Vets1 suffer Gandhi’s revenge (again)

Having lost our first game of the season 1-0 on the astroturf pitch at Avenue Mahatma Gandhi, Vets 1 returned to Molenbeek for an outing on the better, grass pitch knowing that a point or three would keep us above our opponents of the day, Cosmos Molenbeek.

The pre-match preparation provided Captain Scott Macdonald with a couple of headaches. Firstly, whether to put Donald Martin or Ian McAulay in goal (after “the cat’s” heroics the previous week). [He went for the conventional option.] And secondly, in talking in Carl Ledbury (& the shirts), who were lost in a tunnel somewhere in town.

Once these and various footwear problems were clarified, we took to the pitch unveiling a cunning tactical change – by pushing nominal right back Waite into midfield and thereby transforming our traditional diamond (oval?) formation in the middle of the park into a “W”. This was aimed at providing more support to our beleaguered forwards and using the flanks more effectively.

Alas almost before we had settled into the game, we were 1-0 down. A penetrating through-ball found Macdonald 1 on 1 with their centre-forward, who then drew Martin in goal before crossing to the other forward to tap-in.

In the following minutes, we appeared to tighten things up defensively, and were starting to make a few inroads, when McAulay went down with a calf injury. In a bold move, our response was bring on Johann “I’m a changed man” Eriksen at centre half, push Wrigley into midfield, and pull Waite back to sweep. To his credit, Johann settled in well, snuffing out any danger.

As the half wore on, Vets 1 won more and more possession, but failed to create any clear chances. At one moment How seemed to be manhandled in the Box, but, having failed to fall like a Belgian, the referee gave no infringement.

The second half started in much the same style, with Ole Praestegaard and Stewart Glover seeing a lot of midfield ball, but with no clear chances emerging. At the same stage, Eriksen and Macdonald seemed comfortable with their men, and Wrigley again showed a stamina to keep up with their most mobile midfielder that belied his greying hair.

On the one occasion when we did get through, after a good flick from Glover, Edgley struck a good shot which their keeper did particularly well to save. Some minutes later, it was Francey’s turn to make the keeper show his class with a remarkable stooped header, which was well tipped over.

Despite hard work from Ledbury, How and Glover in midfield, few further chances emerged. We pushed up more and more, and won a number of corners, but were also exposed to a few counter attacks. These were generally comfortably well defended, and Martin was hardly over-worked in goal, but on one occasion Macdonald did particularly well to miss his own goal with a last ditch headed clearance.

As the match wore on, Molenbeek adopted the all too familiar local habit of whingeing, frequently coupled with acrobatics, which saw tempers fray. Edgley was given a yellow card for an unintentional foul, while a Molenbeek player got the same punishment for a much more sinister attack. Then with 2 minutes to go, a minor scuffle when Ledbury tried to take a free quickly saw him red-carded, and the previously yellowed opponent laugh his way out of trouble.

The final whistle signalled our third consecutive defeat by a single goal in a game, which we at least deserved to draw. Post-match discussion centred around our problems getting forward and creating chances, although we still created more than our opponents on the day. Man of the Match went to Johann, who fitted into the defence like a boxing glove, putting in a controlled performance in which his opponent was given no chance to shine.

MOM: Johann Eriksen