Terry Venables is famously quoted as saying that 'If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again'. And thus, so it was for Icarus Vets as the team once again dominated against the RAF High Wycombe 1st XI but were held to a second successive 3-all draw. With the pre-season fixtures only 8 days apart and played on unforgiving astro turf, it was perhaps unsurprising that co-manager Taff Evans had to field a much-changed line-up. The High Wycombe team, free from the ailments brought on by advancing years were able once again to field a full strength and youthful side as well as a packed bench of substitutes.

Learning from last week's slow start, the Icarus players were in top gear from the off, with Blagojevic and Burton dominating in the centre of the park. Evans, starting as a make-shift striker following his edge of the box strike last week, saw a couple of half chances snuffed out by a Wycombe defence that was struggling to cope with the disciplined defensive press employed by the Vets. The opposition keeper Stones made a couple of decent, albeit routine, saves, as Icarus piled on the pressure. Entirely against the run of a play a hopeful long ball caused uncertainty in the Icarus rear-guard; the subsequent penalty that was awarded would have had the pundits screaming for a video replay: Was Scotty Blackett's double handed charge-down intentional? Was it inside the box? The referee thought so, and keeper Ryan Bradshaw’s first touch of the ball followed as he collected the ball from the back of his net following a well-taken spot kick. The jubilation of the High Wycombe players didn't last long, as straight from the restart Icarus drew level. Quick feet and determination from Cooper saw him feed Jones on the right, a first-time ball set the barrel-chested Sam Taylor racing clear and his clinical first-time finish lifted the ball into the Wycombe net for a high-quality team goal. This spurred the Vets on, and a similar move moments later was foiled by the on-rushing Stones as this time Taylor failed to get the elevation required on his attempted lob. Icarus were all over the opponents now: a Wycombe defender headed against his own bar and Albert Finney cracked a fine shot from 25 yards that skimmed the crossbar.

At half time the one-all score line didn't reflect the dominance of Icarus. The keeper and defensive line had been watertight, with returning skipper Rich Lowe solid as ever as he made several well-timed interventions alongside the determined and ageless Blackett, all the while ably supported by Kev the Rev and Si Wain at full back. The co-gaffer rang the changes to rest some tiring limbs and the second half commenced in a similar vein, this time with Icarus taking a deserved lead. If the first Icarus goal was a thing of beauty the second was just as sublime, as a flowing move led to a neat flick in the box from Taylor that was met by a well-timed run by Pete Rickards who steadied himself before stroking a composed finish low into the net. Not long after though Icarus suffered a couple of knocks as the evergreen Andy Keeley's boots literally fell to bits and Ben Burton (despite being one of the younger members of the team....) succumbed to cramp. The enforced changes coupled with a small bench led to a few cracks at last beginning to show in the Icarus performance, culminating in a well-taken breakaway equaliser by High Wycombe's pacey forward.

Going into the last quarter Icarus had to dig deep to gain the result the performance thus far merited. Andy Constable was having an enjoyable tussle on the flank as he towered over Wycombe's substitute right winger and keeper Ryan Bradshaw was brought into the game on a more regular basis, including making a fine save from a fierce snap shot. Further changes were required from Icarus as the Joint-manager showed the same positional versatility as Welsh legend John Charles by dropping into centre back and then Jones hobbled off in comical fashion after tweaking his hamstring. Wycombe then snatched the lead as a fine ball from the right played in the No10 who finished calmly to give the home team an undeserved lead. Undeterred and in a composed fashion, Icarus continued to stroke the ball around in search of a late equaliser; Evans strode forward and tried his luck from range but fired over and Rickards's shot was deflected wide. However, in a final twist from the resulting corner, Wain's superb delivery was met by the leaping (and now lactic-free) Burton who thudded his header into the back of the Wycombe net. Snatching a draw was some consolidation for an accomplished Icarus performance.

The bearded-Burton just pipped the perm-sporting Cooper for the man of the match after both put in barnstorming displays. Icarus Vets therefore remain unbeaten ahead of next week's fixture against Watlington Vets. Any doubts about the employment of a joint-management team and comparisons with the ill-fated concept tried at Charlton Athletic are already dissipating. This promises to be a great season for the Icarus Vets squad. Who remembers Steve Gritt anyway....