Team:

K. Mercelis, J. Minne, D. Bernardo, S. Lachia (R. Adams), S.Springob, A.Hodgson, R.McGeehan, J. Gimeno Blanco (D. Lebbink), J. Philpot, N. McGrath, D. Donner.

Ladies and gentlemen the ABBSA season 2018-19 has finally started. First game of the season: RBBFC - Brussels LTC.

LTC are visiting the defending champions after a great friendly game a few weeks ago, in which the British got the message that this won’t be an easy game at all.

It is no longer pre-season, and captain Rich underlined this pretty clearly in the changing room: now we are talking about the League, this is a three point game and the beginning of our journey along 25 challenges. We want to show our value, trying to achieve the maximum ABSSA award.

Looking for that "something” in the best day of the week (we miss you Steve), we start the game with a good approach. No risk for our "Orange is the new goalie” Kris, thanks to the solid defenders that jump, tackle and run on every single ball, blocking the attempts of the talented LTC front line. In the meantime, and with some difficulties, we are trying to move the game more and more into LTC’s area. Intensive work for our midfielders in covering the space and trying to put Nils and Daniel in favorable conditions for shooting.

We realized fairly quickly that we are not that strong on high balls, so we change our tactics and we start to move the ball into the wings: Jean from the back and Rich from a more central spot, playing good long balls for James first and Daniel later, both shots went close to the post but just the wrong side. Nothing changed the score, not even when a good corner, ‘aimed’ by Rich to the first post and luckily rebounded off a couple of ”white-shirt” knees, put rolling ball close to the goal, where it was stopped by the fast reactions of the LTC goalie.

The first half was characterized by the correct approach, but a weak final third approach from both teams. The second part starts on the same track, we see a little stronger attempt from LTC in pushing the British back to their orange last defender, although LTC introduced too much space in between their line: a nice volley from 25mt and another good shot that ends on Kris’ left side, but still no real risks. Taking advantage of this space, the British runners were able to receive easier and cleaner balls for 1-vs-1; James and Joaquin, taking confidence on their skills, show good moves and run into the space for dangerous crosses, Daniel had two/three good shots and even more trouble arrived by moving the expert Nils to the back, leaving space for a younger Roby upfront.

Still 0-0, and 5’ to play. Another corner kick, another ball saved by LTC, and a second one and still the same. One more, too long for everybody, long for Jean’s head, Roby’s head and Dex too. It almost bounced half a meter near the second post, almost..because at the very last second a black shoe appeared and kicked that ball under the bar, in the goal and it changed the score into the final result of British 1-0 LTC. That right foot was Nils’ (aka "it’s my birthday” aka "I-prefer-to-score-as-defender”) McGrath foot.

First game of the season, first 3 points of the season, first deserved victory of the season.

Reporter and MOM: Dex Bernardo