In a match where BEFC dominated most of the game, despite the final result, this superb team performance was going to make Man of the Match a tough decision! After going behind to a counter attack, BEFC's intense play overwhelmed the opposition who didn't look like the high scoring, free-wheeling Division 2 leaders, and on the backfoot and pinned in their own half. The Man of the Match nominations were wide and various, with no one player getting a clear vote, as BEFC players shared their appreciation of their team mates across the park -- showing more how it was a total team performance. But --- as always, there could only be one Adecco Man of the Match.
BEFC knew well about Pumas reputation for scoring goals, and their outrageous goal difference - aided by a number of quick and tricky forwards who like to take on, and speed by unwitting defences. While everyone on the pitch made sure these guys had no time on the ball, flying in with tackle after tackle, Pumas continued to try and force their way down the BEFC left flank, and Nils Simon was having none of it. Even as Pumas persisted in overloading the left side, sometimes giving Nils two attackers to deal with, he stopped them in their tracks. Without their usual path for sending their flying strikers through on goal Pumas had to start searching for other ways through, and ones BEFC weren't going to give them. Then, just as he broke up their attack, Nils was flying forward taking over the space they had left, boosting the BEFC surge forward, opening holes in their defence. For the shield of steel against greater numbers of fierce reputation, and staking his own fierce attacking reputation in return Nils Simon is the Adecco BEFC Man of the Match!!

This was a great team performance as said, finding a clear MOM winner took a long time! An honorable mention has to go to Cael Husband, who was Nils partner in crime on the left of the defence, and nominated by the MOM himself. We're hoping the switch in centerback sides has gone onto to creating a new formidable pairing.

Especially in the second half this was some of the best football we've played in terms of dominance. We had more chances, spent most of the second half entirely in their half, forced them into time-wasting, our shots saved off the line and interestingly limited them to a single corner the entire match. This is against the Division 2 leader with 67 goals scored against opposition, and they have the second best defence in the league too.

While we might not be happy with the final score, what we have to remember is that our team is only one season together. We know how much potential there is with the talent in the squad, and when it comes together that'll be what the most frightening about us. This sort of gelling does take time, it's something that can't be rushed. However this is a glimpse of what we can do, and a game where we all got to see what happens when it starts to click.

Our performance in this match was exciting. We've had good performances but nothing as sustained and consistent against high level opponents -- and we know we can be much better. Now we can work on making this level of performance our basic platform to build on. Again while the score wasn't what we wanted, the focus this season is about gelling a team --- the performance despite the result is more important to what we will become as a team.