In muggy conditions Cardea made the best start. A clearance from Moore down the left was flicked on by Penman to Cooke who ran the length of the half and expertly finished past the keeper to open the scoring.

On 15 minutes the scores were level. A mix up at the back between Rimes and Sampson gifted the Bretton striker with an open goal chance which he duly scored.

It wasn't long before Cardea regained the lead as minutes later a through ball from Yeoman got Penman in on goal and he lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper.

On the half hour mark Cardea thought they had scored a third. A quick free kick from Cooke found Penman and he lobbed the keeper again but the whistle had already gone for an offside, although it looked like a very tight call.

Penman had another chance moments later as he intercepted a poor clearance and as the keeper came out Penman again tried the lob but this time he hit the cross bar.

Cardea added a third on 34 minutes and it was the Cooke/Penman combination again. Penman played it to Cooke and as he took his shot he got clattered from behind and instantly turned to the ref to appeal for the free kick. What he didn't realise is ref Paul Osbourne had played a good advantage as his shot trickled over the line and into the goal. Cooke finally realised he had scored and celebrated with his team mates.

There was still time for a forth Cardea goal before half time. A fantastic run by Rimes, as he used his pace and squirrelled past the Bretton defenders, down the right was not taken advantage of by the Cardea attackers but as Bretton cleared Yeoman stole the ball and hit the ball towards the far post and, with a lot of help from poor goalkeeping, the ball went in.

Half time arrived and Michael Creek, Daniel Robinson and Dale Moore all joined the game.

Creek was straight in on the action when he had a half volley from 18 yards tipped onto the crossbar by the keeper.

Creek's next involvement set up goal number five. Brazilian-esque footwork got him to the edge of the area and his shot was only parried into the path of Penman who wasn't going to miss the tap in.

On the hour mark Cardea grabbed their sixth, a great through ball by Earl found the run of Penman who again tried the lob and scored to complete his hat trick.

Cardea had further opportunities to add to their tally with both Creek and Penman having shots saved.

The seventh was added in the 83rd minute and it was the move of the match. A brilliant attacking triangle of Penman, Creek and Robinson sliced through the Bretton defence and Robinson crossed for Penman to tap in to complete the move he had started.

Bretton grabbed a late consolation goal as the heat took it's toll on the Cardea players in the latter stages when a cross-shot was deflected in past keeper Sampson.

Referee Osbourne blew the final whistle and there were a lot of positives for Cardea to focus on in their first pre season fixture.

After the game joint manager Craig Robinson said: "The first 5 minutes we were very sloppy but apart from that the whole game was controlled by us. Gav and Dazza looked very solid in the middle of the park, which is amazing considering how much alcohol they consumed last night, breaking things up and releasing the wingers.

"Back 4 looked solid apart from willy's dodgy back pass WHOOPSIE!!! Credit to penman coming in on his debut and instantly linking to with the 3 attackers behind him, looked a really threat and deserved all 4 of his goals!

"Cookie did what Cookie does, run a lot score some goals and stops to tell us how wonderful he is whilst the opposition have a dangerous set piece.

"Very good first game back, picked up where we left off from being champions last year! MOTM was 4 goal Luke Penman, superb debut. See you all next week against West Town, another team in a higher league."

Kev Webster added: "It was a good team effort today, football being played was good and effective. We always seem to carry a threat with each attack and scored 7 good goals.

"We have to remember that the games coming up are a bigger test than this week, so lets not get carried away and ahead of ourselves. The new players that have come into this team have added extra quality which has given a boost to the lads around them.

"Shane and Gav Earl have carried on the early pre season form and already proving to be good additions to the side. For me the outstanding newbie performance was from Penman who scored 4 and 2 assists. Credit to the rest of the team and defence still looks good even with Harper back in the side. Well played boys my man of the match was penman (sorry Shane not this week!)"

Cardea FC and Cardea Reserves both play next week in a West Town double header. The Cardea and West Town reserves sides kick off at 10 and after that the 1st teams lock horns at Bushfield 3G.