With the game in doubt up until Saturday afternoon it was a surprise for Cardea when they turned up to find a pitch that wasn't in such a bad condition compared to some they have played on this season.

The rain and high winds had been replaced by sunshine and a breeze and it looked like perfect conditions for Cardea to play football in.

However a party to celebrate defender Tony Harper's engagement the night before led to the majority of the team and management turning up to the game with bad hangovers and plenty of stories of the night's action!

The day didn't start well for striker Tom Broughton, in the warm up he tried to kick a ball from behind the goal and ended up striking a net peg and injuring his toe.

The game started evenly with both teams comfortable in possession when they had the ball. The first chance was created by Cardea when a long ball forward by Adam Simons was picked up by Daryl Patrick, the captain struck the ball from 20 yards at an angle but his shot ended up going wide.

The Cardea defenders were taking some chances with some risky passing but when it came off it looked good. Left back Ryan Moore managed to manoeuvre himself out of a tricky situation with a perfect Cruyff turn which he celebrate with a "wooooo"!

The deadlock was broken midway through the first half when a miskicked back pass from Michael Williams allowed the Walnut Tree striker through one on one with Anton Fountain and he slotted the ball past the oncoming goalkeeper.

It wasn't long before it was 2-0 and it was more poor defending. After seeing off the first Walnut Tree attack Tom Rimes attempted to run the ball out of defence but was tackled and they crossed it into the box and the ball was sliced in "Kolo Toure Style" by Dale Moore.

Cardea worked their first real chance on 40 minutes when Broughton broke through the Walnut Tree defence but was denied by a smothering save from the keeper. Cardea conceded a third from the resulting corner.

The ball was cleared to half way and Dale Moore could only find a Walnut Tree shirt with his pass inside and the home team had an easy run from halfway with no body to stop them. Fountain did his best but he had no chance with the finish.

Half time arrived and despite an even game three defensive howlers had gifted Walnut Tree an emphatic lead. Three subs were made at half time but it could have easily been 9 or 10 players subbed off. Dan Robinson, Brendon Chapman and Mike Dandrilli all came on.

The second half continued in the same fashion as they first with Cardea sloppy in possession. It was four after 53 minutes when a ball from the right found it's way to the back post and was finished by the winger.

The game was very stop start after this as every time Walnut Tree got the ball the left back booted it out of play to "get a breather" but because they were using multiple balls this didn't worked and he just made himself look like an absolute idiot.

In the final 15 minutes Thomson and Patrick created a couple of half chances with Thomson forcing a save from the keeper but Patrick's effort nearly landed in the fenland that surrounded the ground.

The final whistle was blown and despite the flattering scoreline Walnut Tree had knocked Cardea out of the McCains cup much to the disappointment of the Cardea lads who really wanted to win that potato.

The management team were too hungover to provide in-depth comments but Kev Webster did say today was an example of how hangovers can cost us points in the league. However he continued that due to today being a minor cup game and having a special occasion the evening before that today's performance can be forgotten and we can return to attempting to win the league.

Craig Robinson said: "We are carrying too many players at the moment. A lot of players are just turning up and expecting to win without putting a shift in. Today's man of the match for his consistent tracking back and well timed tackles was Tom B."

Cardea return to league action next Sunday when they take on a resurgent Yaxley British Legion at Ringwood.