Team: Sejersen, Eriksen, MacDonald, Waite, Shiono, Bentham, Taylor, Lewis, Gutierrez, Sigursson, Harbusch.

Subs : Ledbury, White

Scorer: Gutierrez

For the second week in a row Vets 1 were playing Besace. Having beaten them comfortably 2-0 at home last week, and having beaten them 4-0 in the corresponding fixture last season, you could say we were confident of three points and a chance to go back to the top of league. Add to this that their best player was missing and the odds were staked in our favour. However as Jimmy Greaves once said "football is a funny old game"

We started with just one change from last weeks side. Local boy Taylor replacing General White (who was later to call in an airstrike if things didn't go our way) in the centre of midfield. So off we went and in the early exchanges Vets 1 looked fairly comfortable. I should point out at this stage that the reporters views may differ from that of his team mates (and usually does) Anyhow I think around ten minutes into the game Vets 1 were awarded a free kick around twenty five yards out and to the left of the goal. Up stepped Mad Mike, who lashed the ball into the top corner of the net.....what a strike, giving the keeper no chance. 1-0and we were on our way, or were we!!!!

As the half progressed, Vets1 looked the better footballing side, but Besace looked to want it more. The reporter feels that our opponents were getting to the ball first, winning more tackles and not allowing Vets1 to create anything. Half way through the half, Besace had a free kick outside the box. As we had seen from last week they could strike a good free kick, and the taker did just that. The ball was struck just inside the up right.....but we've got Tommy, who stretched and managed to get a hand to the ball tipping it away, but unfortunately not out of play. Whilst myself and the rest of the team stood and watched Tommy's save in awe, the Besace strikers reacted quickly, and after their forward had quite clearly scoped the ball back into his path with his hand, he then put the ball in the net. Despite our protests the goal stood. 1-1.

At half time, Taylor made way for the Caribbean's newest golf star and tournament winner Ledbury (who strangely enough looked paler than before his travels) as a straight swap in midfield. The second half progressed much as the first. Besace were now sitting a little deeper and coming under increasing pressure as Vets 1 went looking for the three points. However all was not well, and at one point Eriksen shouted out " how the f...k can Billie Bunter be running through the midfield unchallenged" or words to that effect.

After the game, Ledbury commenting on Eriksen's fourth card of the campaign said "There was nothing more certain" Around midway through the half a Besace break looked to be coming to nothing, until a hopeful but tame shot, struck Brian Lewis and spun up in the air and over the outstretched Tommy. How f...king lucky can you get. Anywhere else and it was not a problem, but still now it was 1-2, and panic stations. General White replaced Shiono at right back, and Mr Calm (Roger) pushed Eriksen and White further forward leaving himself and Macdonald one on one at the back.

From here on in, it was constant Vets1 pressure. Some great passing and good running from Lewis, Gutierrez, Ledbury, White, well just about everyone. Gerd Harbusch showed his good dribbling skills on the edge of the box, but it just would not fall for us. When we did manage a shot on target, the Besace keeper showed good hands. One has to ask why did we not play like this at the start? The running on and off the ball was now excellent, we were winning all the tackles and showed why we have been in the top two all season. In the end it did not happen and we recorded our third defeat of the season, two of which are against sides in the bottom half of the league!

Man of the match went deservedly to Mad Mike for a good all-round performance, although he was pushed by Lewis for the honour. Fortunately for Vets 1 the team above us also lost, so the gap at the top is still only three points. The league is much tighter now, with the chasing pack closing in, and some tough away fixtures to come (ITT, LTC and BUFC) but if Vets 1 can learn from this and show some 'Yorkshire grit' we know we are the best side in the division, we just need to go on and prove it.

MOM: Gutierrez