TEAM: Sejersen; Jensen, Waite, Morrris, Taylor; Vennemann, Ledbury, Hoskins, Criado; Yearsley, Ramos; Subs: White, Gutierrez, Eriksen; [If you don’t believe us, look at this year's team photo.]

After a very mixed first 3 games - won 1, drawn 1, lost 1 -Vets 1 took to the pitch in Wemmel knowing that victory was very important. Which face of Eriksen's merry band would take to the field this week? In personnel terms, there was room for optimism as Tommy and Neilo returned to the fold for the first time this season - at keeper and left back respectively.

The gaffer also opted to give our new darting Dane, Ulrik Jensen, his first start at right back after his remarkable assist to our equaliser the previous week, coming off the bench. Not only had he chased an absolute lost cause of a pass with very impressive speed, but he also managed, while sliding, to put in an inch perfect cross between the defender and the keeper onto the head of the onrushing Yearsley. Would Ulrik be able to show that this was not a fluke?

Elsewhere in our 4-4-2 formation, Carsten Vennemann came in for his first game of the season, and Yearsley was given the right to roam behind our Spanish spearhead Ramon Ramos. It was also nice to see Mike Gutierrez back in the squad.

On a good grass pitch, new to ABSSA this season, Wemmel soon realised they were in for a torrid time with Ramos and Yearsley giving their defence problems from the start, and Hoskins surging from midfield. Vets 1 soon took control and a number of chances emerged. Ramos, Yearsley and Hoskins went close, and Criado had a bit too much to stretch from close range after a good knock down by Ledbury (!) at the far post.

But the breakthrough finally came after 20 minutes from an unlikely source – a set piece we practised in training pre-season. Without wishing to divulge too many secrets about this ploy – devised by the wily coach – Hoskins put in a great ball from the corner straight onto Roger Waite's head, and the keeper had no chance. 1-0.And Roger's first goal in competitive football for 2½ years.

Everything seemed to be working well, with Taylor and Criado combining well on the left (despite the mud patch) and Jensen and Vennemann down the right. Then, 5 minutes before half time, there was a setback. Morris was harshly adjudged to have raised his foot too high just outside the penalty area, and their midfielder sunk the free kick with a nice left foot curler which gave Tommy no chance. 1-1. Although we kept on dominating, with Ledbury having an exciting duel with their playmaker in midfield, there were no more clear chances before half time.

With Taylor having run out of puff, Tony White added a bit of Canadian guile to the team in the 2ndhalf, with Fernando dropping back to left back. There was also a discussion at half-time about switching Ulrik with Carsten. We left things as they were, but with Ulrik encouraged to get forward. And sure enough, 5 minutes into the second half, the darting Dane proved that the previous week was not a fluke. The man who is a fisheries inspector by day, showed the speed of a dolphin and the slipperiness of an eel (and the grace of an orca) carrying the ball from half way, taking his defender one way and then the other and then burying his shot like a harpoon into the bottom corner. 2-1.

Unquestionably the best individual goal of the season so far. At this stage, Mikey G came on at right midfield, and was soon able to show some of his old tricks, despite the difficult conditions on that side of the pitch. A few minutes later, the victory seemed to be sealed. Another corner from the right, and after Yearsley's header was blocked, there was Mr Waite on the penalty spot to tuck away the rebound with his left foot. 3-1, and most of the RBBFC fans (Oscar and Anton) went wild.

With Wemmel now demoralised, Vets 1 stepped up the pressure, but somehow managed to fail to add to the score. In part because of a curious refereeing decision not to award a goal when Simon Yearsley bundled the ball over the line. "It was even further over the line than Frank Lampard's shot against Germany in South Africa", the frustrated Yorkshireman claimed afterwards.

However, the main reason for no further score was their keeper – usually a midfielder, it later emerged – who had an inspired day. Chance after chance – Ramon, Simon, Mike G, Nando, Tony, Ian – either we managed to hit him when shooting (!), or he made an inspired diving save – notably from a Waite header from a Gutierrez corner that was heading into the top corner. But 3 goals in 1 game after a 3 years gap would have been a bit excessive – and might have meant, statistically, that Roger would not score again until he's in his 50s!

To Wemmel's credit, they kept going. Carl's battle with their playmaker ended after a nasty elbow to the ribs, but he was ably replaced by a man who knows how to look after himself, Johan. With Morris having marked his man out of the game, a quick break two minutes before the end saw their centre forward through on goal. This merely allowed Tommy to show his class and dive like a pike at the feet of the striker.(The fish, not the medieval weapon.)

Even though the bar was driving distance from the pitch, the post-match celebrations were improved by the provision of a very nice range of sandwiches by the home team, and drinks provided by joint man of the match winners – Ulrik and Roger. A bye next week means that we have 2 weeks to get ready for the next challenge - ITT away.