RBBFC3 went into Saturday with the opportunity to go thirteen points clear of third placed Patjes although they have a game in hand. A loss could mean that St Georges close the gap to 5 points with crucial games to come against Sicula this weekend and St Georges near the end of the season.

This was made abundantly clear in the pre-match briefing by captain JB, the thirds seemed ready and up for the challenge ahead as did Patjes. The team was Romain in goal, Ben, Ian and Simon in defence, Tom, Gerry, Karim, JB and Jon in the midfield, Salva and Sioux in attack and Jimmy and Divine on the bench.

The game kicked off and was immediately a high paced game featuring end to end football and goal scoring opportunities for both teams. Both teams were playing good attacking football and there were hard but fair challenges from both sides, aerial duels were fiercely contested as were fifty fifty's.

The scoring was opened by Patjes in the middle of the first half, it came from a corner when a player found too much room in the six yard box and finished with a free header. 1-0.

The response was intense and meaningful, RBBFC reacted strongly and attacked but without prevail until Karim struck a shot from range which bounced and skidded on the wet surface, bouncing in front of the keeper and sliding into the bottom left corner. 1-1, and all equal on the stroke of halftime.

So when half time came, both sides were probably happy to be equal, RBBFC just edging it on chances made but Patjes looking very dangerous on the counter attack and getting behind the RBBFC defence on more than one occasion.

The second half began with more of the same from both sides, meaningful attacks coming close but both defences and goalkeepers unwilling to budge, Salva found the cross bar, another attack saw a header go over when it should have found the target at least, Patjes had opportunities go begging when they could have taken the lead.

With ten minutes to go, Patjes got a corner, surely lightening wouldn't strike twice, but it did, a well placed near post corner was somehow scrambled in and Patjes looked like closing the gap to the thirds and causing just a second defeat of the season. But, in the last ten minutes RBBFC3 piled on the pressure and looked likely to score, meeting yet, more and more resilience and looking prone to a counter attack but neither team scored a goal in the closing stages.

Full time, 1-2 Patjes win and close the gap but news comes through that St Georges lose, the gap remains at 7 points to Patjes who may have a game in hand, RBBFC3 head to Sicula next weekend in search of a return to winning ways, there aren't many games left but there is still a long way to go!

MOM: Jon

Reporter: Ben

Goalscorer: Karim

Crowd: Father Brian, Kevin & son, Damian and those from other teams cheering on the thirds as always! Thanks for your support!

We go again this weekend! Come on you thirds!