RBBFC’s continued its imperious charge for the top spot in the division by putting a lowly, but battling Chenois team to the sword. This leaves the British in 2nd place moving in to the Christmas break, only 2 points off the lead, but with a 4 point gap back to the next challengers.

Torrid, swamp-like conditions were made no easier to navigate by either team’s players due to a pitch more suited to water polo than football at the RBBFC home base of Everberg. After a rather frantic build up to the game due to a shortage of delegues, the British were once more chomping at the bit to get the game started and bag another 3 points. Suspensions and travel commitments provided some selection headaches for captain Christmas, but despite naming a changed starting line-up RBBFC started the game brimming with confidence. After huddling together and reminding everyone they were here to “take pleasssurrrrrre”, the whistle blew and the British took to the task ahead.

The first few exchanges were relatively uneventful, the only actions of note being a free kick from Chenois that was well dealt with by Drury in the testing conditions and a scorching shot by Hodgson which the visiting goalkeeper did very well to keep out of the Chenois net. Despite all of RBBFC’s knocking in the first half they were unable to open the Chenois door due to some excellent goalkeeping by the Chenois goalkeeper and simple bad luck due to the worsening conditions.

The half time team talk highlighted that the key to gaining the required 3 points was to remain patient while maintaining a high tempo in order to breach the Chenois defense that was intent in spoiling both the RBBFC social evening later the same day, as well as spoiling the recent run of 7 straight wins with 0 goals conceded.

Eventually the break trough came after the inspirational Legere powered a shot following a poor Chenois clearance. The previously faultless Chenois keeper blocked the shot and then proceeded to perform some sort of juggling act with the ball! De Luca was evidently not impressed with the circus act and promptly moved in to put an end to the theatrics and put RBBFC 1-0 up.

Only a few minutes had past when the British extended their lead after a cool finish from top marksman Hodgson. The goal had looked at his mercy all day, but an inspired Chenois keeper had denied the golden boot leader the chance to claim a hat-trick in this game. However, this time Hodgson finished with aplomb – firing through the legs of Chenois defenseman before finding the back of the net after receiving a pass from Legere. It seemed that the game was in the books now that the British were ahead by two goals, but the referee who had previously “Booked Paul Gascoigne,” had other ideas.

Chenois had creditably mounted a couple of decent counter attacks since going 0-2 down and after a cross from the left Binning innocuously handled, rather shouldered the crossed ball. The attention seeking referee, following the letter of the law harshly pointed to the penalty spot in favor of the visiting team and despite guessing correctly Drury was helpless to keep a very well taken spot kick out off the net.

The score line was now going to test RBBFC’s mettle since this was the first goal conceded in 7 games, a fact which Captain Christmas duly informed the vain referee of. The British though proved they were up to the task, and the inspired substitution of Ville proved to be the decision that ultimately quelled any further hope of a Chenois fight back. Ville latched on to an almost telepathic pass from Legere to take on and beat 3 Chenois defenders before firing through the keeper’s legs.

The opposition heads went down and the British were rarely threatened from here on in apart from when Christmas fired a clearance directly in to the face of Guarnaccia, who at the half way point of the season is leading the chart for ball to face interactions – well done Massimo, keep it up!

Legere had the chance just before the final whistle to add a goal of his own to ice a wonderful individual and team performance under quite difficult conditions. Legere rose up like a salmon heading up stream and headed in a cross from the right to complete a quite accomplished performance.

The game was then played out without major incident. The final whistle blew suspiciously punctually. However, with 3 points and another clean sheet, the British weren’t complaining, an important away victory was complete.

Legere was clearly man of the match, though his after the match dance almost certainly meant that he lost some votes and Guarnaccia and Anderson both claimed deserved votes following excellent defensive performances especially considering the conditions. Other contenders this week were Binning who once again provided an outlet all game long on the left side with Rotalier providing and a threat. Christmas and McGrath linked up well on the right while Rodriguez held the fort well in the center of midfield allowing Legere to support the forwards Hodgson, De Luca and Ville who once again pressured the opposition well and finished chances.

MOM: Laurent “Take Pleasure” Legere

Reporter: Adrian Drury

ED: On Tuesday 9/1 we learnt that Chenois had forfeited the game for playing a suspended player which increased our goals scored by 1 and improved Adrian's very dodgy keeper's stats by 1 too.