Chilcompton arrived here knowing a win would see them crowned champions for the second successive season, pipping the leaders Nailsea & Tickenham, who had already completed their fixtures, by a point. Back on Easter Monday I saw the reverse fixture of today, which Chilcompton won 6-2 without needing to get out of first gear. That day they were 4-0 up after 16 minutes and they had made it 5-1 before we had half an hour on the clock. Today, Worle made an even more pathetic attempt in putting in any type of performance, conceding five goals in the opening 21 minutes, in a woeful display. Their lack of effort really wasn’t fair on Nailsea & Tickenham, but unfortunately these things happen from time to time.
As a neutral, it was a really poor game to watch. With it being 0-5 so early on, it was job done for Chilcompton. The rest of the match was absolute rubbish, with the visitors deciding to add a couple more goals in the last twelve minutes to finish things off. What a shame that a match where the title was at stake turned into such a poor afternoons entertainment. It really doesn’t say too much about the standard of the league when Worle managed to finish in seventh place!
The journey east from Lille took around 1 hour 35 minutes, which saw us arrive half an hour before kick off. It was dry for most of the way, but we hit some heavy rain as we got to within fifteen miles of our destination. Thankfully, the rain stopped a couple of minutes before the start of the match and it brightened up for the rest of the evening.
As far as final league positions go in Provincial 2A, this was 5th versus 4th, with the winners of tonight’s match going through to face either R. Sporting Club Neffe or R. Cercle Sportif Schaltin in the next round.
Namur went ahead early on, but were soon pegged back by the visitors. Fernelmont looked far the better side, even though they only finished a point ahead of Namur during the league season, and they were well in control. When they scored from the penalty spot in the dying seconds of the first half to make it 1-2, it looked like it would be hard for Namur to get back into it. The game should have been sewn up long before Fernelmont finally made it 1-3 with a couple of minutes left.
This mornings outbound crossing on The Tunnel left a couple of minutes late, but we had got an earlier train, despite being booked on the 10.50, so it was not a problem. Apart from long sections of speed restrictions in roadworks, we had an easy journey back to The Tunnel after the match. We were actually booked on the 01.22 return, but having made check in by 23.22, we were offered the earlier 23.50 instead and we certainly weren’t going to turn down the chance to get home an hour and a half earlier than originally expecting. It even left a minute early.
Above : Olympic Namur open the scoring as their striker (extreme left) scores from a tight angle.
Lille Olympique Sportive Fives 2 Itancourt Neuville 3, attendance 102
12’ 0-1
19’ 1-1 (pen)
27’ 1-2
67’ 2-2
84’ 2-3 (pen)
@ Stade Marcel Duhoo
80 Rue Du Long Pot
59000 Lille
€3 Admission
No Programme.
Above : The match poster for the game.
With it being a Public Holiday in France, it was a perfect opportunity to make another day trip across The Channel. As we were heading to Belgium (where it wasn’t a Public Holiday) for an evening match anyway, then this fitted in perfectly and was no more than five minutes off route, so it took no persuasion of the fellow passengers to add this to our itinerary. It was raining for the entire journey down through Kent and it was no better once we reached France, but as we got within half an hour of Lille, it stopped, and the weather improved as the day went on and it was warm and sunny for the second half of the game.
It was a shame the two matches weren’t the opposite way round, as it is always nicer to do the furthest away first and work your way back towards home, but it doesn’t always fall like that. As it turned out, I was glad we were doing the game here during the afternoon, as the suburb of Fives is not the nicest area of Lille and parking was at a premium. We parked in the street that runs parallel to the ground, where there was broken glass from car break ins and another car with a smashed window that was taped up. Just for good measure, it looked like a vehicle had been set alight, judging by the burn marks on the road!
Lille O.S. Fives are top of Regional 3 Poule E, eight points clear of the team in second place, with four games left to play. Itancourt Neuville play two levels higher, where they are in fifth place in Regional 1 Poule A.
As is often the case with French football, it was played at a very slow tempo, but somehow, we actually got a match with plenty of goal mouth action. Neuville should have won it far more comfortably than they did, especially after Lille had a man red carded after 38 minutes, with the score 1-2 at the time.
Above : Neuville score the winning goal from the penalty spot.
It was nice to once again get a game with something on it. This was third versus fourth in the league table, with Bournemouth Manor needing to win their final two matches, both at home, by a minimum of a combined four goals, which would see them pip Bournemouth Electric to the title on goal difference.
Both teams and the Referee were out warming up at 17.45, but for some reason the game managed to kick off 19 minutes late. The game started off at a very high pace and the tackles were flying in. Manor looked very impressive and were 2-0 ahead after twenty three minutes. Westover were awarded a penalty after half an hour, but it was well saved and it was the turning point, as Manor totally dominated from here on. By halftime, they had got the goals needed to boost their goal difference and they added another couple in the second half and but for a number of good saves by the Westover ‘keeper, it could have been double figures.
