Vets 2 match report 18 October 2014

Opponents: Elan Evere RAC 2

Result: Won 2-1

Location: Rosieres

Pitch: Grassy but very bump (making controlling the ball very difficult at least that is the excuse most people used)

Weather: A balmy 20 C, untypical for mid-October

MoM: Ady Talib

Team: Mazurkiewicz, Leigh, Macdonald, Knott, Riley, Ten Holter, Lowe, Guttierrez, Talib, Boyadjiev, Ffinch Subs: Doessing, Newbould, Gallagher (D.)

After the disappointment of the previous game when Vets 2 gave up a 2 goal lead to the bottom of the table team there was optimism that we could record our first win of the season against Elan Evere, a team a couple of points ahead of us who had actually won a game.

Captain for the day Bas Ten Holter opted for the quantum formation of 3-6-1 with the 6 midfielders apparently being able to exist in multiple states of attack, defence and midfield all at the same time. Another surprise was to see the team�s top scorer start on the bench albeit with a planned substitution after 20 minutes. Is this the first time that Vets 2 have thought this much ahead about substitutions instead of taking the approach of, "we�ll see how we are doing at half time?�

The weather was unseasonally warm and Vets 2 had wisely limited the warm up to a little light jogging not to take the risk of heat exhaustion. The game started therefore rather slowly. However a pattern soon began to form. Chris Riley was generally winning a lot in midfield and Mike Guttierrez and Ady Talib were making good runs down both wings. George Boyadjiev and Chris Ffinch were proving difficult for the opposition defence.

However Elan Evere also had a couple of tricky wingers. Initially the left winger was proving difficult to handle. Dave Leigh was making valiant efforts to contain him but every now and then the winger would get away and put dangerous balls into the middle. He did however lose a lot of credibility when, having again been shepherded away from goal, he decided to display his acting skills by throwing his arms in the air and collapsing on the ground. He had obviously been watching too much of Bayern Munich and the Dutch national team - at least Arjen Robben can do it at speed so it looks convincing.

Fortunately the ref did not think much of the winger�s attempts to earn an Oscar. Scott Macdonald also let him know, in no uncertain terms, of his thoughts on "simulation�.

And then another attack down the left saw the small centre forward through on his own. A shot an instinctive save by Stephen Mazurkiewicz saw the ball being pushed out for a corner.

The game was fairly evenly balanced. And then a stroke of genius or was it luck. A little chip over the defence with Chris Ffinch running on to it. The whole of Elan Evere sticks their hands up for offside. The ref says nothing. Chris, through on goal, looks back at the ref. The keeper looks at the ref. A slight pause, then Chris dribbles round the keeper but goes a bit wide. The keeper gets back. Chris dribbles round the keeper again and eventually passes the ball into the net.

The Elan Evere team did not move to get back for the kick-off as they had not moved after the initial chip. A bit of an argument with the ref but the goal is given.

From your correspondent�s position 60 metres away it did not look like offside but I am reliably informed by 10 teammates, 3 substitutes, the opposition and the opposition�s delegue that there was an offside. Of course the only opinion that really matters is the man in black: Vets 2 1 - Elan Evere 0

Soon after this the planned substitution took place with Jake Lowe, who had helped to largely contain the threat on the right wing, being replaced by Timme Doessing.

Also the tricky left winger in falling over had twisted his knee and had to go off. The main threat then moved to the right winger. He made repeated runs down their right.

Alex Knott managed to stop too much danger but a deflected high ball saw Scott Macdonald and Dave Leigh clatter into each other leaving the opposition centre forward with a chance which he put wide.

So half time came with Vets 2 in the lead. Mark Newbould came on for George Boyadjiev for the second half.

The start of the second half saw Elan Evere move forward more menacingly.

They were winning more ball in midfield and feeding it out to their right wing. Bas Ten Holter had been delegated to man mark the right winger.

About 10 minutes into the half Bas certainly managed to mark his man. The right winger advanced dangerously into the penalty area, got to the by-line and then a long Dutch leg from Mhr Ten Holter stretched out and slid the ball out for a corner and also managed to take the wingers ankle as well - hopefully no damage but it certainly slowed him down for a while.

Elan Evere were playing much better at the start of the second half and they got their reward when a ball from the right somehow ended up at the feet of an unmarked forward 8 metres out from goal. Despite a desperate lunge from the keeper the forward calmly played the ball into the net. Your correspondent was a good bit closer to the action this time and offered no opinion on whether there was an offside. However he was reliably informed by a substantial portion of his teammates that there was an offside. A smaller sample size than the first opinion poll, but probably still quite reasonable.

But as we all know the referee is always right even when he is wrong: Vets 2 1 - Elan Evere 1

At this point the game was evenly balanced. Ady Talib was using the ball well down the right and this was posing a threat to Elan Evere.

Dermot Gallagher came on for Chris Ffinch in an attempt to bring some experience and calm to the team. And then a delightful move down the right saw the ball come at the perfect height for Timme Doessing to lash a fierce volley destined for the top right hand corner of the net. 10 players, 3 substitutes and a delegue were already celebrating what would have been quite an outstanding goal when the Elan Evere goalkeeper stuck an arm up and somehow, somehow, managed to push the ball over the bar for a corner. A great save that maybe started us thinking, "It�s not our day today�.

But Vets 2 were not deterred. Another smart move down the right, the ball was pulled inside to Timme Doessing, who slipped it on to Chris Riley 8 metres out the left who shot across the keeper into the corner with the left foot mostly used for kicking opponents.

No question of offside this time: Vets 2 2 - Elan Evere 1

Having a lot experience of conceding late goals Vets 2 played out the last few minutes nervously. Fortunately at this stage Elan Evere did not pose much of threat. And then there it was - the final whistle

VETS 2 2 - ELAN EVERE 1

Our first win of the season, high fives all round and huge satisfaction. Maybe not the prettiest performance ever with a bit of panic at times, but who cares. Man of the match deservedly went to Ady Talib for his excellent work on the right side of midfield/attack.

At the end of the game the quantum approach came back with everyone being in states of happiness and tiredness at the same time.