TEAM: GK: Andy Def: Johnny, Nils, Dex Midfield: Rob, Luka, Steve, Rich, Dries Attack: Micky, Tommy Subs: Jean, Hodgy, Didi

It's the 28th of February, and the two teams at the top of the table clash. RBBFC go into the game following a draw against Manzah and are eager to make a statement to the rest of the league that last week was a one off. Brussels LTC have only lost one game this season, and as you can guess, it was against us. Stevie asks the question, “do you want sum’?” whilst skipper McGrath in his pre-match email stated “they’re hot for us”, and too right they were, just not hot enough.

The music was bumping from locker room ten, Johnny 5 set the spirits high whilst dancing and thrusting Dex’s head towards him chanting “Venga, Vamos, Bailando”, and Dries was explaining how his wax works, up to seven days hold, even taking into consideration a shower or two. McGrath Senior with a new pack of gum and a minty breath starts his team talk with some statistics, we’ve scored 74 goals this season and more than two-thirds of that number come from players within the dressing room today. With only 11 goals against us, the message was that if we play with our full confidence the goals will come, and the clean sheet will prevail.

The referee; an Irish lad who I often spot with a packet of fries in his hand around lunch time near the parliament every other day was aware of the importance of the occasion that lay before him, and brought the two teams together before kick-off to clarify that no whining and moaning will be tolerated or cards will be produced. Micky and Tommie shared a look of unease. The game commences and RBBFC press straight away. A physical encounter, Brussels LTC pressed a high line leaving some space behind their defense for Luka, Rich, and Steve to thread balls through for Micky, Tommie, Robbie and Dries. Stevie throughout the game piled on the pressure towards their holding midfielder, creating the space for Rich and Luka to dictate the game, to which they did like week-in and week-out. 10 minutes in, and Dries is released on the right hand side, with his slick waxed/gelled/shiny hair, he breezed past their left back as if the glow and shininess of his hair blinded him. A drilled cross was hammered in and who else was on the end of it than Tommy. Bang. 1 – 0. As LTC felt hard done by, they retaliated quickly piling on pressure towards our left flank. Robbie had to drop almost playing as a left back at times, whilst Luka pressed their right full back. Nils, Dex, and Johnny won headers from the off which set the tone off the match and showed the LTC forwards what they were up against, and Andy was getting involved in our possession football which showed LTC why we are top of the league.

Shortly after Tommie missiles home our first, Stevie breaks down the middle, takes on one, takes on two, lays the ball off to Rich who without even looking up, lobs a ball through to Brown. With the control with the chest, and taking into account what John McGrath said prior to the game about getting shots off, the ball falls to his side to which he volleys home the second. Great move. Shortly after, we didn’t stop there, and Mickie states he wants to get involved in the action. LTC attack, and RBBFC’s defense handle the posing threat. Johnny Mojena who like Dani Alves has ran up and down the field like a yoyo today plays a ball through to Brown who plays a ball to Mickie. Mickie holds off his man, beautifully turns his man and lobs the ball over to Brown to which the whole field is open with a two vs one. As he approaches the goal, he’s about to shoot and he hears the yell of “Gooooldennn Boot” to his right, he looks up and the ball is now played to Tommie, he controls it, composes himself, shoots, and it’s a goooo……ood save by the keeper. Shortly after, Mickie who was at the heart of the last move is licking his lips eager to show Tommie how it is done advances further up the field. Nils who has been finding his passes all day places a ball to Luka, who finds Dries, who plays a one-two with Tommie, who puts in a cross for Mickie. Mickie, found alone in the box with ample amounts of time and so much room finds himself on the receiving end of a floating cross, it has to be a goal, he heads the ball into the corner of the goal, and when I say corner I mean right into the middle of the goal, and the goalie produces a great save. “Mackatza fai, Vanculo, Bella” (Michele, 2015, Rosieres) which translates into great save as one can only admit that it was a certain goal but for the acrobatics produced from the goalie finds Michele denied.

As the game went on, the two strike forces showed their talent by producing another goal from Tommie, and Michele beautifully setting up Brown for another strike home. As substitutes Jean came on to secure the defense and protect the lead, Hodgson also came on to provide some width and fresh legs, whilst Didi managed to find himself on the end of a cross heading home the 5th. Andy (Neuer) pulled off some great saves, the defense won so many headers that the loss of brains cells resulted in them unexplainably handing over the boom-box and Bluetooth connection to Robert’s iPhone and disney tunes. Tommie bought some beers, Rich grabbed the hose, and the bin, and then the ice, and the celebrations began. Well played all round, by everyone.

And that’s all she wrote…

MOM & Reporter: Robbie Brown