The last time V1 played Chiefs, 9 of us finished the match and held on for a famous 1-0 win. This time round, it was Chiefs turn to line up with nine men, although their tenth player did arrive just as third team captain and referee for the day, Sylvain, was sounding the kick-off little bighorn.

Our heroics back in March 2018 illustrated that you can’t rely on a numerical advantage to deliver a result, you need to earn it. We’d need Chiefs and Indians. Despite reminding ourselves of that fact in the team talk, it was clearly difficult to focus in quite the same way as we might have against 11 men. Chiefs had more of the ball in the initial exchanges and not too long into the first half took the lead. Their centre-forward got between our midfield and defence, attacked at pace, passed the ball to his right and his mate slipped the ball under the advancing goalkeeper for the day Damien.

0-1 down and then in quick succession Rafa and Lolo went off with wounded knees, replaced by the returning Oli N-G and Nel. With Rice hobbling up and down the left wing, our man extra advantage was beginning to look shakier than a tipee in a tornado.

Damien didn’t have much to do for the rest of the first half but neither did their goalkeeper. We were rushing our passes and trying to play forwards too quickly even if there was relatively little on. Chiefs were time wasting from the moment they took the lead and after adding a couple of minutes on to the 35 Sylvain blew for half-time.

You might have expected effing and blinding at half time but it was all peace pipes. Keep calm was the message from Lolo, play backwards, if necessary, the goals will come. Horacio was moved to the left wing with the immobile Rice going to stand up front alongside Marcelo.

The improvement in the second half was swift. Totti and Ed provided solidity at the base of midfield and Nel and Horacio began to cause real problems for the Chiefs defence.

With about 10 minutes of the half gone, Horacio picked up the ball just outside the Chiefs box, turned, and rifled a sweet curling shot into the bottom right-hand corner. Yee-haw! An absolute belter. A few man of the match votes were already written.

Bojan came on for Ced, who had been immaculate at left back. No injuries now please or our advantage would be completely gone. With Oli and Cian on the pitch that was far from guaranteed!

Hosky and Lars pushed our defence up to the half way line and we camped in their half pushing for a lead that was playing hard to get. Sheriff had an easier time scoring at the Bernabeu.

With about 15 minutes left, Horacio swung in a dangerous corner. Hosky made his presence felt distracting a few Chiefs, Nel got something on it at the far stick, knocking it back across the goal where Rice snaffled his third goal of the season.

Not to be outdone, Marcelo notched his sixth of the season shortly afterwards. There was a hint of offside but our Brazilian marksman didn’t hesitate, took the ball in this stride, and tucked it confidently past the onrushing goalkeeper.

Job done. A good day on the Rosieres plains.

MoM: Henriquez

Magaud – Giunti; Hoskins; Christensen; Cabaret (Gersak) – Legere (Nelissen-Grade); Ricketts; Henriquez (1-1); Rice (1-2); Cremades (Tsopo) - Delima (1-3)