Belgium

Antwerpen Provincial 1

Sunday 27th March 2022

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 14.58

K.F.C. Bevel 0 K. Ternesse V.V. Wommelgem 2, attendance 159

48’ 0-1

58’ 0-2

@ Laarstraat 5

2560 Bevel

€8 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

This afternoon’s match was 13th versus 5th in the league table. The first half produced very few chances and it was no surprise that it was still goalless at halftime. Wommelgem broke the deadlock three minutes after the break, scrambling in a corner at the near post. When they added a second goal ten minutes later, when a striker cut in from the right, beating two defenders, before shooting across the ’keeper into the far corner, the points were safe. Bevel battled to the end, but Created very little in the final third.

We were back at The Tunnel just before 1915 for our booked 2050 return, but were offered the earlier 2020 instead, which left a minute ahead of schedule. Queuing at Passport Control was heaving, not helped by the fact the French now have to stamp the passports, whereas previously they just sat there, with the window at the booth closed casually waving you through. The British side of things was painfully slow, which was to be expected. Once again the toilets on the train were closed and you were told to remain inside the vehicle during the crossing.

I hadn’t realised beforehand, but Bevel was my 100th Belgian ground I had visited since leaving Belgium and returning home to England, via the United States, back in September 2015.

Belgium

Limburg Provincial U17 C

Sunday 27th March 2022

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 10.58

K.F.C. Park Houthalen U17 4 K. Sint-Truidense V.V. U17 3, attendance 53

6’ 0-1

29’ 1-1

60’ 2-1

65’ 3-1

69’ 3-2

76’ 4-2

80’ 4-3

@ Palmenpark, Pitch B

Palmenstraat 61

Houthalen-Oost

3530 Houthalen-Helchteren

No Admission or Programme.

I had done the main stadium here back on 29th August 2015, when I saw K.F.C. Park Houthalen draw 1-1 with Racing Peer in a Limburg Provincial 2A match. Today’s match was on Pitch B, which is behind the clubhouse/stand, running at right angles to the main pitch.

This wasn’t high on quality. Both sides were really poor up front, whilst neither defence were very good either. Quite how we managed to see seven goals is a mystery. It had been quite dull for an hour (they only play 2 x 40 mins at U17 level) but burst into life when Park went 2-1 ahead with twenty minutes left. It soon became 3-1 and when Sint-Truidense then missed a penalty, which was put wide of the target, it looked all over for them. However, they volleyed in to make it 3-2 a minute later, but were two goals adrift again, when a miss hit shot went under the ’keeper to make it 4-2. Park had a player red carded a minute from time, picking up a second yellow card, before Sint-Truidense pulled it back to 4-3 right at the death.