Team: Adams, Christmas (yellow card), Guarnaccia, Abramovic, Egerod (sub: McGivern), Rice, Legère, Smitheringale, Marinus, Fee, Griffiths

On a cold day, on a sticky pitch in the shadows of the Atomium, the almost unheard of situation of an unchanged first team lineup from last weeks demolition of Trinquant got off to a slow start against the current league leaders, a young and energetic Entente side who had been on the end of a 3-0 spanking earlier in the season. This fact was clearly on their minds as they set about swarming all over the pitch and never allowing us to settle on the ball, forcing the defensive line of Guarnaccia, Christmas, and Abramovic further and further back in the opening twenty minutes. The firsts were forced into hurried clearances and not seemingly able to string together any of the incisive passing that has become almost natural in the last few games.

Despite the pressure, the defence was coping well with Adams in goal largely unoccupied apart from a couple of crosses that were comfortably claimed.

Entente managed to claim a gift of a goal, resulting from an unnecessary free kick given away, almost on the corner flag. From the resulting centre, the Entente no.7 and most dangerous attacking player managed to lose his marker and nod home from about 2 feet out at the back post.

More poor defending a few minutes later was to blame for the second goal. From a rare 1`s attack, Entente had a quick break away which was initially half cleared. The ball eventually fell to their pacy right winger who had drifted inside about 25 yards out. He drove into the box and was caught by Abramovic as he homed in on goal. Top marks for the swan dive, but there were no complaints about the penalty which was duly despatached giving Adams no chance.

This second goal finally shocked the firsts out of their lethargy and straight from the restart a good move involving Griffiths, Legère and Egerod saw a dangerous cross into the Entente box, unfortunately not finding a white shirt. This was then the story for the rest of the first half, the firsts now able to apply more pressure, defending with a higher line but without really looking like scoring.

Halftime and no changes in personel or tactics. But Entente were a different side in the second half, seemingly content to sit back and defend their to goal and relying on the long ball to their increasingly isolated front two.

Despite their pressure the firsts were still struggling to carve out clear chances. Fee and Egerod had half chances but were unable to capitalise and too often the final ball was not good enough.

The turning point of the game was shortly after the introduction of McGivern for Egerod, giving a more direct attacking option on the right. From an innocuous looking throw-in conceded mid way into the Entente half their dangerous winger managed to skilfully talk himself into not one but two yellow cards and was sent for an early shower.

This encouraged Entente to defend even deeper and any ambition about going forward was altogether forgotten. The firsts then upped the pressure, notably down the right where Smitheringale was appearing in effort to lose his leechlike man-marker and combining well with McGivern to set up a series of attacks which were being cleared increasingly desperately by the Entente backline.

With about 5 mins to go, a poor goal kick was headed down by Griffiths to Fee who raced onto the ball with the Entente defence struggling to get back. He lofted a cross towards the far post to the lurking Smitheringale who had finally managed to find some space. From an acute angle he blasted a superb 1st time volley right footed back across the goal which pinged in off the post.

With the scent of Belgian blood in the air the firsts piled on the pressure and attacked in droves. With the game almost over, Christmas up from from defence for the final push was hacked down on the edge of the box. This left Entente down to 9 men as this was a second booking for their number 7. From the free kick, Legère pretended he was at training and lazily curled the ball low around the wall to the far corner, the keeper could only the parry the ball into the path of the on-rushing Smitheringale to gleefully smash the ball home for the equaliser, again from a tight angle, to spark wild celebrations from the entire first team, with Legères voice in particular becoming so high pitched due to excitement that the canine visitors to the neighbouring dog club were the only ones who could actually hear him.

From the restart the scene was like the charge of the light brigade, with almost the entire team waiting to steam in and finish Entente off. Sadly this was not to be, as after regaining possession in a matter of seconds, a dangerous break was stopped in its tracks by the final whistle.

A draw was probably a fair result in the end, but felt like a win under the circumstances.

MOM: Paul '2-trick' Smitheringale