Team: McCreath, Tache, Holmes, Di Fabio, Corr, Timms, Jolliffe, Denholm, Pellegry, Fitzgibbon, Wright

Subs: Jeremiah, Den Hartog

MOM; Denholm

The fourth team welcomed bottom of the table FC Azur CS to Everberg. Quietly confident the usual rituals and superstitions were discharged. You see, football gets you like that, no one can explain. It’s a man thing, everyone handles it differently. On the eve of the game some resort to their favourite poison, others manicure their boots for hours, some pay attention to pre-match diets and energy drinks, others support their favourite Belgian sports bar by indulging in the high calorie cuisine. Captain McHerrity (thats McCreath & Herrity for the un-informed amongst you) prays that a collection of match ready individuals assemble on time with all necessary items in tow.

12.30 Everberg. Another sunny afternoon at our spiritual home, I can’t quite remember as many sunny days here in Brusselsthis past winter as in my whole life in England. Who said Belgiumwas rainy? British lined up in a 3-5-2: McCreath in goal, Holmes-Tache-Di Fabio across the back, Corr, Denholm, Jolliffe, Pellegry and Timms in midfield, Wright and Fitzgibbon up front. A team that had been easily dispatched 5-1 away on astroturf comprising of mostly under 18s with 10 men but who undoubtedly in a few years will be a useful side. ABBSA did not oblige with a ref again, what a luxury they are turning out to be, an endangered species in division 5. From the off, the early exchanges were all British, we poured forward, chances were spurned liberally as everyone sought to fill their boots on such a propitious occasion. The offside trap was sprung resulting in three one on ones for the striking duo, each was wasted woefully. The Azur goalkeeper was also playing superbly, something noted afterwards in the bar by McCreath who thought he reminded him of how he was at that age – surely not! The few breakaways Azur mustered were swept up cleanly by Tache and Holmes , the latter adapting well to his well earned place in the side, confidence growing with each game. Di Fabio was linking well with Pellegry on the left flank and just such a move led to the ball being squared to Corrto smash home the first, reward for so much pressure. For info, Corr’s fitness video “Lose Weight the Irish Way” is due for release soon to be followed by a step by step diet book and the usual merchandise that accompany such well honed commercial undertakings. It will certainly give Atkins a run for its money on Place Lux! Shortly afterwards it was 2-0, Fitzgibbondispatching a breakaway.

As we reached for the oranges, McCreath replaced Wright with Den Hartog and pushed Denholm up front. Now let me tell you about enigmatic William Denholm. At the end of last season, it was unanimously decided that he would be our mascot for this campaign only to surprise us all by turning up ready to play each week. Clearly at ease operating as either a striker or libero, he set about turning in the kind of performance during the second half that McHerrity have been crying out for over the past few weeks: darting runs, spins off the last defender, sublime side ways and incisive forward passes, a performance that saw Denholmwalk away with MOM at the end of the afternoon. Then, inevitably, the third goal, side-stepping the last defender to slot home with his left peg into the far corner, 3-0. Denholm’ssecond of the season saw the Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink celebration unleashed for the second time this season. A previous reporter aptly equated the act as “performing a strange, contorted movement rather like a dieing wilder beast”. A second chance to observe this proved correct.

By this time Jeremiah had replaced Corr, the latter presumably in need of finalising negotiations with his agent about the release of aforementioned video and book. Jeremiah was back after a long hamstring lay-off and with something to prove, a welcome terrier-like addition to the right flank. As the final act began, further clamberings for goal were made by anyone who could muster the energy to get forward. Rusty but gutsy Den Hartog saw a fine chance go begging. The keeper performed a few more un-McCreath like heroics before a short corner saw Jolliffe square for Pellegry to belt home the fourth. Just reward for a fine team performance. The final comic moments saw the laws of physics being severely distorted by Jeremiah who attempted, for the last time in his life, a bicycle kick with his back to goal with a team member waiting for a simple lay-off. It was all the team needed to complete the day’s ceremonies and DoD was duly awarded afterwards. We retired to the smog of the Everberg bar content in the knowledge that 3 more points had been added to the fourths tally, the p word had not even been mentioned and captain prolific had thankfully not been missed. The real work begins here.