For the second week in a row, BFC faced up against Jetro FC with three games left to win in their bid for promotion.

A kick-off time of 1800 meant we were spared the 32 degrees of heat peeling away our skin as we tried to play. Instead, the hilltop of YC&AC treated all involved to clean vistas of Mount Fuji on the way up and a gigantic full moon that brightened the sky and the night came in. It was all very pleasant and a far cry from the hail-infused storm that greeted the team here back in February.

What also seemed pleasant was that Jetro seemed to be lacking a couple of their more troublesome players from the previous week. However, and stop me if you’ve heard this one before, the BFC made lives difficult for themselves again in the second half to create a fairly tense 25 minutes or so that put promotion at risk.

The scoring was opened by Alex. The Jetro keeper looked to clear a cross away from the right hand side but instead it landed for Alex to tidily float the ball back over his head, off the crossbar and in.
It felt comfortable but things in truth hadn’t entirely been that way.
The defence had a few clearances and passes between themselves go awry which Jetro started to sniff around. Jetro pounced on one of these unsettled moments that allowed a ball to be provided to an unmarked player in the penalty area.

Potentially the wake-up call that was needed. BFC went on to finish the half 4-1 with some of the best football of the season. A brace of screamers on the edge of the box from Akito plus a well worked team goal that started in defence and was finished off confidently by Emil ticked off the extra three goals.

Perhaps it was a result of having a 5-man loaded subs bench with a couple of newbies in there stirring the mix a bit too much or even a splice of complacency but the drop in quality between the first and second half was vast.
It was a similar story to the previous week a big drop from the BFC and a burst of enthusiasm from the opponents. The difference here is that things stayed that way.
One goal and then another from Jetro led to a very nervy finish. One that had the charge for promotion in doubt.
Enough was done however to see the game out although a half like that against better opposition could be far more costly.

Regardless, out of the 4 wins needed to jump a division, BFC were half way there!