It’s a funny old fixture list. Our last game of 2018 and our first competitive match against les Irlandais since a precious win in February 2017, when Cajade and Waite got the goals. We played them in a pre-match friendly in August and ran out convincing 3-0 winners but we were at close to full-strength then while they were missing several stars.

Availability was as it should be for a derby – plentiful. Salvel and Sinikovic lent a hand to Vets2 for their game against Irlande 6 and played a big part in a 2-0 win. Cabaret, Criado and Levionnais were unlucky to start on the bench, victims of a daring change in formation for such an important six-pointer with bragging rights.

Three at the back(stop), Christensen-Xmas-Waite. Knight and the returning Pellegry as wing-backs. Ledbury, Rice and Legere in the engine room. Griffiths and Moreuil up top.

The new formation was an adjustment and it must be said that the Irish – well, similar to ourselves, the one Irishman and his very international bunch of compadrés – were quicker in to their stride. Somehow, they were outnumbering us in midfield and getting runs in at our defence. Our back three were letting nothing through – a hard border on the edge of our box - but could do nothing to stop a speculative shot from range that went over Tommy, clattered against the underside of the bar and came down just over the line before it could be scrambled clear.

We stuck to the pre-game plan and, while the Irish continued to get space on the ball, we created the better opportunities. A lovely move down the left saw Pellegry centre for Moreuil free in the centre – the ball came in waist height, however, and Matt lifted the shot just over the bar. From a free kick just outside the box, their keeper spilled a lovely Legere shot into the path of the onrushing Rice but a defender performed heroics to get there first and hoofed the ball into the airport.

Their defence was showing signs of strain and it was from a corner that they failed to clear that Pellegry was able to turn the ball home with his unfavoured right foot to score his first goal for Vets 1 in only his second appearance. Game on!

In the second half we had more control of the ball and were relatively untroubled defensively. Cabaret came on for Ledbury with Knight moving in to the centre. Waite made way for Criado, Levionnais came on up front for Griffiths. Despite being more comfortable than in the first half, we struggled to create any real opportunities and your correspondent is struggling to remember a single noteworthy attacking move to report. A ceasefire almost. Both teams became frustrated and a match that was played in a good spirit began to get a bit niggly towards the end.

Peace was maintained and in the bar after the game both sides were agreed that a draw was a fair result. The point serves our cause more than it does theirs, we remain seven points ahead of them as we head in to the final three months of the season. Job done, Vets 1 headed in to town to celebrate a successful footballing 2018. Roll on 2019!

MOM: Pellegry