After a sour 2 - 0 defeat at Rosières against the mighty Irish, there could only be one outcome to this game. Revenge was on the menu and it would taste very sweet.

The British lined up a solid squad for this fixture, which would take place on a fine early spring day in the green Irish cauldron. The warm up session was quiet and thorough, as everyone knew pleasure and rejoice would come after hard work.

With an unusual 3-5-JB–2, the Brits conceded the kick-off to the Irish mariachis (short, stout, and spanish-speaking). The whistle blows, and JB realises soon enough that this formation is a BAD idea!!!! He shouts at the referee for diversion, and runs back to his goals. And we were back to our usual 3-5-2. Warn us next time JB!

The game is off to a good start for the Brits. Focus and fighting-spirit are words that can sum up the first half. No early goals in sight, but the Brits are multiplying the combinations, and are systematically preventing the clumsy Irish striker from being able to get a clean shot at goal.

Halfway into the first half, disaster happens. Gerry receives a sloppy ball on the left-hand side, which he manages to brilliantly cover from his opponent. So well in fact that the Irish bloke realises he can only win this duel by playing sneakily, and so he does. He pulls Gerry’s arm and swoops him off his feet. Gerry bounces off the ball with his arm first, which at first looked innocent. The foul was blown, but Gerry remains on the floor, like a wounded gazelle in the Serengeti. Gerry is typing/talking? check. Gerry is cursing in Spanish at the opponent? check. Gerry can move his left arm? No he can’t. The heartless Irish injure a valuable player from our squad, and they can’t even be bothered to call an ambulance!!! Their délégué was as useless as a chocolate teapot. He couldn’t use his telephone to call an ambulance even his life depended on it, and even some drunken lads from the bar, with the help of our mighty Simon Müller, managed to call an ambulance before he had time.

This was a game-changer. We had to win this for Gerry, who would not be able to witness the rest of the game. We just couldn’t bring him the bad news of a defeat. Only minutes after, A long throw into the box from Ben on the right hand side, flicked over the Irish defense by Dobbo’s head right to the centre of the box, where Divine rises above their tallest defender, hammers the ball in the back of the net, and knocks his opponent in the process. The player rolled on the floor in seeming pain, claiming a foul, but the ref wanted none of it. 0 - 1 for the Brits.

Second goal follows shortly after. Chilly Willy (William) opens up play to T-bag (Thomas) on the far left sideline, T-bag sees a gap onto Salva at the edge of the box. Swift low pass (low passes always punish lads!) through the defence, ends up in Salva’s feet, facing away from the goal. A quick turn leaving the defenders still looking for the ball, and a neat right foot past the right of the keeper makes it 0 - 2 just before half time.

The second half is off to a good start, the pressure is maintained and the Irish are losing their temper. The British stick to their game and are soon rewarded by a third goal from…. Shaggy (Sam Boribon)!! However many times he says it wasn’t him, it bloody well was. The guy volleys it at the back of the net with a right foot cracker. Dobbo’s assist was questionable, but the finish definitely wasn’t! 0 - 3.

Any experienced ABSSA member knows it is often better to not question the referee’s incompetence and keep it quiet. In the heat of the action, this unspoken rule seems to be overlooked, and this is precisely what took that clean sheet away from the British. JB, usually wise in his words and composed in his actions, has failed to stick to his principles. This is how the story actually went down… Irish free-kick outside JB’s box, 22.78 m out to be exact, JB positions his wall hastily, but the Irish free-kick taker, playing on the referee’s weakness (or incompetence), decides to have a go before the whistle is blown. Result: an inch away from the top left corner, OUT. Phew, close to losing that clean sheet. Oh wait… someone is getting agitated on the pitch. It’s the British Goalkeeper, JB himself! He is telling the referee off because the whistle wasn’t blow before the free kick was taken. Lesson learned for the referee, thanks for your wise words again JB! Such wise words in fact, that the referee decides to apply JB’s advice on the spot, and have the free kick retaken with this time, the blowing of the whistle! Second attempt, punched out by JB, but the rebound is taken by an Irishman who whips it past and in the back of the net. 1 - 3. Morale of the story: we suck at defending on set-pieces, so let’s improve that! JB could have talked 10 times to the referee, we should have been able to prevent a goal ten times.

Well done folks, our best game this year thus far, and let this performance be an example for future games, and the title is ours!