After two weekends of "Remise” caused by bad weather and an incredible amount of snow, it was not a promising windy, gloomy and wet day in which RBBFC Vets 1 was looking for a victory that could place them in the upper part of Div 6A table. However, a speech of captain Rice delivered in preparation of the game, expelled the clouds and rain. Rice recalled the memories of the last game when Vets 1 beat Goalois, underlining two crucial things that the team showed in that game: will and effort.

From the very first minute of the game, Vets 1 imposed an initiative, controlling the game in the middle part of the pitch. Sporadically, however, the opponent succeeded to make a couple of counterattacks and occasionally gave the long passes to the strikers that the "Vets’ fortress” made of Sejersen – Cabaret – Christensen – Ledbury- Yearsley solved very effectively.

Good play in the middle and along the wings resulted in a good move into the depth of opposition territory for Vets’ strikers Griffiths and Moreuil, who missed the opportunity to put the ball in the net. A special threat for the opponents defence was Vets1 breaking from deep and adding players through the middle, especially the constantly moveable Darran Knight who went through on the Goalois’ goalkeeper, but instead of shooting, he tried to square to Ben Griffiths and the chance was gone with the wind.

The attacks were repeated in waves, but without any effect, only bad luck. Particular misfortune for Vets 1 was the situation when "game-builder” Lolo Legere had to go out because of injury at the end of the first half, replaced by the agile, ageless, Duvnjak. After his arrival, the pressure was increased, but still the score remained the same.

During the half time, the captain told to the team to keep the ball on the ground, to continue with the effort and pressure, and to speed up transition and passes of ball to the front for Griffiths and Moreuil.

Following the advice of the captain, in the second half Vets 1 kept the initiative. Criado Alonso came on for Levionnais with Yearsley moving up a row to increase the pressure on the opponents defence. The goal had to come, surely. Moreuil dropped the ball in for Griffiths who put in a great shot on goal but the goalkeeper was in the right place. Yearsley had a headed opportunity to score, however the ball didn’t find its way to the net. Knight hit the bar with a soaring header from a delightful corner.

The pressure was constantly made in the middle and front, but the Goalois’ defence was so dense that it was almost impossible break it through. When Vets 1 took a risk and played very offensive, it was an excellent opportunity for counterattacks from the Goalois’ strikers. They made several good forward outings but that was solved very effectively by "the granite wall” of Christensen – Ledbury – Alonso or by "the octopus” Sejersen.

The best chance for Goalois was at the end of second half when they developed a fast counterattack from which their front player was alone on goal, but the defensive line was faster and caught him and the goalkeeper, "the brave” Tommy Sejersen, took the ball off his feet by falling onto the legs of opponent player. This was the best situation from which we could see the "will and effort” that was sought being applied in practice.

To sum up, despite the effort, initiative, and pressure during the whole game, Vets 1 only missed a goal to crown a good performance. At the end, we can conclude this report with the impression that this match was a good opportunity to win and secure a peaceful Spring in the middle of the table. We wish more luck and precision for Vets 1 next time.

Team: Sejersen

• Cabaret, Christensen, Ledbury, Yearsley (Alonso) - Rice, Legere (Duvnjak), Knight, - Griffiths, Moreuil, Levionnais.

MoM and Reporter: Zvonimir Duvnjak.