In the end, we didn’t force their goalkeeper into making any serious saves, and so we can’t really have any complaints about the result.

Team line up: Sejersen, Hoskins, Morris, Waite, Erikssen, Bentham, Dehombreux, Yearsley, Gutierrez, Lewis, Harbusch;

Subs:None

After getting 4 points from 2 games, we entered this game in confident mood – even if our opponents were second in the league, and we were without Captain Dean, ex-captain Carl, ex-Lieutenant-Colonel Tony White, goalscorer Fernando, goal-provider Zoltan, & Paul Wrigley. Indeed, their absence provided Jeremy Bentham to put in his first full appearance of the season, after last week’s entertaining cameo.

With no subs, we opted for a 4-5-1 formation, with Frank up front, Jez and Mike G wide on the flanks, and Fred, Simon & Brian L forming a wee gem in the centre of midfield, and then Ian sweeping behind Brian M, Roger & Johann. The pre-match discussion was again boosted by a stirring skipper’s speech from Stockholm, recalling past victories at Bannockburn, the Battle of La Trinidad, and Waterloo (where Frank was happy to identify with an ageing Prussian general, who got lost on his way to battle – but nonetheless turned up in time to score a late winner). In Rosières in 2009, however, Frank advanced a completely different game-plan, suggesting that if we scored an early goal, we could then defend in numbers and catch them on the break. Early goal! When did that last happen, we all thought.

Little did we know that Frank had been staring into his crystal ball over breakfast. In the first minute, a move down the right flank allowed Brian Lewis to put in a decent cross which Freddy headed (!) brilliantly against the crossbar and Frank was able to pocket the rebound (by getting his leg remarkably high for this time of year). 1-0 for the whites.

Pharma seemed rather shocked by this, as predicted, and needed 10-15 minutes to get into their game. But then, they started attacking with great vigour, unaware, at that stage, of who was facing them from between the posts – Mr Tommy Sejersen, inspired by his captain’s recollection of the great Danish victory at Assundun.

This was the famous battle in England in 1016 when Edmund, son of Ethelred the Unready, suffered a devastating defeat by Danish King Cnut (often known as Canute in case of typographical mistakes). As with the Battle of Maldon, the site of Assundun in Essex has aroused much controversy in recent years over whether it actually took place in Ashingdon or Ashdon - although the latest research offers a plausible case against Ashingdon. (Yaaaawn! Ed.)

Anyway, having already been forced into action a couple of times, Tommy was quickly off his line to block a striker’s shot after a quick combination on the edge of the box had put him through. Unfortunately, the ball span off to another Pharma forward who shot goalwards. Now some people suggested after the game that the resulting goal should be credited as an own goal by Mike Gutierez. It is true that Mike did manage to kick the ball into the side-netting from maybe 1 metre in front of the line, but it is surely unfair to label him with such a statistic at this stage of the season, and we should acknowledge his efforts for the team in being there in the first place. 1-1.

Within two minutes, however, Pharma delivered a killer blow. With the defence having pushed up, Waite could not cut out a through ball to their centre forward, and he ran on as Tommy raced out of his box. The forward got to the ball first, but the keeper’s tackle was sufficient to block the ball, and it went spinning up in the air – with sweeper Ian Hoskins closing in on the scene. Unfortunately the spin favoured the attacker, and he was able to get to the ball to score a split second ahead of Hosky. 1-2. The ref blew for half-time 2 minutes later.

Leading 2-1, Pharma’s game play in the second half was different – to win as many free kicks as possible and to rely on counter-attacks. This allowed us to push forward more, and most of the second half was spent in their half with us the better team. Although we had a lot of possession and sometimes used the ball well, we were not able to carve out any clear chances. By contrast, they were getting a surprising number of free kicks and had at least 2 clear runs on goal, where Tommy was again able to show his class. There were moments when things got a bit niggly, and Roger was given yet another yellow card for a foul – although the ref managed to miss the retaliatory kick from the forward. Fred didn’t. *Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae*.

In the last 10 minutes, we managed to press forward more – and had a couple of corners, aimed at Simon, in the hopes of sneeking a draw. In the end, we didn’t force their goalkeeper into making any serious saves, and so we can’t really have any complaints about the result. Man of the match was no surprise - a resounding vote for Tommy.

Attention now focuses on next week’s must win game against Longchamp – third from bottom, equal on points with us. Win that, and we can probably rise to 11th.

Ends