After a disappointing 2 – 2 draw with Ettekijs the week before, Vets 1 went into the game against Pharma knowing that nothing less than 3 points would do if they wanted to stay in touch with the 2 top teams in the league.

In the original ABSSA fixture list there was no game this weekend and so a lot of sensible players had booked holidays. Consequently availability was very low and it was a struggle for captain Legere to find the 11 players to be tasked with getting the three points against Pharma. In the end Vets 1 had 12 players on the day with a couple of semi fit inclusions, a welcome return to Hoskins and vice-captain Rice risking his marriage by postponing his holiday.

No surprises in the formation with Vets 1 setting the stalls out in their usual 3-5-2 line-up with Sejersen in goal, Hoskins, Solovei and Voell at the back; Guarnaccia, Thuan, Giunti, Pellegry and Magaud in midfield with Rice and Christensen appointed to lead the line.

Vets 1 started the game brightly with focus on a high press and winning the ball high up the pitch. It worked as Pharma were caught in possession a number of times but without Vets 1 being able to create the right opening. That changed after ten minutes. Vets 1 won the ball back in midfield and a after a couple of swift passes the ball ended up with Magaud on the right side of midfield. He put a peach of a cross into the box, where Christensen just about beat the keeper to the ball and headed Vets 1 ahead. 1 – 0.

Vets 1 were well on top now and Pharma were struggling to cope with the pressure, while Vets 1 wasted a couple of very good opportunities to extend their lead. To their credit, Pharma recognized this, adapted their formation accordingly and started to get a foothold in the game. The last 10 minutes were a struggle for Vets 1 and Pharma created a couple of decent opportunities to keep Sejersen on his toes and Solovei having to clear the ball off the line on one occasion.

After a constructive half time team talk, Vets 1 started the 2nd half on the front foot. Hoskins, Solovei and Voell took the lonely Pharma forward out of the game and Guarnaccia, Giunti and Thuan got hold of the midfield. Real chances were in short supply but Vets 1 remained patient, knowing that opportunities would come their way as Pharma were beginning to tire. That is exactly what happened after 15 minutes and, once again, it was Magaud who was in the thick of the action. Picking up the ball on the right side of midfield he drove forward with the ball, with the opportunity to take the shot himself, he instead decided to square the ball to Christensen, who sided footed the ball from the edge of the box off the crossbar and into the back of the net. 2 – 0.

Rice had the chance to make it 3 – 0 shortly after, but his well taken shot came back off the bar, Pellegry followed up and put the ball in the back of the net but the referee inexplicably ruled the goal out for a handball. 2 – 0 did become 3 – 0 five minutes later. Guarnaccia picked up the ball in midfield and put a teasing ball into the box, where a "slight” deflection by a Pharma defender sent the ball past the stranded keeper. As there was no VAR available on the day to decide otherwise, the goal was awarded to Guarnaccia for his 3rd of the season.

Charvet came off the bench and helped Vets 1 see out the rest of the game with ease to claim a well-deserved 3 points. Vets 1 season ticket holder Wright was happy with what he had witnessed and Christensen celebrated scoring his first brace in twenty years at the club by claiming the MoM.

Sejersen - Hoskins, Solovei, Voell - Magaud (Charvet), Pellegry, Guarnaccia, Giunti, Thuan - Rice, Christensen