Team: Sejersen, Waite, Morris, Wrigley, Eriksen, Bentham, Yearsley, Bannon, Taylor, Gutierrez, HarbuschSubs: WhiteGoals: Yearsley, Harbusch MOM: Sejersen

After last week’s disappointing performance against British United - "only" drawing – we were keen to reassure the home fans that we were not going to go into the usual February drought. With Captain Carl away on a romantic Valentine’s weekend in Rome (to watch the rugby), the armband stayed in Yorkshire hands with Simon Yearsley taking on the responsibility. His first controversial decision was to revert to 4-4-2, after week’s of successful 3-5-2- performances. However, this allowed January’s (equal) top scorer Johann Eriksen to return to right back. Another welcome return was Neil Taylor at left midfield. We all agreed that Wemmel was potentially a good side, but the most important thing was to get the first goal, in order to put them under pressure, and if we can get a second, past experience suggested that they would be more interested in arguing with themselves.

Sure enough, within about 2 minutes of the start, Yearsley charged down a clearance and was then able to run the ball through their defence and slide it neatly into the corner. 1-0. Just what the doctor ordered. Within a few minutes, however, it was nearly level. A break down their right saw a cross come in to their centre forward, virtually unmarked, whose first time effort was saved superbly by Tommy’s outstretched foot. I’m tempted to describe it as Schmeichel-esque, but there are rumours in the dressing room that Mr Sejersen actually taught Peter Schmeichel his trade.

This was perhaps the wake-up call that we needed, and from then on the defence reverted to its usual rock solid self with Brian Morris (in his 101st Vets 1 game) doing well at left back. For once, though, we were not so good when we had the ball and often dropped very deep in response to Wemmel’s pressing. Nevertheless, we were able to string a number of good movements together, the best coming 5 minutes before half time. Dean Bannon combined well with Taylor on the left hand side giving Neilo the space to put in an absolutely pinpoint cross to Frank Harbusch on the 6 yard box, which he buried with aplomb. 2-0. Some credit should also go to Mike Gutierrez for taking 2 defenders with him in a run to the near post. In fact the whole thing looked as if we had practiced it regularly on the training ground. What training ground?

As predicted, the second goal raised the blood pressure in the Wemmel team and shortly before half time the ref gave their balding defender a yellow card for questioning his parentage. Instead of shutting up, the Wemmel defender launched an even louder tirade against the ref including sarcastic applause. When the ref then gave him a second yellow, it looked for a moment as if there was going to bloodshed – but the Wemmel players were able to escort him off the pitch. So, we finished the first half 2-0 up, with them down to 10 men. Job efficiently done, even if we had not really played particularly well.

We started the second half with Tony White replacing the tiring Neilo at left midfield. Not surprised he was tired, it was one of Neil’s best games for a long time, providing a constant threat. Probably a more significant change in the second half was the fact that we were now playing into the setting Rosieres sun.

While Captain Carl was probably enjoying a nice romantic sunset over the Tiber, it made life particularly difficult for us as at the back. We found it more and more tricky to see the ball (especially in the air), which made it virtually impossible to provide the solid build-up and usual passing option to midfielders. Very early in the second half, they broke down our right and Tommy was again forced to excel with a centre forward alone in front of him, and Roger was able to block the rebound on the line. Phew!

Unfortunately this didn’t give us the same wake-up call as in the first half. To Wemmel’s credit, they also belied their usual form and actually started playing much better football than before. It was not remotely clear that they had one man less – to the extent that we were wondering afterwards if they had sneaked an extra sub on without us noticing.

Although Jez and Tony made a few breaks down the flanks, there was very little for Frank and Mike to work on. It would be wrong to say that we created nothing in the second half, but we didn’t force the keeper into any heroic efforts. On 2 promising occasions, Mike and Simon were given offside, and shortly before the end Frank missed the target after an excellent knock back from Simon. And when they attacked, Roger was often marking, with Paul and/or Johann facing 2 to mark. Wemmel clearly sensed that they might get a point. However, with a certain amount of desperation, an occasional slice of luck, and an extremely good goalkeeper, we managed to make it to the final whistle with the three points in the bag, and yet another clean sheet.

MOM: Sejersen, finishing ahead of the industrious midfielder Mr Bannon;