It's not every season that a team has a single game which, one knows in advance, will define their season. With one team to stay up and one team to go down, and both teams finding it near impossible to get points off any other team, we knew that this game really was about more than just the 3 points. After so many availability problems in recent weeks, we finally had a near full turn out of the squad. Ian passed a late fitness test (but the questions were easy) and Bas-with-hair was able to make it back from Trump's America on time. For the first time ever we had a squad of 15! We even had t'other Bas back with his speakers & sub-woofers.

Playing in Nossegem on a nicely soft grass pitch, we took to the field with a classical 4-4-2 formation. In the first 20 minutes, vets1 took control and played some good stuff with Roberto and Gael combining down the left and Carl and Cedric down the right.

Half way through the first half, the possession finally paid off. A combination between Cedric and Cian saw Gonzalo dancing past the last defender through on the keeper and he slotted home without difficulty. 1-0.

All seemed to be under control. But then, with their first attack, a smart ball into the box followed by a wee jink, and a low shot crept into the corner. 1-1.

Common cries of frustration. But we kept our heads and continued to dominate. A few minutes later our own Irishman, Cian, took the bull by the horns and mesmerised their defence. He dribbled round at least 4 defenders before aiming a low shot towards the bottom corner. The keeper got down to make a good save, but he could only push it out into the feet of the onrushing Darran, who finished neatly. 2-1.

Surely we wouldn't let the lead slip again? The game was becoming more and more scrappy at this point, with some robust, but fair tackling. To his credit, the ref let the game flow nicely - and was one of the reasons that it was played in a particularly fair spirit. For example, Gaël deliberately kicked out a corner because it should have been a goal kick - but, to make it even fairer, he waited till the big guys from the back had made it all the way up to their box before kicking it out!

Then disaster struck. 10 minutes before half time, they got a free kick 35 metres out. Their guy totally overhit it - to the extent that he was swore like a trooper as it sailed towards the trees - but the ball suddenly dropped and Luc could only push it onto the bar, and one of them tapped in the rebound. 2-2.

And it could have got worse. 5 minutes before half time, a rare defensive error gave their striker a clean run on goal. In the one on one, Luc stayed tall and was able to make a good left-handed save.

Having regrouped at half time, we started the second half again in the ascendancy with Bas and Darren dominating central midfield, with The forwards giving their defence a lot to think about - Cian with his non-stop running, and Gonzalo with his ability to get to the ball first and hang on to it.

15 minutes in, after mounting pressure, we got another corner. Gonzalo fired it into the mixer, where Roger was able to get ahead of his marker and head home his annual goal from 6 yards. 3-2.

20 minutes to go. Could we avoid conceding again?

At this stage, Fernando showed his tactical genius by switching Darren and Ian dwon the spine, and introducing fresh legs at regular 2-3 minute intervals. First Leo, then Gianluca, then Mikey, then Bas TH came on. And all of them were able to slot in nicely, adapting immediately to the pace of the game.

On a few occasions we were close to a 4th goal. One scramble saw a shot from Ian blocked and Darran's follow-up somehow deflected onto the post. Another saw Leo going through and forcing their keeper into a good save.

At the other end, there were a few anxious moments. One scramble saw Luc make another vital block; and there were a couple of other moments when the ball pinballed around in the box, but otherwise we were able to retain a calmness that we haven't always shown this season.

Then the ref finally blew the final whistle. Relief. Joy. Exhaustion. It's not every February that a team is able to double it's points tally!

Speaking after the game, coach Nando paid tribute to the squad and the way we played as a team. Cian won a well-deserved MoM vote, dedicating the award to his brother who came all the way to Brussels 2 weeks ago to see our particularly poor performance v Auderghem!

Next week we play Azur!

Line up

Luc Tholoniat, Roberto Salvel, Roger Waite, Ian Hoskins, Carl Ledbury; Gaël de Rotalier, Bas Belfi, Darran Knight, Cedric Cabaret; Cian Rice, Gonzalo Cajade.

Subs: Bas Ten Holter, Gianluca Di Fabio, Mike Gutierez, Leonardo Sardaro