Pass, move. Pass, move. Pass, move. All three goals in this game were a testament to the simplicity and humility of a team that is finding its identity.
The opener came after about 20 minutes, from a throw-in deep in our half. With the opposition trying to pin us in, Mark (safe hands) tossed the ball onto Tinisi's head. He cushioned it back, and Mark looped it over their oncoming press to Ala, who gently nudged it into Hodge's path. From that moment, the momentum of the move felt unstoppable. Hodge flicked it to Nils and powered forward. The opposition tried to drag him back, but he shrugged them off and powered on. Nils slid the ball into the space deep behind enemy lines. Hodge put on the afterburners and was clear. Their goalkeeper, realising he was on his own, flew out of his net. It was a foot race now. Hodge vs Keeper. Hodge won. 0–1 up.
In response, the opposition began launching dangerous crosses into our box. Hodge (the shield) got his head to another one. Tinisi got to the 50/50 first and knocked it down to Rich, who turned smartly and kicked it down the tracks. The TGV left the station deep inside our half. Next stop: opposition penalty box. Richy, Nils and Ala were getting forward in support. Ala went on the overlap. Bill used the decoy run to slip the ball infield to Nils, who clipped it into the path of Rich's underlapping run. The keeper narrowed the angle. Composure was personified. Left-foot volley. The net rippled. 0–2 up.
But we weren't going to have it all our own way. The opposition pressed on, looking for a way back into the game. Krissy pulled off an outstanding save from a smart free kick just outside the box. From the resulting corner, a shot was fired. Bill, protecting his vitals, was adjudged to have handled. The referee pointed to the spot. Krissy bounced on his line, ready to pounce, his hair glistening in the afternoon sun like a lion's mane. SAVED! Incredible scenes as the whole team gathered around their keeper, touching his hair and telling him what a legend he was. Krissy came to claim the resulting corner, caught it, dropped it, and one of their men tapped it in. 1–2. No matter.
Half-time.
The second half was end-to-end. The Whites defended resolutely. Our backline of Gav, Igor, Jean and Tinisi held firm. The game plan remained the counterattack. And we did counter, but failed to capitalise. Ala, ever the willing runner, was getting into good positions. Mark and Bill were going to the well to get every last drop of stamina out as they charged up and down the wings in search of the goal that would put us out of sight. Crosses just missed their targets. Moves broke down in the final phase. And when they did, the Whites found themselves scrambling back to ensure we didn't concede an equaliser. It felt like we were losing control. We couldn't hold on to the ball, conceding possession again and again and inviting pressure onto us. Igors, Ale and Jean all putting in last ditch blocks. Krissy was punching out crosses. Then disaster struck. Just 10 minutes from the final whistle, Auderghem drew level with a wicked cross-cum-shot that took a deflection and made it 2–2. Agonising for the Whites, who were desperate for three points.
But something felt different, you could feel the team still believed...
Krissy had the ball in hand. He cannoned it forward off his trusty right foot, and it fell to Pellegry, who knocked it back to Rich. Rich lobbed it over their backline as Ala and Nils scampered after it. The keeper came for it, but Nils got there first and looped it goalwards over the keeper. It looked like it was going in, Ala began to celebrate, but then the ball clanged against the crossbar. Oh no! Wait... As the ball dropped, SuperMark was there to nod it in. 2–3. Relief. Delight.
Hodgson has been preaching simplicity in dressing rooms for over 20 years, not only because football is more enjoyable when you have the ball, but because successful passes compound. With every pass that finds a man in a white shirt, the confidence within the team grows. This team is trending in the right direction.
And so, with that, RBBFC Vets 1 start their campaign with six from six. But more than that, they begin the season with a shared idea: a group of humble individuals can become a good football team.
