GK: K. Mercelis Defence R-L: S. Lambrecht / D. Bernardo / J. Mojena / A. Lamarra Midfield R-L: E. Amundsen / R. McGeehan / S. Lamarra / F. Schick Attack: A. Hodgson (Capt.) N. McGrath Subs: L. Legére / K. de Roeck / N. Lambers / D. Lebbink

In a hidden corner of Boitsfort, RBBFC’s second half showing was enough to earn the three points that extend their winning run to nine games and maintain the pace at the top of the league.

On an overcast day, RBBFC travelled to Coin du Balai for what was originally the final scheduled match of the season looking for three points against opposition who had already taken two points off them earlier in the season. Following a poignant minute’s silence in memory of the victims of the recent coach crash in Switzerland, the game got off to a cagey start with Coin deploying a 4-5-1 system and seemingly happy to allow the British to control possession. With a narrow pitch and unadventurous opposition it was proving difficult to break down the defensive lines although one flowing move (highlights available on YouTubeand in all good DVD stores) saw S. Lamarra somehow pick out the keeper’s head with an athletic(ish) close range volley.

With the exception of the odd long ball scare, RBBFC were the ones doing the attacking with Coin happy to sit back and defend deep. As this pattern continued it appeared that the tactic would prove successful as the British struggled for tempo and were unable to release their strike runners down the flanks on a regular basis.

The ploy of allowing the Brits to play out from the back came back to haunt Coin though as the ball was fed in to S. Lamarra who, given time to turn, unleashed a low shot that cannoned off the post and found its way in to the back of the net. 0-1 the score and that was the way it remained until half-time and at the break the score was a fair reflection of a half controlled by RBBFC.

With the starting eleven having done enough to avoid the Coach McGrath half-time hairdryer of recent weeks, the talk at the interval was about upping the tempo and not dwelling too long on the ball. Score the next goal and the conventional wisdom suggested that the three points would be British and the starting eleven once again took the field at the start of the second half.

Indeed, up the tempo they did as RBBFC’s very own holy trinity of Lamarra (S), Hodgson (A) and McGrath (N) began to take the game by the scruff of the neck. The pattern of attack against defence was once again established and an early foray down the left flank brought a free kick on the angle of the box for the men in white. Whipped in by McGeehan, a run across goal from S. Lamarra was enough to wrong foot the keeper as the ball settled in the corner of the goal. 0-2 to the away team and, despite desperate yet predictable claims from S. Lamarra, the video evidence so often lacking in the modern game confirmed it was McGeehan’s goal.

With the Lambrecht-Bernardo-Mojena-Lamarra defensive axis untroubled at the back and the killer second goal in the bag, the game was more or less over as a contest but RBBFC were in no mood to sit on their lead as they looked to improve their goal difference and finally provide their loyal supporters with the performance the recent winning run had been promising.

Thus two soon became three as Captain Hodgson, released down the left channel, rifled an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. Playing at tempo and rampant down the flanks through Amundsen, Schick and his replacement, Lambers, the British were enjoying their best spell of the game. Step forward the goal-hungry N. McGrath to prey on a tiring defence and take his season’s total into double figures with two strikes, the second of which was a classic volley from the edge of the area that pierced through the heart of Coin’s last strands of resistance.

0-5 to the visitors and time for RBBFC to call on its impressive strength in depth as Legére, De Roeck and Lebbink entered the fray to guide the team to the final whistle and beyond as the Saturday afternoon footballer’s buvette nirvana beckoned. Finally, a performance to match the result but tougher challenges lay ahead.

Match Report Richard McGeehan

MOM : Steve Lamarra/ Richard McGeehan