Match Report - Veterans XI v Old Finchleians

What a great way to celebrate the Christmas holidays with a 4-2 victory against our friends from Finchley. On a heavy pitch and playing up the hill in the first half David Gilligan's men worked hard to keep a good passing team at bay. Finchley dominated the ball for the first few minutes and deserved their goal when they got behind our defence to slot home. Charlie Webster Smith identified their number 13 as the danger man who was running things from the back and once we marked him more tightly the momentum turned in our favour. Jacques Toumany was magnificent in the centre of the park, gently caressing passes out wide and into our front men, showing flashes of former glory days, and knitting the team together.

It seems the half time port was a big hit with our team, and it had a medicinal effect early in the second half when we equalised via the efforts of the young Theodoulou lads, who were backed up by dad Tony with a strong performance. Then came our Hoddle moment, a bit of Christmas magic, when Jacques T received the ball on the edge of the oppo box, chipped the nearest defender, spun on a sixpence and clipped a 25 yarder into the top corner of the net for a 2.1 lead. Think of Glen for Spurs at Watford all those years ago. Spurred on by the noisy crowd on the sidelines our fierce warriors began to take full control of the game, and before long we were 3.1 up. Another Theodoulou moment, with one of Tony's sons chipping the keeper as he came rushing out in an attempt to get the through ball. Too late son... Finchley did not give up and got a goal back with a decent effort for 3.2, finally beating the ghost of Xmas past (aka Eddie/Pat Jennings), but with 10 mins left the victory was secured, Vince Wallace, always a tireless and committed member of the team, tapping home after a great run down the wing and a square ball which took out the whole Finchley defence. Great game to watch and truly joyful scenes at the end when the crowd invaded the pitch (looking for more of that port...)