It looks like the title is now in the bag. In the Bournemouth League, if a team fails to turn up for a match, the opposition are awarded the 3 points, but no goals are awarded in the win. The opinion of many of the locals present was that A.F.C. Burton will not fulfill the fixture on Saturday, therefore Manor will get the 3 points they need for the title without having to kick a ball. Sadly, this is a now an all too common occurrence in football. If the likes of Bolton Wanderers can’t be bothered to turn up for matches in the Football League, then what hope is there at non-League level.
Above : Westover miss their penalty, when the score was only 2-0.
I can’t remember an early May Bank Holiday where I have struggled so much to find an unvisited ground. In the end, I plumped for the nearest one, which was the only ground I needed today apart from lower level matches in Devon or Yorkshire.
As it turned out, at least there was something on the game, as Hutton are fighting it out with Cheddar Reserves for second place in the league and with it promotion to Division 2. Somerton certainly made them work hard for it and it was only a deflection when attempting to block a cross that beat the ‘keeper at his near post to give Hutton a 1-0 lead at the break. It was 1-1 early into the second half and as time was running out it looked like Hutton had grabbed the 3 points when they went in front with eleven minutes left. It looked like their effort had been for nothing though, as they conceded an equaliser a minute into stoppage time, but as we entered the fifth minute of added time, Hutton were awarded a penalty, for handball, which was coolly slotted into the bottom corner of the net for the winning goal.
With one game each left to play, Cheddar Reserves lead Hutton by three points, but Hutton have a far superior goal difference.
From Misterton, which is in Somerset, it was just under fifteen minutes drive south, across the border into Dorset, for the second match of the day. The reason for the late kick off here was due to Waytown Hounds, who share the ground, also being scheduled to play at home today, having played their match at 2 o’clock.
This was never going to be a match of great quality, as it was bottom of the league table versus fourth from bottom. Netherbury have only won once this season and it wasn’t a good start for them as they conceded a goal less than 20 seconds into the game. They somehow managed to turn it round and led 2-1 at the interval. When they made it 3-1, with a header from a corner, nine minutes into the second half, it looked like they would double their total of matches won, but it wasn’t to be. An own goal pulled it back to 3-2, before they conceded a penalty with four minutes left to play. The ‘keeper saved the kick, but it was followed in and smashed into the top corner of the net to level it up at 3-3.
This was 4th versus 1st in the league table and although South Petherton have already been crowned champions, there was certainly no end of season feel to this one. All three goals came from the penalty spot. The opener was given away by the home ‘keeper when he brought down the striker who was trying to take the ball around him. The leveller for Misterton was awarded for a handball and the late winner for the visitors was given for a trip from behind as the striker was attempting to shoot. Just before halftime South Petherton had a man red carded, but Misterton failed to take advantage of the extra man when they too were reduced to 10 men six minutes into the second half. It got a bit nasty for a spell around the hour mark when three consecutive fouls resulted in pushing and shoving between 12-15 players and it looked at one stage that the game might not make it to the full 90 minutes, but it settled down with no further problems.
Even with four minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half, it was all over by 15.42, which left ample time to make my second part of today’s intended double……
R.F.C. Saint-Hubert 0 R. Etoile Sportive Champlonaise 1, attendance 154
20’ 0-1
@ Rue Des Pres
6870 Saint-Hubert
€6 Admission
Team Sheet, free.
With it being a Bank Holiday in Belgium it meant it was our destination for today’s match. Even better, it meant it would be an afternoon kick off, so we chose to do one of the longer trips and make use of the good weather, as we headed to the northern fringes of The Ardennes.
The match was 3rd versus 13th (second bottom) in the league table. Saint-Hubert were looking to cement their place in the play offs, whilst Champlon needed to win if they were to have any chance of avoiding relegation.
Anyone who was unaware of which of these two were in which position in the league table would have thought it was the opposite way round to what it actually is. Champlon were much the better team and they deservedly went ahead when a shot came back off the post for an easy tap in and they had chances to increase their lead before halftime. The second half was a different story though and was basically one way traffic, with it becoming a personal duel between the home Number 9 and the visiting ‘keeper. Twice the ‘keeper tipped the strikers headers onto the crossbar and he also made a last ditch save to claw away an effort that was destined for the top corner of the net. Even when he was finally beaten, there was a defender on the line to head the ball clear.
The result had little effect on the top of the table, as Saint-Hubert still qualified for the play offs, but with other results going against them, Champlon finish the season second from bottom, so will play in Provincial 2 next season.
As it was not a Bank Holiday in the U.K. it meant The Tunnel was eerily quiet and nice to see that we left two minutes earlier than scheduled on our outbound journey. The roads in Belgium and France were also very quiet, so the three and a quarter hour drive back for our scheduled 20.50 return was trouble free and with very few cars around at the Border Control, we were processed quickly and managed to make it onto the 20.20 crossing instead, as there were no queues whatsoever as we headed towards the boarding lanes.
