Team: Mercelis / Billiet, McGrath, Mojena R., Bernardo, Lebbink / Ricketts, McGeehan, Lamarra / Vadora, Kellermann

Subs: Hodgson, Legère, Amundsen, Lachia

The afternoon started as usual. The team was reaching Rosieres, each in their own speed. Some arriving early, some late and some later. While the crew was already in the dressing room listing to Lolo’s tunes (something about only coming when you’re high …), there was still one key player missing. Some of us were in doubt whether the story that J5 having been arrested in Prague for indecent behaviour was true or false. Fortunately it turned out to be a hoax and his arrival was celebrated with much joy.

Being complete now, we anxiously awaited the, now already legendary, father-son poetry slam performance that would inform us on the line-up. The message they gave was clear. We needed to step up our game. As rituals are important, after officially announcing the best day of the week, Steve mesmerised us through the warm up which got our arms going and made us ready to launch. The match could start.

The opening sequence of the match might be described as follows:

Two Italian rbbfc players (small as well as tall) perform the art of a kick-off. They managed (and it still unknown how) to mesmerize the complete starting-eleven of our opponent Tourinnois. Whispers have it that the kick-off was of so exceptional beauty that those Tourinnois players who have seen it were left petrified. Realising their lack of movement, the two Italians were quickly launching the German on the right who found himself alone in front of the goalie. Being used to the perfect shape of our own goalie however he misjudged the chubby situation and his shot was saved.

After such excitement in the early seconds, surely the match would go on like this. Well, just, that it didn’t… We played very solid with the magic triangle in defence (J5, Dex, Nils) and the magic, yet bold, triangle in midfield (Ed, Rich, Steve) supported by the ever-running wingman duo of Maarten and Didi. That left Mickey and Thomas in the front, always looking for but rarely finding each other in the beginning of the match. One of the few clear chances was missed by Didi who found himself alone at the second post after a dangerous cross had slipped through the Tourinnois defence. His determined strike however was saved by an even more determined defender.

The lack of clear chances was enough for Mickey to explain his new game plan to Thomas. On one of the first occasions, they put that game plan into action combining for a nice one-touch passing that released Didi on the left. His splendid rainbow cross (according to John one of the two contenders for cross of the year) was targeted at the second post where to everybody’s surprise (mine included) Thomas found himself alone putting the right finish to this lovely counter-attack. BOUM. 1-0 up. Halftime.

The idea for the second half was clear. Get an early second goal and calmly navigate this match home. We further dominated and created many chances. The second goal finally came after one of the Tourinnois defenders slipped and we had a 3-on-1 situation leading to an empty net goal by Maarten (beautifully served by Rich thus adding to his papafootball assists). The opponent’s offense never looked sharp enough to score against us, which was partly due to their lack of quality but mostly due to our, once again, impressive performance in defence. And when they managed to get a shot on goal, it was surely saved by Kris or Kris’ face. Our substitutes made an immediate impact on the match with Sylvain also contending for cross of the year and Endre excelling in the reverse offside trap trick. Lolo and Hodgy added to a serious of undoubtedly good attacks, yet the attacks were not followed by another goal and the score remained 2-0.

On a sad note the match will also be remembered for putting an end to the impressive streak of uninterrupted play by Rich…

On a happier note the idea of ice-bathing seems to pick up…

Reporter & and one of 11 different MOMs this season: Thomas Kellerman