The Veras FC

The Veras arrived at a cold and overcast Regents Park this Sunday looking to go into the Christmas break with their 100% league record in tact.

A win by three goals would take them top with two games in hand. Some optimistic early team chat about the league’s new “mercy” rule was tempered by the shambolic late arrival of a Tigers team with only eight players.

In the name of football and fair play the Veras gallantly relinquished three players to turn out for their opposition.

Dan Swimer, Henry Thomas and Toby Saul, all put in sterling performances for the Tigers, in a frustrating first half for the Veras who were denied a nailed-on early penalty when Thomas brought down Oli Jones just inside the box.

Jones, clearly reeling from this injustice, then missed a startling succession of seemingly golden chances. However, closer, first person experience, would indicate that each opportunity was, in its own way, deceptively difficult.

However, it is probably also fair to say, he had a nightmare; reports that he was seen at half time pinching himself, muttering the words, “I just can’t wake up,” remain as yet unconfirmed.

After 30 minutes of the half, with Jones prone in the foetal position on the edge of the penalty area seemingly undergoing some sort of acute psychological breakdown after scuffing his 50th shot high and wide, The Veras created a chance for someone other than the apparently dyspraxic striker.

Johnny Erdman neatly flicked a pass into the path of marauding midfielder Barney Thomas who hit the first meaningful shot of the match just wide.

The Veras backline was seldom troubled in the half, as Tom Fyans and Tom Walker, mopped up any lose balls that came their way, while the Lynns’ midfield tripartite of Thomas, Tom Derbyshire, and Neil Kochane, kept the ball firmly in the Tigers half, unleashing the destructive Erdman and Dan Lichman down the wings.

Veras’ frustration continued for the 15 minutes of the second half before they nally got their breakthrough, a slide-rule pass from Thomas found Jones, who slipped it passed the advancing keeper, finding an on-rushing Erdman who made sure from two yards out.

Thomas then got his second assist of the game, his shot looping off the keeper into the path of Jones who cocked it in with his groin from about a foot.

Two up and coasting the Veras thought the game was won, switching off as the Tiger’s diminutive forward pulled a goal back with a great strike.

An improbable Tigers’ comeback appeared to be on the cards, when Tiger-for-a-day Dave Krikler, who’d swapped sides at half time, sprung the offside trap and chipped in an exquisite equaliser.

With just five minutes left on the clock, a route one ball from Tom Derbyshire, landed in Jones’s lap and with just the keeper to beat he nonchalantly side-footed it home.

Having surrendered one lead, The Veras looked determined to protect this one, crafting a couple more openings in quick succession, Lichman hitting the post from a well-excuted swivelling shot, and a Kochane strike was blocked.

The Veras finally made sure of win in injury time after a cross from Lichman found Erdman at the front post whose flick on found Oli Jones at the back stick who nodded home, possibly catching a slight deflection of John Levene, deputising as the Tigers’ rightback.

Not by any means Vintage Veras, but some strong individual performance were somewhat undermined by Jones’s finishing. He might well be having Nam flashbacks about this day for some time to come, despite netting his first Veras hat trick.

More importantly The Veras head into the winter break unbeaten in all competitions and having won every game in the league.