Having now put together a run of 4 consecutive defeats...

Team: McAulay, Bentham, Macdonald, Wrigley, Eriksen, Waite, Glover, How, Edgley, Francey, Harbusch Sub: Maybrey Goal: Francey ? Reporter: Stuart Edgley

Having now put together a run of 4 consecutive defeats, today was the day to stop the rot and get another 3 points to keep distance between us and the 3 sides at the bottom of the table. We just needed to make sure we didn’t allow our normal habit of lowering and raising our standard of play to just below that of our opponents, as this was a game we could win.

McAulay was fit enough to start in goal after the pulled calf muscle the week before and the team looked pretty solid - at least on paper. Eriksen was getting his first start of the season after a fine MOM performance as sub the previous week. However, there was a surprise to the formation before the start of the game with Macdonald electing to play a more attacking formation of 4-3-1-2 with Francey being joined by Harbusch up front and Edgley playing just behind ‘in the hole’.

As customary Macdonald won the toss and on the day elected to play into a rather strong wind. The game started as usual with our opponents passing the ball around, going nowhere whilst we continued to get into the match. Eriksen settled in quickly making a good pass to get our fist move up and running and then..

And then our opponents broke down their right and Eriksen immediately went into the Arsenal routine of a taking a step, raising his hand and appealing for offside – a strange move considering he wasn’t our last man and their forward was in front of him – it all soon became clear. Eriksen had injured himself with that pass!! With a forward on the bench how would we reorganize, move the versatile Waite or how in the back 4, play with a back 3? Macdonald has other ideas, keep the team the same, minimum disruption – Maybrey to slot in at left back.

Onto the football and the wind was playing its part with neither team really playing particularly well. Then the first piece of football in the game resulted in a goal. The Tourinnois wide player got round the back, pulled the ball back to their forward who managed to turn and get his shot in, McAulay looked to have it covered but lost his footing and could only parry the ball into the net.

This seemed to wake the British who proceeded to have their best spell of the match but without really creating too many chances. The best effort was a fine snap shot from just inside the penalty box by Harbusch, which their keeper somehow managed to stop from going in the top corner by tipping it over the crossbar.

Then something very strange happened, the Belgium side resorted to a British trick and tried route 1 football. Their keeper launched a long drop kick straight down the middle over our surprised defense for a forward to nip in and score. Surprisingly there is no ABSSA rule to stop opponents doing this!!. 0-2 half time.

Well at least we’ve got the wind this half, lets play 3 up front, not let their back 4 settle and get the ball into the box. Not the prettiest of football but desperate times needs desperate measures.

After a few minutes it seemed to be working, Francey battled with a defender to win a header and then chased his own flick to battle with another defender just outside the box and whack, straight in the top corner 1- 2 we were back in it and Francey was celebrating his ‘goal’.

Then came a period of frustration for British as we were unable to really get hold of the ball and create any meaningful chances. The crosses did not come in despite Francey’s frantic shouts of ‘get it in the box’ as the Tourinnois sweeper managed his back line well.

Then late in the game came the goal to add insult to misery, a break down the right saw their forward chase the ball along with Wrigley and the oncoming McAulay, somehow, and nobody knows how, the forward got something to the ball and it went painfully slowly into the empty net – the laws of physics apparently not working in Everberg, 1–3 game effectively over.

Never wanting to give in, British continued to press forward and won a few corners but all in all, created little and rarely threatened a second consolation goal. Has to go down as our worst performance of the season.

No real contenders for MOM so Edgley got the sympathy vote (or was it to get him to buy a last beer), as it was his last game but for a couple of return guest appearances.

Makes next week’s game against the team immediately below us a ‘MUST WIN GAME’ and a true 6 pointer.

Footnote. It appears that the Francey ‘goal’ may not have originated from the trusty boot of Francey – a task for the dubious goals panel.