This was 1st versus 2nd in the league table, with Nailsea & Tickenham two points clear, but this was their final match of the season, so it was nothing short of a win required for them to have a realistic chance of winning the league. Chilcompton still had two more to play after this, but knew that a win here would give the the league title for the second successive season.
As expected it was a very even contest. Nailsea & Tickenham had more possession, but Chilcompton were creating the better chances and it was no surprise that they broke the deadlock just before the break with a deflected shot from 18 yards that found its way into the bottom corner of the net. Straight from the restart, Nailsea & Tickenham broke clear and an attempted block saw a penalty awarded for handball, but the kick was saved by the visiting ‘keeper.
Nailsea & Tickenham came out all guns blazing in the second half and levelled it up at 1-1 through a looping header that looked to be offside and by the sixth minute of the second half they had turned it round, when a fumble by the ‘keeper was scrambled across the line. With just under twenty minutes left it was 2-2, this time it was the turn of the visitors to get the benefit of the doubt, when the striker who got the final touch of the ball looked to be offside. Normally he would probably have been given offside, whether he was or not, but tonight’s match had proper Linesmen, rather than club ones, so at least the decisions were made in the correct manor, rather than any question of cheating coming into play. With a couple of minutes left, Nailsea & Tickenham broke down the right and their striker cut inside and hit an unstoppable shot that came off the underside of the crossbar and fell perfectly for the player following the ball in to stoop and head the winning goal from 2 yards out.
Nailsea & Tickenham now have a 5 point lead, with Chilcompton having to win their last two matches to overhaul them. They should have no problems winning the first one, as it is away at bottom of the table Odd Down (Bath) Reserves, who they beat 5-0 last Saturday. If they do indeed take the 3 points there, then they will travel to Worle on the final day of the season knowing that a victory will see them retain their league title.
Renaissance Sportive Forestoise 0 F.C. Kosova Schaerbeek 4, attendance 89
10’ 0-1
14’ 0-2
64’ 0-3
78’ 0-4
@ Complex Centre Sportif Bempt, Pitch 5
Boulevard De La Deuxieme Armee Britannique 600
1190 Forest
No Admission or Programme.
Originally, the plan today was to be dropped off at R. Cercle Sportif Brainois, for a Belgian League match, with the driver continuing on to a game in Huldenberg. However, plans changed late last night when I noticed that instead of playing on the main stadium, they would be playing on their synthetic number 2 pitch instead, which I had visited on July 16th 2014, when I saw A.F.C. Tubize beat R. Union St. Gilloise 1-0 in a pre season friendly.
It turned out that the driver and the other two passengers decided to do the match at Brainois, as it was an unusual venue to stage a Belgian League match, so I needed a nearby drop off and plumped for the match in Forest, which was only going to be a twenty minute wait after the match before being picked up.
The hub here at Bempt is certainly fully utilised. Pitch 1 (synthetic) was hosting Maccabi Brussels ‘B’ in a 3rd Provincial match, whilst the parallel Pitch 2, also synthetic, was being used for training. Pitch 3, which is grass and separated from the other two by a line of trees, had a match that appeared to be between two teams of African decent. The main clubhouse/changing room building, which has a double aspect viewing gallery, has another two synthetic pitches, running widthways, on either side. Pitch 4, to the right as you enter from the car park, was hosting F.C. Forest, which was another 3rd Provincial level match, where I had seen F.C. Forest 1 F.C. Pepingen ‘B’ 2 in a Provincial 4C match on 12th February 2015. So this just left the match on Pitch 5, slightly raised, to the left of the building, which was where I would be watching my game. Just for good measure, there was a Rugby Union match being played on a pitch down in the dip beyond our pitch.
Above : The view from the balcony showing Pitch 4, with Pitch 1 in the far left corner. There are some groundhoppers who would claim they had watched all three matches!
I wasn’t really in any rush to come back here just to do a different pitch in a complex I had already visited, but today was a perfect time to tick it off, and even better, it was a match that was important to both teams. Forestoise were bottom of the league table, but only on goal difference, and if they could win their last two matches, could avoid relegation if other results went their way. Kosova meanwhile, were second in the table, just a point behind R.A.S. Jodoigne, and in with a great chance of making it into the Belgian League next season.
When Kosova scored twice in the opening quarter of an hour, it looked like being an easy afternoon for them. They had to work hard for it though and with a bit more luck in front of goal, Forestoise could have got back into it, but having failed to pull a goal back, Kosova made it safe by adding a couple more goals to take the three points. The defeat sees Forestoise relegated, whilst Kosova go into their final match still trailing the leaders by a point, but with all still to play for.
Our outbound crossing on The Tunnel left a couple of minutes late. We were booked on the 20.50 back, but having had a relatively trouble free journey, we were offered a place on the earlier 20.06 train. Due to it being very quiet, we ‘tail ended’ onto the 19.50 instead, which annoyingly managed to leave 9 minutes late, but we were still well ahead of what we had been expecting from our original booking.
Above : Kosova Schaerbeek open the scoring with a header from a corner.
