Good but not quite good enough
Reporter – Colin Reynolds
Team – Reynolds, Varrall, Ellison, Knott, Mazurkiewicz, Hyde, Gallagher D, McGrath, Gaukroger, Maybrey, Donnelly
Subs – Mann, Currie, Dartnell
MOM – John Ellison
Good but not quite good enough
After a 5 week break from competitive football Vets 2 met up at a bitterly cold stadium in Woluwe St Pierre. As we were let into the changing rooms there was a sudden burst of acceleration that has rarely been seen from Vets 2 this year as people dashed for the nearest radiators. The captain’s team talk was at least inspirational enough to get the players away from the radiator and onto the pitch. In true Vets 2 form we started brightly and then conceded a goal. John Ellison was marshaling the defence and John McGrath was doing a similar role in midfield. Jimmy Donnelly and Ian Maybrey were looking sharp up front. However on the first significant attack from Azur Vets 2 were one down. Keeper Reynolds appeared to have been confused by the flight of the ball/the fact that we had actually started the game/the sun shining on his bald head, whatever the reason he failed to stop the shot and flapped unconvincingly at it as it sailed over him into the net.
However Vets 2 are now made of sterner stuff and instead of conceding another goal we actually took the game to the opposition and began to create some chances. Gaukroger found himself in space on the left and whipped in a cross that Maybrey couldn’t quite get on the end of with either boot or head. Next up Kevin Hyde played the ball into Dermot Gallagher whose shot was blocked by the last defender. Good defending limited Azur’s chances but they nearly scored from a corner when a free header was smartly stopped by Reynolds. But finally the breakthrough, that we deserved, arrived. A good move in midfield gave the ball to Varrall on the wing, his pinpoint cross was turned smartly into the net by McGrath for the deserved equalizer.
Talk at half time was for more of the same and possible victory. For the first 20 minutes of the second half we sought the victory, Maybrey beat the keeper only to see his shot run wide of the right post. Vets 2 also had a couple of freekicks that threatened the opposition goal. But as time went on we began to look tired, Ellison continued to marshal the defence but finally we were undone. A shot was parried away by Reynolds in the direction of Knott, who swept the ball away straight to an Azur attacker. His cross/shot went over the advancing Reynolds and drifted into the goal at the far post. Vets 2 continued to push forward, Mann and Currie were brought on to aid us in our search for a goal. Finally we were nearly undone by our attacking endeavours and our fitness. Azur broke quickly and the ball was slipped to the far post, with Reynolds beaten Steve Mazurkiewicz saved superbly on the line. The Azur captain claimed a penalty and finally got booked for his troubles. We had one more chance from a free kick and then it was over.
Talk in the bar was off promising football mixed with some bad luck and that there was still hope for this season with 6 games left. It was good to be playing football again and the third half was judged a success especially the 33cl glasses which definitely sit in the hand better than their weedy 25cl cousins.
