BEFC headed out to their least favourite pitch against the team they have failed to beat for over 4 years for a vital relegation battle showdown where coming back with 3 points was the only acceptable outcome.
For over 4 seasons BEFC have never managed to beat Sala. And while in some cases Sala at the time were simply a better side, in more recent contests there was always some incident or unusual upset that kept that record standing. The 'Curse of Sala' wasn't the best thing to have hanging over BEFC who knew that if they were going to stay in division 1 next season beating Sala was a must!! To make matters worse Fukuda Denshi is known as the pitch 'where we never play well'. However with a strong looking squad and sheer determination BEFC were ready for the inevitable battle.
If Tottenham can beat Chelsea at Stanford Bridge after 28 years, BEFC can beat Sala at Fukuda Denshi!

So it wasn't a big surprise when the football gods decided that high winds should almost cancel the match and if not disrupt the transport system to intervene on Sala's behalf. Overcoming the disruption BEFC arrived intact and for once it looked like circumstance was against the bogeyman opponent. With just 11 players, Sala were without all the key threat players marked out in the BEFC battle plan and Sala even bringing out their manager Guido from retirement to make the numbers. Stanford Bridge, time to be blown down!

Even with a highly weakened team, Sala are still a good side, and it would be even more of a sick joke from the football gods to contrive against BEFC in such circumstances. BEFC began brightly but with a little too much attacking abandon and ethusiasm almost went behind early to a very fast counter attack from an extremely quick winger. BEFC continued the pressure, dominating Sala who had backed up into their own half, but in doing so leaving open the potential gaps for their number 9 to drop into the half-space unmarked and feed in their winger to cause more trouble down the flanks. Inevitabley though the fine work of BEFC's forwards unlocked Sala's defence and BEFC took the lead. With a chance for some conversation BEFC plugged Sala's attacking outlet and then went in search for a second.

Half time was an important moment. BEFC were 1 - 0 up and dominant, but a little negligent to covering against the threats of a counter, the very sore-point which has caused problems all season. A few words on defensive awareness, let the attackers do their job and let's be patient were all taken on board and BEFC's second half display was excellent. Without over compensating in attack, when the ball was turned over there were players in position to immediately close down any counter attack. The back line was able to stand firm and stay in position and strangled the life out of Sala's chances to escape BEFC pressure.
BEFC didn't need to overload the attack to be more attacking. The balance was opening up more space and creating more space for movement allowing BEFC to work some nice football to go 2 - 0. Now the match had really opened up, not just with good pressure, balance but some really strong rampaging and in fairness the score could have be much much higher if some chances were a fraction more on target. BEFC finally found a third in the late game to effectively end the game, break the Sala curse and initiate the relegation escape plan!

The early part of the match was incredibly important because it is where BEFC have taken time to switch on and get use to making the touches on the ball. In that time Sala were showing threat, getting interceptions, getting the bounce in tackles and winning the situations that allow for a quick transition into a counter attack. In that situation you need a BOSS, and luckily for BEFC this match they had TImothy Witvliet claiming the title of THE BOSS for absolutely wrecking anyone in the midfield space behind the attack. Witvliet was immense as he cracked down and disrupted countless attempts for Sala to get something going from a turn over... all without even sprinting!! He was simply everywhere and all over them at any moment. Sala are a strong side and there were plenty of moments where BEFC in the second ball moments or trying to win back posession were getting caught being a little weak on the challenge or holding of the first touch. Not Witvliet though, he made not mistake in letting everyone know whose ball it was when he entered a challenge and this relentless hunting of Sala's players kept them at bay from establishing any platform to dictate the play.

For true and ultimate level bossing which was critical to BEFC sustaining their Kung Fu grip pressure, Timothy Witvliet is the Adecco BEFC Most Valuable Player versus Sala.