By Sean Murray

Team:

Lees
Thomas	Nevin	Mullholland (c)	Ljung
Bajraktari	Dixon	Murray	Swartjes
Reilly		Cain

Sub: Haddad

Scorers: Reilly (2), Cain, Dixson, Bajraktari

MOM: Nevin

In the home game at Mechelen, Goalois had given skipper Mulholland cause for wailing and gnashing of teeth by snatching victory from a previously unbeaten BUFC Vets 1. We therefore turned up for the return game knowing that anything less than 3 points could tip our beloved leader over the edge into paroxysms of foaming if barely comprehensible retribution. The sight of a brand new synthetic pitch of the same ilk which had seen BUFC deliver its most convincing away performances infused the team with confidence - as did the sight of the opposition quaffing various types of beer in the bar before the game. Eventually Goalois took to the field with 9 players in differing states of sobriety including a Methuselah look-alike in the middle of midfield. Surely the setting for another footballing massacre.

BUFC began the game in high tempo garnering possession and stretching play from one side of the pitch to the other. The wonderful, true surface clearly suited our passing style and it was not long before both Willy and Mergim were roasting their respective full backs. And pretty soon BUFC took the lead thanks to Reilly pouncing on a chance which settled the team and augured well for the rest of the match. The attacks continued incessantly with the ball being moved quickly and smoothly from defence to attack with Nevin often stepping into the midfield to add pressure. Goalois were forced into siege mode packing their area with 8 bodies who rarely strayed far from their goalkeeper's reach. Time after time, BUFC crosses and final balls failed to reach the intended target thanks to a last ditch tackle, toe or touch. Mulholland, Thomas and Ljung were also picking up desperate punted clearance in acres of space and calmly relaunching attacks. Chance after chance went begging as our strikers spurned some gilt-edged opportunities but with our dominance it seemed only a matter of time before we would surely score a hatful. And then - the sucker punch. A rare loose ball played across the halfway line was picked up by their lone forward midfield player who passed to their lone forward who slalomed past our three defenders to slide the ball nonchalantly past 'Lone Cat' Lees for the most unlikely of equalisers sparking scenes of wild opposition celebration . The BUFC reaction was a mixture of stunned shock, sharp recriminations and visions of impending shame and embarrassment occasioned by the thought of foaming Glaswegians in the bar. But encouragingly the team picked up the pieces and where it had left off by playing patient, probing football throughout the team. And just before half time, Gerry Cain finally gave the scoreline some semblance of reality by notching our second goal. Half time was a strangely nervous affair for a team that was top of the league and 2-1 ahead against 9 men but at least it showed that no-one was taking anything for granted.

The second half saw little change. BUFC continued to press hard with little or no danger from the opposition. Haddad came on in place of Murray, who was struggling to shake off a calf injury, and made useful inroads down the right wing. And eventually the goals began to flow. Reilly put home his second from close range before Dixson and the Albanian Jock both scored masterfully - almost arrogantly - with rasping shots from outside the box. Finally we were looking like our old selves.

But we were still to witness the most bizarre moment of the match. From a perfect cross Reilly contrived to hit the bar with a free header from fully two yards. The ball rebounded to the deadly Silver Fox in Golden Boots who, in more space than the Starship Enterprise, nodded against the post. Back came the ball to Reilly at head height who guided the ball gently into the hands of a rather surprised but grateful Goalois keeper who had observed the whole of this strange ritual flat on his back in the six yard box. Assured of the three points, BUFC travelling support was highly appreciative of this unexpected and charitable contribution to the afternoon's entertainment which more than justified the entrance money and was beautifully timed to coincide with the BBC's 'Comic Relief'.

So all's well that ends well but we made our lives very difficult by failing to put away chances and bury the game early. Whilst we are definitely the best side in this division, we will need to be more poised and clinical if we are to prevent lesser opposition from giving us heartache and taking valuable points in the run-in.