FIVE GOAL ROUT AS FIRSTS TURN UP THE HEAT Having forgotten the trench warfare of last week’s squalid encounter with La Lorgnette which left the Firsts wanting, there was a mood of quiet confidence about the team this week as they entered the second half of the season...
FIVE GOAL ROUT AS FIRSTS TURN UP THE HEAT
Team: Adams, Guarnaccia (yellow card), Christmas, Abramovic, Egerod, Rice, Legère, Griffiths, Marinus, Smitheringale (yellow card; sub: McGivern), Fee
Having forgotten the trench warfare of last week’s squalid encounter with La Lorgnette which left the Firsts wanting, there was a mood of quiet confidence about the team this week as they entered the second half of the season. With Yearsley, Hoskins and Hussain in absentia, Guarnaccia came into the squad to shore up the defence. We were playing even-tempered Trinquant Auderghem and had been fortunate to beat this team 1-0 in the first game of the season. Playing an ambitious 3-5-2 formation, captain Adams was looking for creativity - in short, goals.
And it was not long after kick-off that the Ones obliged. After some work on the left, a pass to Lègere saw the composed Belgian slot the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal for the first score of the day. Soon after, some great work involving about half the team ended with a great cross which Fee headed home. 2-0. The home side were loving it. The return to a decent pitch was bringing out some great passing play from the likes of always-showing-for-the-short-pass Rice; master-of-the-turn-and-go Legère; volleyball-makes-me-leap-higher-than-ordinary-humans Marinus; I-can’t-get-out-of-this-country Abramovic; and I-will-score-today Griffiths.
At half time, the Firsts were very much in control of the game. Cometh the second half, cometh the man. Not content with having played a pivotal role in midfield, Griffiths decided it was about time he got on the scoresheet. A majestic ball was whipped across the edge of the penalty box soon after kick off, and the Prowler at full pace half volleyed into the top corner for a goal as sweet as many had seen in the bar for a long time. "That was nice, that," one pub onlooker said, sipping his half. The fourth came again from some great work in midfield. The ball fell to Fee who turned his defender and popped the ball over the keeper and into the net. 4-0 and the Firsts were cruising. Moments later, for fun, McGivern raced forward, battled past the keeper and the defensive line of Trinquant before sliding the ball home for the fifth of the day. Job done. Mentions to Guarnaccia who performed well on his debut, with Egerodsolid and dependable as usual at the back, Christmas always threatening with his runs forward, Marinus battling hard for the ball particularly in the air, and ‘One Trick’ Smitheringale whose incisive cross field passing and tricky runs were helping create the space for others on the pitch. This team with its aggressive formation appeared to have great shape on the pitch.
The Firsts are hanging on in there in the promotion race. Great news was that Entente drew 0-0 this week with La Lorgnette, and Southside United lost to Virginal 3-1. It appears that Ettekijs are now the team to beat as they went top after a convincing away win over Midi. The Firsts have some tough matches ahead, particularly against teams such as Tervuren Rangers and Prev. Anderlecht but this is a wide open race to the finish line. RBBFC’s James Binning summed up the day. “There is a confidence about the side – you are playing for each other and it shows.” There is a real team spirit about this side and, hopefully, if we continue to churn out performances like today, it will take a very good team to halt our march toward the top spot.
MoM Guy Fee
