Belgium

Belgian F.A. Cup 2nd Round

Saturday 4th August 2018

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 19.59

K. Patro Eisden Maasmechelen 3 K. Kontich F.C. 0,  attendance 241

16’ 1-0

48’ 2-0

75’ 3-0

@ Sportpark Patro Eisden

Kolenmijn Limburg- Maasland 2

3630 Maasmechelen

No Admission

Team Sheet, free.

There was plenty of time en route from Schoonbeek to check in at our overnight accommodation in Lanaken. I was then being dropped here in Maasmechelen, with the driver heading for a Limburg Provincial Cup match at Park Houthalen, where I had already visited.

Patro are now in Division 2 Amateurs, which is level 4 of the Belgian League, having been relegated from the third level at the end of last season. Kontich are in Antwerp Provincial 1. Despite the two level difference, there wasn’t much to choose between these two, although Patro were more clinical going forward. It may have been a different story if Kontich hadn’t missed a penalty, which was saved, when the score was only 2-0.

Having been dropped at the ground at 18.50 it was odd to find the ticket booths closed, but the gates were open, so it was a free night. According to the notices on the windows, it was normally €13 to get in. The ground has covered seating along both sides, with flat open standing at each end. The seats were absolutely filthy and looked like they hadn’t been cleaned in years, so most of the crowd opted to stand !

Below photo : Patro smash in the second goal, beating the ‘keeper at his near post.

Belgium

Limburg Provincial Cup

Region Zuid Oost

Saturday 4th August 2018

Kick Off 16.00 Actual 15.59

K. Eendracht White Star Schoonbeek-Beverst 2 V. C. Kesselt 5,  attendance 43

26’ 0-1

35’ 0-2

54’ 1-2

56’ 1-3

60’ 1-4

77’ 1-5

78’ 2-5

@ Hereveld, 3G Pitch

Hereveld

Schoonbeek

3740 Bilzen

€5 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

Originally, the plan today was to visit K.F.C. Pulle for their Antwerp Provincial Cup match at 3pm, but with this match being an hour later kicking off and the fact it meant far less driving for our intended evening matches, we switched our attention to this instead.

We had been here previously, where we had seen K. Eendracht F.C. Schoonbeek lose 0-1 to K.S.K. Meeuwen in a Limburg Provincial 1 match back in January 2010. It is a ground I am unlikely to forget, as it was the first time I had seen a match played on a snow covered pitch. It was a good 2” deep, with just the main pitch markings cleared, but everyone just got on with it and there seemed little doubt that the game would go ahead !

The following month, the club merged with White Star Beverst, taking on the current name and playing home games in Schoonbeek. Last season they began playing matches on their newly installed 3G Pitch, which has now become the ‘main’ ground. The new clubhouse/changing room block is now built, but is yet to be fitted out, so the old clubhouse is still in use, as are the old changing rooms.

The weather couldn’t have been more of a contrast from our last visit, as the temperature hit 36 degrees. Despite Kesselt being in Provincial 3, one level below the hosts, this was a comfortable win for them. Schoonbeek fielded a very young side, with Kesselt containing a number of ‘old heads’ and it was very much a case of ‘men against boys’.

Below : photos of the old ground, sadly now nearing its end.