Team: Graham, Morris, Wrigley, Waite, Praestergaard, Ledbury, Glover, Lewis, Bentham, Harbusch, Shiono. Subs: Eriksen, Taylor.

Goals: Lewis (3) Reporter: B.Lewis

The season well underway, form sides and relegation fodder being established. Vets 1 after a promising opening victory slumped to an ignominious defeat the following week. Only to rally in the third week playing well in an undeserving 1-0 defeat. A victory needed to repair morale and boost the points tally.

Azur FC provided the opposition, bottom of the table but improving with each result. The early dressing room banter highlighted no complacency against on paper weaker opposition and the need for SHAPE.

Various shapes took the field to form THE SHAPE as tactically Captain Harbusch opted for the 3,5,2 formation once again with a few knocks being carried by the starting eleven. The referee followed around 35minutes later to ratify the sideline administration marshalled superbly by delegue A Herrirty.

16.05, Toss won Vets 1 opted for field position : The pitch was another baked bobbler but VETS 1 immediately coped imposing the influence of THE SHAPE on the opposition with several early raids. Wing backs Praestergaard and Bentham restored as a composite force to feed Harbusch and Shiano with central midfield Glover, Lewis and Ledbury providing support. The early adrenaline flowed with VETS 1, after forcing the play an incisive run and subsequent upending on Lewis brought a free kick in Glover territory. A fine strike forced the goalkeeper to parry at his bottom left hand post only for Lewis to follow up and stab the ball over the line 1-0 after 6 mins.

The early exertions however had taken their toll on Bentham, Taylor replaced and Praestergaard moved to the right to accommodate the cultured left peg of Taylor. Azur had other plans and began to play, their focus all through the one player in the withdrawn role. The dividend a resulting corner by Azur and a blazing header which fizzed just over, alarm bells in defence. Unheeded, another corner and another blazing header passed Graham this time 1-1, Azur spirits were up.

It was a close contest after but VETS 1 were still threatening going forward with Waite, Morris and Wrigley holding firm at the back. Gradually restoring potency, with Glover peppering the woodwork from distance, Vets 1 forced yet another corner. Resulting in a Glover header across the goal to the back post for a trademark Lewispoach to prevent any defensive goal line clearance 2-1. The Vets responded swiftly again a flowing right hand side move with Harbusch centring it into the penalty area. The supporting Lewis on a darting run showed poor first touch before recovering and sending an effort goal bound only for a fine parry by the keeper. Half Time 2 - 1.

Half time Harbusch rallied the squad to tactically to snuff out their most influential player, Morris was given carte blanche as the shadow with Waite and Wrigley as back up.

2nd half, direct from kickoff a Glover through ball put pressure on their defence with the pace of Lewis and establish forward momentum for the Vets. Plenty of moves left side Taylor and right Glover provided another flowing manoeuvre and final pass by Shiono to a sliding Lewis to cause havoc on the Azur goal line as the ball fumbled over the line, 3-1.

After conceding a third, VETS 1 pushed on with careful attention still paid to the Azur most potent player, but when he had the ball a shadow appeared. Shiono then left the field to rousing applause from the assembled masses and Erikson entered the fray to add yet more shape and give the Azur defence a more physical presence to deal with. A nothing ball through the middle by Azur with offside shouts declined as a bewildered Azur forward raced to luckily put the ball under a valiant Graham who almost saved Vets 1 blushes again 3-2. With the game still alive Vets 1 had e few opportunities with scrambles in the Azur box, solid holding up by Eriksen and in swinging corners by Ledbury one of which clearly crossed the line except for a poorly positioned referee to deny a rare even

Overall good enough on the day for badly needed points with room for improvement.

MOM: Lewis