New Inn 1-4 RBBFC 1 (28/1/2012)

Run continues with comfortable victory in Kraainem

GK: Tommy Defense (r-l): Ed (Cam) - Dex - Rich - Didi Midfield (r-l): Alex (Endre) - Steve - Flo - Nik L (Blakey) Attack (r-l): Hodgy - Nils

RBBFC 1 kept the pressure firmly on league leaders La Lorraine with a well deserved 4-1 victory at New Inn.

Turning up at the ground, where a handfull of the coaching and playing staff used to ply their trade, they found a grass pitch which, although looking heavy, hadn't suffered as much as anticipated from the recent wet weather. The pitch could have been a leveller. Complacency could have been an issue. Not this time, not this season.

Order of the day was to start the game at a fast pace. Since the turn of the year the second half of matches has proven that our fitness levels are significantly stronger than those of our opponents. The same would be true today but if we could come in at the break already 2-3 goals clear we knew we would really be able to enjoy the second half superiority.

And so we got down to business. With our full backs instructed to get the ball driven in behind opposition defenders we had them facing their own goal and on the ropes from the off. Within 5 minutes we got exactly what we wanted, an early lead. The ball, which had been recuperated in the centre of midfield, was played in to Nils' feet. He, in turn, slipped Hodgson in on the right. Hodgson took the unselfish route of driving the ball across the face of the goal (read: scuffed his shot way off target) for S.Lamarra to push the ball home. 0-1 to the good guys.

We barely had to wait 5 minutes before we had a second. A free-kick from Nils was deflected high up into the air. Their keeper made just enough of a call to falsely reassure his defenders but not enough of a call to put Alex off. Alex used his power and athleticism to get that vital touch before anyone else and the ball looped peacefully into the back of the net. 0-2 to the good guys.

It was at this stage of the match that New Inn decided to wake up and make a game of it. Following an RBBFC free kick from the right New Inn managed to catch us on the break. They moved swiftly down the centre of the pitch and their centre forward soon found himself one on one with Tommy. Our Danish keeper got down fantastically to make a brilliant save from the initial effort. Sadly a big slice of luck meant that the ball ricocheted off the surrounding players and straight back into the forwards path who had a simple tap in. Concentration well and truly restored.

Thankfull we immediately set about restoring our superiority. We had already engineered a couple of good chances which came to nothing before Nils restored our 2 goal advantage. The ball broke to him on the corner of the 6 yard box. His left footed shot across goal was perfectly placed and, with a fortuitous bobble just as the oncoming defender tried to clear from the goal line, the ball nestled perfectly into the side netting. Half-time 1-3.

The order at half time was simple. With a bit of maturity we would increase our lead and be able to enjoy bringing the 3 points home.

New Inn threw everything they could at us but, to be honest, that wasn't much. They rarely penetrated our solid back line and when they did Tommy was at hand to pick up the pieces. We replaced Al with Endre and Blakey came on for Nik. We were looking dangerous on the break and Endre nearly made the game safe with a rocket of a toe-poke which hit the underside of the bar.

Eventually the game was over as a break away lead to the Keeper being miles out of his goal. Blake took it upon himself to cooly round the last man and slot the ball into an empty net. We could relax, the 3 points would be ours. We moved swiftly up to the bar to enjoy some hard-earned beers.

The adventure continues.

MOM: Steve Lamarra