Belgium

West Vlaanderen Provincial 2B

Sunday 23rd February 2025

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.04

S.V. Moorslede 0 S.K. Nieuwkerke 1, attendance 109

67’ 0-1

@ Grimmertinge

Iepersestraat 52

8890 Moorslede

€6 Admission

No Programme.

Getting home from Wales at 02.50 this morning wasn’t the greatest preparation for an early start for a day trip to Belgium today. With prices on Eurotunnel coming out at around £250, we were travelling by ferry instead, opting for the 0815 P&O crossing from Dover to Calais, coming up at the much more reasonable price of £68, with crossing time around an hour longer than on the train.

The ground here has a 3G pitch, with spectator access on three sides only, with the far goal end from the clubhouse being out of bounds. As well as cover on the halfway line, there is also a four step covered area in the corner behind the near goal end, positioned in such a way that it doubles up for use on pitch 2 too, which runs parallel.

Today’s match was 13th versus 14th (out of 16). It was end to end, with plenty of chances created, but surprisingly remained goalless at halftime. The best chances early in the second half saw Moorslede have a shot that clipped the crossbar and Nieuwkerke saw a downward header flicked onto the crossbar by the home ‘keeper, before the visitors nicked the winner midway through the half, finishing into the bottom corner after a ball was played back across the six yard box. Moorslede lost any chance of getting back into it when they had a man sent off with nine minutes left, following a second yellow card.

It was only 65 miles back to Calais, where we were booked on the 2010 crossing, but were pleased to be given a place on the earlier boat instead, being the last car to be loaded, meaning arriving back home at a much more reasonable time of 21.30, which was about an hour earlier than expected.