On Sunday Servette played host to new comers to the league Basler HC. After a tough week at training thanks to Dave and Julien – apparently we did all the fitness for the next two months in one week – lots of Physio work for the players on heavy legs in the build up to the game. But 11:30 came and everybody was ready for the job at hand. Objectives from the coach very simple, tempo, rhythm of play! Continue the work from training. It’s another 70mins to train the good points and work out the bad points of our play.

Servette started off strong, keeping the ball from a Basel stick for the first five minutes. Finishing off with winning a short corner, which was calmly converted by Gareth McKeown, flicking low and "hard" into the bottom left corner. Minutes went on and the work rate continued, good pressing from Servette and composure from the forwards ended with us going into half time 5-0. 2 Gareth, 1 Stewart, 1 Allen, 1 Laxman.

Big words from the coach at half time: "Don’t take your foot of the pedal, continue to work hard, put the keeper under pressure. It’s not a time to dribble, but push on with our style of play". Servette continued to keep the ball well and chances came by the bag full. Final score Servette HC 11 – Basler HC 0, a good day for the goal average and another clean sheet for the goalkeeper Grégory Bernet and his defense.

Next week sees the start of the business end of the season. Servette plays the Swiss Cup semi final Saturday at 17:00 against Stade Lausanne. Come in numbers, as vocal as possible and maybe we can win this cup again.

Many thanks to everybody that came and watched in the lovely Geneva sunshine… Fingers crossed it gets better for next week.

Gareth McKeown