Like everyone else in the club, the division, indeed the whole of ABSSA, Vets1 were itching to get back out on the pitch after the twelve days of Christmas and two remise generale. With the mouth-watering prospect of a game against surprise league leaders Cosmos Molenbeek, there was a good turn-out at training on Wednesday and strong availability for the first game of 2018.

The mood in the changing room was good with Sejersen, Hoskins, Criado and Ledbury, buoyant at the prospect of a win before setting off on the annual ski trip that evening. Cabaret wasn't travelling but, confusingly, was the only one to arrive with luggage. Hoskins had brought the kit, which was a victory in and of itself.

We lined up 4-5-1, with Ledbury filling in for the suspended Christensen at centre-back alongside Waite and Knight given license to link the midfield with Leempoels in attack. Shape and patience were the two key words.

From the off, we looked stronger and sharper. They were intent on playing the ball out from the back and we were focused on stopping them. The first big chance came directly from a long Belfi throw in to the six-yard box, Knight got his noggin on it but flashed it wide.

A bigger opportunity was to arrive not long afterwards in the shape of a penalty. Belfi blasted a shot at goal from the edge of the penalty area and the referee adjudged the Molenbeek sweeper to have blocked it with his arm. Rice gave the keeper the eyes but unfortunately, he wasn't watching and made a reasonably comfortable save low to his left.

Stung by his weak penalty effort, Rice latched on to a lovely through ball from Knight, controlled it across the path of the last defender who unceremoniously tripped him. Possibly red, at the very least yellow, but you've guessed it - just a very light talking to.

from the resulting free kick - or quite possibly from another one a few minutes later - Levionnais swung in one of his trademark left-footers and Knight rose highest to plant a header back across the keeper and into the back of the net.

There wasn't much to say at half-time except for keep it up and try to take our chances in the second half.

It started as though we would. Belfi threaded a bouncing ball through the defence and Rice volleyed it first time back across the keeper and into the bottom corner. Clearly smarting from his penalty miss Rice ran to the corner flag and aimed a Karate kick at it. His team-mates trotted in his general direction to allow him some time to cool down.

We made three changes in reasonably short-order, Salvel for slope bound Criado, Sardaro for a hobbling Leempoels, and Sinikovic for the Limburg Bas.

We remained comfortably in control with the shape of the game largely unaffected and our defence untroubled. If anything, it looked as though we might extend our lead with Sardaro and Knight causing trouble with their pace.

What happened next is difficult to explain. Undoubtedly, the game opened up a little as legs began to tire. But we still should have closed the game out.

Waite was played in to a little bit of trouble with just under 10 minutes to go. The striker got their first and got a shot away, which was beaten away by Sejersen. We didn’t manage to clear it and after a bit of pinball it rebounded off the Molenbeek striker, who had little or no idea what just happened.

Five minutes later, their winger dived over an outstretched Vets1 leg and although neither a foul nor in the box, a penalty was given and duly dispatched, despite Sejersen nearly getting his fingertips to it.

Vets nearly snuck it at the end as Hoskins got a good shot away in the box. It was blocked, legally, by their tall central midfielder and that was that. Two points dropped but a very strong performance for 60 minutes. They were almost apologetic after the game and one of their guys told Waite that we were the best side they’d played all season.

We’d have preferred all three points but can look forward to next weekend with confidence. The season is young yet!

MOM: Knight