/13 at Bushfield with a 10.30 kick off.