F.C. Sint-Martens-Latem v Eendracht Elene-Grotenberge

Belgium

Oost Vlaanderen Provincial 1

Saturday 26th March 2022

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.28

F.C. Sint-Martens-Latem 2 Eendracht Elene-Grotenberge 6, attendance 135

8’ 0-1

11’ 0-2

13’ 1-2

16’ 2-2

24’ 2-3

36’ 2-4

53’ 2-5

61’ 2-6

@ Hoge Heirweg 58

9830 Sint-Martens-Latem

€7 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

It is good to see a ground retain all of it’s character, despite having had a 3G pitch laid. I can’t see why more clubs can’t take this approach, especially in England, rather than flattening everything in sight and replacing it with high mesh fencing, with little thought for spectators, where the main objective appears to be making the surroundings as bland as possible, which they certainly achieve!

The match saw 13th in the league table host 2nd. Elene-Grotenberge were very impressive, especially in the first half. They were 0-2 up after just eleven minutes, but a spirited fight back saw Latem level it up at 2-2 five minutes later, curling a shot into the top corner, before heading in from a right wing cross to equalise. A lob over the ’keeper was put into his own net, by a defender trying to head the ball wide of the post, to put Elene-Grotenberge back in front eight minutes later. The visitor’s No.9 made it 2-4 before halftime, completing his hat trick, finishing with a shot on the turn that was deflected past the ’keeper. It was 2-6 by the hour mark and despite a number of good chances at both ends, there were no more goals.

Above : Scoreboard operator slow off the mark restarting the clock at the start of the second half, so it looked like the Referee had blown for full time early!