Cardea FC (3-5-1-1): Gav Sampson; Stuart Yaxley (c), Dale Moore, , Michael Williams, Anthony Kiernan Kynan Bereznyckyj; Aaron Yeoman John Reddell, Gav Earl; Shane Cooke; Luke Penman. Subs: Michael Creek, Alex Goymour, Rob Ames, Daryn Whiteman, Ryan Moore.

Cardea made a poor start to the game and PIS were given a chance to open the scoring after Reddell handled in the area. PIS took full advantage of the opportunity and the striker tucked the penalty away.

Keeper Sampson produced a couple of great saves with his legs to deny PIS a second as the Cardea players struggled in the cold, wet conditions.

PIS doubled their lead on 27 minutes. Sampson did well to parry the first shot but had no chance with the rebound as the PIS player was first to the ball and his effort went in off the post.

PIS nearly added a third from a corner but Sampson made a superb save at his near post to prevent an own goal.

The turning point in the game came just after the half hour mark when Penman was brought down on the edge of the PIS box when he was clean through on goal. The referee sent the defender off and the whole game changed.

Five minutes after the sending off Cardea pulled a goal back. A Yeoman corner was cleared to Earl who played it back to the corner taker, Yeoman then took the ball to the byline and sent a fantastic ball into the area which beat everyone and went straight into the goal.

If there was a bit of luck about Yeoman's goal, Cardea's equaliser was the complete opposite. The PIS defence could only half clear a Cooke cross to the edge of the box and Reddell smashed it in from 20 yards to send both teams in level at half time.

Following some strong words from manager Robinson at half time Cardea played much better in the second half.

The away side created chance after chance but couldn't find the right finish. Both Penman and Cooke got in good positions but couldn't find the back of the net.

The winning goal came with an hour played. Bereznyckyj played a defence splitting ball to find Cooke in space and he made no mistake with his finish to put Cardea ahead for the first time in the game.

Cardea continued to make chances and Ames was unlucky not to lob the keeper after a great bit of skill but his effort went just over the bar.

PIS threw everything at Cardea towards the end but the league champions stood firm and came away with all 3 points.

After the game Craig Robinson said: "3 points was the aim at the start of the day, and we achieved that..... just. We got lucky today with the sending off and Yeomans bizarre goal. Just goes to show we can't get complacent and think we've won the game before we show up.

"Today was a warning, and I hope every player takes note of the warning. I was speechless for all the wrong reasons with today's first half display. Well done for somehow managing to claw back the 2 goals before half time. The half time hairdryer treatment was needed.

"The second half was better but still nowhere near the levels we have to reach to win this league. I hope this is just one of those rare games where we play poorly. We take this poor performance and we learn and make sure it doesn't happen again. Smash and grab 3 points today.

"Everyone has the raise their games for Parkway in 2 weeks. Perform how we did today and Parkway will punish us. My MOTM was Gav Sampson today made 3 top saves at 2-0 down which kept us in the game.

"Enjoy your weekend off, and heads on again for the next game."

Kev Webster said: "Well played today lads, at 2-0 it's usually when teams start to fold, bitch at each other and look to blame everyone for silly mistakes. Only heard a few examples of over talking about a situation which you all know is my massive bug bear, sorry to keep going on about it but thank you for not carrying it on.

"Our team spirit is why we get called cocky and why some teams don't like us, let's never lose that. Scrappy win but they all count at the end. Enjoy the rest, the reserves might need s few of you who are not cup tied but Matt will speak to you if that's his plan. Man of the match was Gav Sampson performed some heroics from some of his dodgy kicking, well played and well done everyone.

"Parkway next week big game if we want the treble."

Cardea FC have a week off next week and their next game is in the quarter finals of the Hereward Cup when they play Parkway.