I love an early start, however there are limits to everything and Plum wanting to get to the ground 90 minutes prior to KO was excessive.

However as the finely tuned athlete that he is maybe I should take note.

Numbers are an immediate concern, 13 players that include Tim, me and Lewis, is not encouraging.

Anyway back to reality and ‘the team talk’, that age old device whereby a leader takes control and shows all those qualities that will drive us forward with confidence.
Well it wasn’t a Boris as Chris is too honest, it wasn’t a Truss as, well no one is that bad!
I just hope Rishi is better.

There are 3 important things to remember and I have forgotten the first two but the third is definitely ‘ composure’.

To the game and I hope to remember the major incidents that occurred with clarity and an unbiased opinion.
Not everything that Jamie does is wrong, Plum does catch the ball and our forwards can score goals.

Can I thank John Mc for his views on midfield without Jamie, unfortunately there were too many words that would not get through the school firewall.

Defence was strong and showed the forgotten third thing from our team talk. Donald and Carl available throughout to launch attacks, Jamie dominant in the air and Mark adding that bit of extra quality on the ball. Ernie their main threat was controlled and handled with ease.

Plum was a spectator for the majority of the game and apart from one hopeful punt forward had very little to do.
Plum, I have picked up a few coaching videos that explain wall and goalkeeper positioning from free kicks. I like the variation where the keeper defends one side of the goal and the wall the other. I love innovations.
First half showed plenty of control and Phil up front ran the legs off their back four.
However we still could not score despite many good chances including a missed header from a yard by a central midfielder. Width and advanced positions were offered by Chris and Sean and they were holding on with difficulty. John and Lee were assured in midfield but we lacked the quality the closer to their goal, whether in the final ball or the clinical finish.

A stray ball or a misunderstanding led to John tumbling to the ground in pain, with accusations flying as to the responsible individual.

Tim came on to add experience to the left side but still no breakthrough by half time.

Second half - the younger legs of Lewis preferred to the older but more positionally aware ones of the author. Good call!

At last the ball hits the net, a long cross ball from Carl finds Phil peeling away from the defence on the left. Good control and a low finish under the keeper 1-0 to the Borough.

The game starts to really open up in the last 30 minutes with wave after wave of attacks by the boys in red. A slick 4 passing move starting on the left and ending with a beautifully volleyed finish by Sean coming in from the right, goal of the match.

An enjoyable 2-0 victory with the Borough in control throughout the game. More goals probably should have been scored but Economicals kept going throughout and would not give in, blocking many efforts or putting in a tackle right to the end.

One of my final thoughts must go to Phil the younger and how we all have a duty to support those in our community that have missed out on education at an early stage of development. I will be asking the club secretary if he can purchase from club funds the penguin books, rules of football, easy reader.

That was meant to wrap up this report on a very successful day for the Vets. However it is with a heavy heart that I have to recount to you, the vets players present and those absent, to other club players both presently playing and those retired, an event from Saturday that I fear brought the Vets and the club into possible disrepute.

Diving is an endemic issue in the professional game but one that has not been seen in the red colours of Wandsworth Borough F C, until now!
I ask the committee to urgently assess this incident and if found guilty I expect the full extent of the powers available to be used against any player found guilty.
I believe centre back Jamie had a clear view of the incident and would be an unbiased witness.

Another outcome could be that a frank and full confession and apology is offered with a round of appropriate drinks to the squad.