Saturday May 4th, cup finals weekend! Servette, Stade Lausanne at a resplendent Stade de Richemont, grandstands, beer tents, scoreboards, half time shows and sun!

Semifinal, short briefing, good warm up and we are off, we are realistic, we know where we want to be and what we need to do to get there, no complacency, be professional and get the job done.

Servette start well possession and penetration after five minutes PC and Laxman converts (1-0). Five minutes later, chance for Gareth after good build up play, a horrible foul, penalty converted by Matt (2-0). Play continues, Lausanne upset our rhythm in their usual way, cards are brandished, from and for the usual suspects (one day a sit down around a table with some beers could be in order). Servette find their stride again just before half time with Stewart tapping home at the far post! Servette 3 – Stade Lausanne 0 as we go in at half time. Some tactical and personnel changes before starting the second half. Servette are able to impose their rhythm on the game, early passages lead to a breakaway for Stewart, one on one with the keeper and the deftest of lobs finds the net, delightful, and rapturously applauded from the stands (4-0)! Servette plough on, cards continue to tumble Servette play with 10 and at times 9 players but goals keep coming from Gareth, Wanja and Loic. Final score 7-1 in goals, 6-1 on the card count. Full house and a final against Lucerne on Sunday, nice try Tom!

Sunday morning awakes to beautiful blue skies and lycra clad runners flooding the streets of Geneva, but the main event is at Richemont, which today is hockey town. To teams from Geneva in the men’s and women’s finals!

Warm up and briefing over, Servette start tentatively and an early mistake from Patrick leads to an opportunity for Lucerne which they take. Servette claw their way into the game but go in 1-0 down at half time, no panic the goal will come. In the second half Servette apply great pressure and obtain several short corners but can’t make the break, we have enjoyed days like this in the past, today we are on the other end it won’t go in… With an empty goal as Servette is playing with 11 attackers Lucerne hit again on the break in the last minute to make it 2-0.

Disappointment, sure, but more importantly resolve to keep working towards our objectives we move on to the next challenge.

Patrick Montalbetti