Team (4-1-4-1):

Harun Eryoruk; Munish Awesti, Brian Morris, Benoit Priest, Fernando Criado; Carl Ledbury; Milan Sverepa, Brian Lewis, Adnane Ahmidan (Chris Ffinch), Nic Northcote; Georges Panagiotidis (Leo Sardaro)

Despite many players being away or injured, Vets 2 put together a competitive team capable of defeating Entente RACB 2, a mid-table team that had had some good results so far. NB It is the 2nd oldest club in ABBSA - after RBBFC - both clubs founded well over 20 years before any of the players were born!

With Roger away, Benoit took on the captain's armband. We followed our captain’s orders and fielded played a 4+1+3+2 or a 4+2+3+1 or was a 4+1+4+1. Clear? Well, the game started with us still cold, very cold, (no wonder we had not really warmed up), grey like the weather in the heavy mud pitch grass Rosières becomes when it rains non-stop for 12 hours. It was Saturday 13th.

We began shaky, slipped many times and were not good at controlling the ball. Just before we were starting to settle and getting to know our opponents, one of Entente’s Brazilian strikers received a deep pass from midfield to overrun run our central defense - clearly offside - and put beyond goalkeeper Harun. 0-1. Disappointing start.

To be honest, our struggle continued and our game did not improve for much of the first half. Defence with Munish, Morris, Priest, Fernando tried to keep the opponents at bay and luckily their final passes were as inconsistent as our midfield Ledbury, Milan, Lewis, Adnane were when trying to make more than three consecutive passes. Slowly, however, Lewis and Ledbury, our grass cutters, started to clear midfield and give us some respite. Yet we could not make ends meet and link with our front line - our sole offensive strategy being to launch to our attackers successive missiles Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un would be proud of. Result, nothing really but a lot of running without the ball. No wonder our vanguard, George and Nic had trouble to control the ball, receive a decent pass, and break Entente’s defence. Not only that, Nic got a first half card, which was more orange than yellow, after running 25 meters like mad before his slide tackle almost sent their keeper to the infirmary.

We needed to calm down, we had PacoJones but also needed to start using our heads. And just before halftime our equalizer came out of the blue. A foul in their half, a long cross from Nando to the penalty spot, keeper comes out to clear, but the ball falls to Milan, who delivers a clinical shot that passes through 45 players into the corner. He had tasted blood twice against Jettoise, and the taste of blood never goes away. 1-1. We were back in business.

We started the second half, however, as we did with the first one. Not concentrated. For the first ten minutes Entente put us under pressure and had some half chances. Then Nando played with fire; forgetting you play football going forward and tried to pass back Benoit to give Entente a great chance to win the game. We were lucky their attacker missed his gift and then injured himself as a result after dribbling round our last man, Harun.

Something had to change. And it did. Leo, who came in for George at halftime, started to do his usual humming and pressing with Nic at his side to announce what was coming. Vets 2 keep going and never give up. Lewis and Carl were by now dominating midfield and playing more promising tiki-taka. And our defence was finally in command at the back. Chances started to arrive as we were able to break their midfield, recuperate and move the ball fast from one side to the other of the pitch.

Our hard work paid off when Munish dashed into the box and cut the ball back to Lewis, who sent a left foot rocket from outside the area. As we all held our breath, the ball cruised into the net despite one of Entente’s defender trying to head it off. 2-1 for us.

We could breathe a bit and Captain Priest brought in Chris Ffinch. Five minutes later, after a collective move which saw us get the ball deep in their box. Nic rolled it back out wide to Carl, near the corner flag, who put in a peach of a first time cross to the back post where Ffinchie finished in style with a controlled header into the corner, both feet strongly on the ground. 3-1.

It was almost over, but not before Nic saw a second yellow (for not hearing the whistle). And then MoM Carlitos missed our best chance after going through just in from off the keeper, to be reminded his left foot was not to take last orders. No need for more. Entente could not keep up with us and with several injuries they run out of players on their bench. Never mind. Yet again Vets 2 were more competitive and able to turn around the game to let the League know we are in business.

MOM: Carl Ledbury