There were plenty of empty football fields across the county on Saturday morning. Rain and wind had seen to that. But over in Caversham, the She-Wolves had business to attend to.

With a string of league wins behind them, Pinewood travelled to face opposition from the division above. A friendly on the fixture list, certainly, but a useful examination of just how far this pack had come.

Both sides spent the opening exchanges taking each other’s measure. Cali M required less than five minutes to finish her calculations. A commanding run upfield brought the opening goal, and the visitors were in business.

Emily F and Thea P soon added their names to the scoresheet in quick succession. On a cold morning, Pinewood were warming to their work.

Caversham, though, had no intention of simply watching the afternoon edition write itself. Their midfield pressed hard towards the end of the half, putting the visiting defence under sustained examination.

Tilly B and Darcey L held firm through the centre, forcing mistakes and steering attacks towards the flanks. There, Priya B and captain Neve L dealt with the danger and sent the ball back upfield with the efficiency of a return delivery.

Meanwhile, Cali continued collecting goals. By the half-time whistle she had completed her hat-trick, giving Pinewood a handsome advantage at the interval.

The second half belonged largely to the visitors.

Harriet W had been instructed by the coaching team to steamroll the midfield. She interpreted the brief with considerable enthusiasm and even greater technical assurance, winning the central contest and keeping Pinewood camped well upfield.

At right back, Elsa E continued to grow into her role, turning away several impressive late runs. When the heroic Tilly B left the field, Meg C stepped forward from the back line into the holding defensive midfield position and produced some of her finest football this season. Composed, committed and ready for the responsibility, she kept the pack moving in the late stages of the game.

Still, there was a clean sheet to earn.

A renewed Caversham push finally found passages through the Pinewood defence, bringing a succession of attempts at goal. Florie answered with goalkeeping poetry. Whatever the hosts sent her way, she found the reply, preserving the visitors’ shutout with a splendid exhibition between the posts.

At the other end, Caversham’s goalkeeper was putting together a fine performance of her own. Thea came calling several times, only to find the door firmly closed.

But persistence has a place in every good sporting story. Inside the final ten minutes, Thea tried once more and sent her finish into the top left corner. This one was beyond even the keeper’s considerable powers.

Cali then supplied the final entry in the scorebook: her fourth of the day, Pinewood’s seventh, and the finishing touch to a formidable team performance.

The opposition selected Florie as Players’ Player, deserved recognition for a goalkeeping masterclass.

Emily F took Player of the Match, having worked relentlessly at the tip of the spear, driving forward and bringing her teammates with her.

Seven goals. A clean sheet. And a stern test answered in the rain.

The She-Wolves had come to Caversham to measure their mettle. They left with plenty to put in the record.