A 2-2 draw doesn’t sound much but this felt like a seismic, coming-of-age result, for a pure Fusiliers team (both other Vets teams were occupied elsewhere), away at Richmond who sit third in the league.   

To have imagined conjuring this performance and result twelve months ago would have seemed like fantasy, when score lines at home were more likely to read 9-1 down!  It is very much a credit to Vad’s determination, not to say stubbornness, to make this project of a new team a functioning, competitive reality. 

We weren’t perfect by any means; it was probably an 80% performance with frustrating poor concentration and technique, with balls missed or sloppy passes straight to a maroon shirt.  But in a way, this makes this more impressive, we went toe to toe with one of the better teams in the league and still have room for improvement.

For the most part, our passing was quick and accurate, no one tried to do too much individually, the structure held firm and the movement was excellent.  We started brightly, stringing passes together and probing the Rogue's defence.  I suspect they were a tad complacent, expecting an easier ride and were quickly disabused as we swarmed all over them.  So, it was particularly disappointing to go a goal down to a routine short corner but having said that, our heads didn’t drop, and we responded pretty quickly.  A smart pass from the very busy Gerry to Yours Truly in the D, then slipped towards a hungry and waiting Barnesy and we are level at the break. 

It was an even game and end to end. Still, we let the Rogues put us under unnecessary pressure at the beginning of the second half with a series of unforced errors, coughing up possession and allowing them onto us with the inevitable result of a second goal. But once again we rallied, tightened our resolve and technique and started stringing passes together again.  Barnesy saw one melting shot flash across the goal after a glorious through ball from Gerry but eventually, the pressure told with a well won short superbly converted by the ever dangerous Barnesy from one of our now finely honed set moves – very satisfying.  Both teams tired and lost shape as the game reached its conclusion and either could have won it but perhaps a draw was the right result. 

Despite Barnesy stealing the headlines with Gerry as a supporting act, I am reluctant to award a MOTM award this week as this was truly a Fusiliers result.  All twelve played a full part, with Toby throwing himself into every challenge with a Spartan “They shall not pass” resolve to Oli at the top constantly challenging the Rogues defence with his pace and dribbling.   Thank you to all for preventing my Bro in law from returning to Paris with the family bragging rights, French international? Pah!

Let us all take a bow and enjoy our Sunday roasts with a quiet sense of achievement.  But no complacency, we can be better and will need to be to put a W in the column next week at home (DC) to Sevenoaks at 2:30. 

Onwards!