Last week in the absence of their roving reporter, vets 2 had the temerity to grab 3 away points, with a display by all accounts matching anything seen in the dustbin division in recent seasons. The new campaign in new higher echelons had started in resounding style

With a full complement of players, the mood in the camp was fairly optimistic, but realistic, bearing in mind Auderghem in season 2003-4 scored more than 80 goals and had won promotion at a canter from the D division.

On a warm late summer afternoon, the Bumblebee disguised as a referee blew his whistle. Within the first few minutes the visitors showed their intent, releasing crisp first time balls, fed via the midfield to their skilful front men. With the wind playing havoc in all directions. Auderghem’s innate sense of purpose directed their path to Colin Reynold’s weed patch in the “push and run“ style of all attractive sides, be it in the champions league or lowly ABSSA.

We were soon in trouble, with our defense still in the dressing room, the opposition, won possession in midfield, the ball was quickly fed into the path of their most skilful forward, just as Alex Knott came in to cosh him, the ball was sent at 45 degrees across the pitch onto the instep of another skilled intruder, who bypassing two of our defenders, ended up with ball at feet heading for our goal and glory.

Colin Reynolds had other ideas though, courageously coming out at right angles from his line, dived at Attila, but although his bravery was nearly rewarded, the forward jinked a further kilometer to his left and sent the ball majestically into the net. 0-1.

On 15 minutes, for some strange reason Auderghem started to relinquish their grip on the game, our boys started to impose their will on the proceedings. With Steve Gaukroger directing operations from the back, Dave Varrall, Adrian Cunningham and Alex Knott began to wise up to the trio from the opposition, their clever ploy of switching roles which earlier had caused all sorts of problems, was now well and truly taken care of. This also allowed Patrick Roosen and Pete Brown more room to get forward, aided and abetted by Jimmy Donnelly in his unfamiliar role as left back. This change in the state of play also served notice on Paul Firth, Barry Rasberry and Adi Talib that they could attack with impunity, which hither to was certainly not the case.

Attack after attack, corner after corner, we still could not get the equalizer, on several occasions after bravely breaking through on the flanks, Barry Rasberry chose to pass the ball to the overhead Air Lingus jet instead of looking up to the queue waiting for goal tickets right in front of him. On another occasion Pete Brown hit a volley from 20 meters out which would have done justice to Bobby Charlton in his heyday (sorry Pete I mean Roger Hunt) unfortunately the projectile just missed the target. Adi Talib should have also scored just as the half closed, standing on the goal line he contrived to head the ball over the bar, when the easy option would have been to stick it in the back of the net. Half – Time 0-1.

Deja-Vu, within 7 minutes of the restart we were another goal down…this time replace Adi Talib under the posts with an Auderghem forward… but the ball did end up in the goal. Two nil down, against the wind, against the elements and against Auderghem.

In this period it could have easily been 0-3. Auderghem missed another good chance to increase the score and in doing so probably win the match. But we stuck at it, with Paul Firth now emerging from his first half slumber and slaying all kinds of dragons in his wake, we quickly regained the initiative. Apart from the sleeping pills working overtime in the first 10 minutes of this half, we then proceeded to control all aspects of the contest.

Even down to Barry and Paul diving in the opposition’s net in a mock up of Torvil & Deans famous Bolero tryst on ice…the ice did enter the bucket by the way but Bumble bee saw an infringement or was that Barry’s stockinet on his thigh that turned his head. No goal. We kept trying, Jimmy D was now more or less free from his defensive duties, this meant more ball to man, ball to feet…ball and man in better attacking positions etc …etc…

Barry, Paul, and Patrick combined well right throughout this period…culminating in goal number one for vets 2. After battling away on the right flank and looking up instead of chasing aircraft, Rasberry sent in a peach of a ball to the waiting Adi Talib who smartly cracked the ball home. 1-2.

Goal number two came in exactly the same manner…again Barry foraging down the flank, beating defender after defender…finally lost out, but gained the corner…from the resulting cross Adi Talib was there again to smash the ball home. 2-2.

We pressed and pressed for the winner, goal scrape after goal scrape ensued but alas to no avail. Auderghem did however start to press in the closing minutes, this did cause a few scary moments, but justice prevailed, in fact of the whole 70 minutes we deserved to win… at least 70% of the game was ours today.

MOM: Barry Rasberry