Team: Mercelis / Minne, Bernardo, Thom / McGeehan, Hodgson / Gimenez, Novak, Donner (Petersen) /

Godeau (SiM'hammed (Billiet)), McGrath

EK183...to most on Saturday morning just a random collection of alphanumeric characters. However, to RBBFC1, the arrival time of the flight from Dubai would be the difference between having our recognised goalkeeper between the sticks or a re-shuffle. Thankfully the day started well, flight landed early Kris arrived on time and Jean kitted up for outfield duty...something that would prove to be a smart move.

John inspired us in the changing room with tales of Toranaga, the fictional wannabe Shogun, whose tactics down the flanks allowed him to attack effectively through the middle. You guessed it, order of the day was to play the ball wide and help create space for Thomas and Nils to score dem goals.

We were up against LTC2 who, before kick-off, had the meanest defense in the league, only 6 conceded, so scoring goals was not supposed to come easy. Imagine our joy, then, when within 5 minutes a neat passing move down the left found Nils in the box whose trickery LTC2 couldnt handle. A defender hacked him down and the ref didn't hesitate. Jean stepped up and struck a sweet shot top left. 1-0 to the good guys.

Our joy was short lived though as 2 major incidents would cloud our great start. First striker Thomas G went down with a bad ankle injury and had to be immediately replaced. Thomas will undoubtedly miss significant game time but fingers crossed he'll be back strong in 2020. To compound our misery a mix up between Ben and Kris lead to the LTC2 equaliser - their striker effectively looping a header into an unguarded net.

Thankfully, and as has been a trait of this team for the past decade, resilience is a very strong point. With Tarik now playing on the right and Daniel up front we managed to re-take the lead within 5 minutes. Again a few connected passes lead to Tarik playing a first time ball across the box. Joaquin made a great run in from the left and slotted in at the back post. Great cross, great finish, lovely goal.

Surely we'd hold on to this lead now until half time. Nope, ref had other ideas. From a long throw Jean moved across to win a strong header. No appeals, no nothing but the ref decided to award a penalty. Harsh.

LTC2 sent Kris the wrong way and we went in at the break 2-2.

Message at the break was to have Luka drop a little deeper, trust our fitness would pay, keep playing the ball from side to side and stop giving away fouls.

Message received. From the first whistle in the second half we were on top. A free kick from deep allowed us to regain the lead. Rich played the ball to the far post. Ben smartly headed back across goal where Jean was lurking at the back post to finish into an unguarded net. 3-2 and this time we wouldnt let the lead slip.

In fact it could have been more as we played some really good stuff to close the game out. Joaquin had a good chance when he beat the offside trap from a long ball and lobbed the keeper....but the ball bounced agonisingly wide.

Maarten and Jacob came on to great effect. Maarten immediately showing what we've missed with his pace and power. He drove down the left, cut in on his right and hit a thunderous strike which their keeper somehow manage to tip onto the bar.

The only other notable action of the second half was a great piece of football genius from Nils. He received the ball 40 yards out. Nobody else had spotted their keeper was off his line but Nils is one step ahead. He mustered all the power he had and went for the lob. If only the ball had actually left the ground it surely wouldve been a goal of the season contender.

We defended a couple of last ditch long ball attempts from LTC2 but held out for a strong win against a good, confident opponent.

Mom votes shared predominantly between goalscorer Jean and Hodgy with the latter taking the last set of votes for the win.

MOM & Reporter: Andrew Hodgson