It was an early start for the Cardea lads as they played outside of Peterborough for the first time this season at Guyhirn. The conditions were overcast, cold and windy and the pitch was well worn and cut up.

Cardea made a quick start to the game playing with the wind in the first half. Daryl Patrick broke out of midfield and passed the ball to the left to Brendon Chapman, his cross into the box was met by Kynan Bereznyckyj whose shot went wide.

Moments later and a combination between Chapman and Tom Broughton on the right saw Broughton break past the Guyhirn defenders to the byline but his lob was clawed away by the keeper for a corner.

Twelve minutes in and a low cross into the box by Patrick was met by Chapman but his shot was deflected onto the post and behind for a corner. From the resulting corner Tom Rimes headed over the bar.

Guyhirn created their first chance after 20 minutes when they managed to force a corner. The corner was crossed in and was headed onto the bar and Cardea cleared it, from the clearance Broughton got clean through at the other end but the keeper came out well to smother the ball.

Thirty minutes in and Broughton and Chapman combined again, Broughton cross from the right was acrobatically met by Chapman with an overhead kick but his effort was straight at the keeper.

As half time approached Guyhirn attacked and a pressurised shot from 30 yards went just wide. The referee deemed too much pressure had been put on and awarded a free kick against Tony Harper. The kick went over the wall and goalkeeper Adam Simons was unsighted by players in front of him and could only parry it to an incoming attacker who scored to make it 1-0.

Half time arrived and Cardea trailed in a match where they had dominated for 30 minutes but a sloppy last 15 saw the goal conceded. Mike Dandrilli and Billy Thomson were brought on at half time with Thomson taking Broughton's place up front and Dandrilli would operate on the right in place of Daniel Robinson.

Cardea seemed more fired up after the break and created a chance immediately with Patrick passing to Dandrilli on the right who passed into the box to Thomson but his shot went over the bar. Just a minute later and Cardea created another chance with Chapman shooting wide from 25 yards.

Defender Tony Harper had to be subbed off with a side injury to be replaced by Phil Brown with Dale Moore moving to centre back and Brown playing left back.

Moments after Harper's departure and Cardea were level and it was a fantastic move. Moore surged up the pitch from defence and passed to Yeoman who played it down the line for Bereznyckyj who's cross into the box and superbly finished by Patrick on the volley.

Guyhirn responded well to being pegged back and went straight on the attack. A free kick from the right was lobbed into the box and well cleared by Dandrilli at the far post for a corner.

The corner was a dealt with but the ball back in was a good one and caused chaos in the Cardea defence with Simons and Michael Williams going for the same ball. Williams headed it away but only as far as a Guyhirn midfielder who lashed it into the net from 25 yards. However, the offside flag was raised for the first phase of play and the goal was disallowed.

Cardea were spurred on by the let off and a Dandrilli long throw was hurled into the box and nodded down by Aaron Yeoman but the shot went just wide from Rimes. Thomson also had a chance to put Cardea in front but shot over as the keeper came out.

Cardea grabbed what turned out to be the winner in the 76th minute and it was another good move. A back heel from Robinson, who had come back on, sent Thomson down the right and his ball into the box was over Yeoman's head but fell perfectly for Dandrilli who took a couple of touches before slotting home.

Guyhirn went straight back onto the attack and Simons had to make a good save low down to his left to prevent an equaliser. From the corner they made a chance but it was blocked on the line thanks to a combination of Moore and Patrick. It was a painful one for Patrick who took the full force of the shot to his nether regions and had to be scooped off the pitch by Simons.

With Patrick down Cardea launched a counter attack and Dandrilli found himself with the ball on the half way line with no one but the keeper to beat. Dandrilli made it to the Guyhirn area but his composure deserted him and a comical miss kick out of play was greeted with laughter from everyone in attendance.

The referee called an end to the game with the final whistle and Cardea had again come from behind to preserve their position at the top of the league.

It was another gritty performance by Cardea to defeat a solid Guyhirn side and take three points away from a ground where not many teams will win this season.

After the game manager Kev Webster said: "Going 1-0 down was a surprise as I felt we had controlled the game well but it's that usual 10 minute spell we seem to have that allowed them a sloppy goal.

"But after half time we rallied well and the subs made the impact that was desired. We have shown that Cardea team spirit and that we will never give up until the final whistle.

"With some good performances throughout the team and the captain's goal it was the defence where I thought the game was won in tricky conditions. Willy and, my man of the match, Tom Rimes cut out a lot of danger and despite his efforts at giving me a heart attack (when he sliced a clearance onto the roof of his own net) a good return to the starting line up for Dale.

"Well done Billy for getting an assist in what was a mixed day for his first league outing! Next two weeks we have cup games so this gives us a chance to relax and play some good football before the crunch game against Fenland. Great squad performance today, well done lads."

Cardea have a two week break from the league with their attention turning to the two cups they are still competing in. It will be a step up in opposition next week as they face Division 2 side The Windmill at Lawson Avenue, Stanground.