Belgium

West Vlaanderen Provincial Cup 1/8 Final

Wednesday 30th October 2019

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 20.02

K. Sporting Club Blankenberge 5 K.S.V. Moorsele 1, attendance 64

24’ 1-0

30’ 2-0

35’ 3-0

38’ 3-1

79’ 4-1

83’ 5-1 (pen)

@ Sport Vlaanderen Blankenberge

Koning Boudewijnlaan 15/B

8370 Blankenberge

€7 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

This tie was originally scheduled to be played on Pitch 2, which is a 3G, and was to be played on Friday afternoon (which is a Bank Holiday in Belgium) when I have other options of matches, but thankfully, it was rescheduled to be played tonight, and even better, it was being played on the main stadium.

K.S.C. Blankenberge are ninth in Provincial 1, with K.S.V. Moorsele currently sitting top of the league table in 3C. Moorsele did play some very nice football and it is easy to see why they are top of their division, but the gap of playing two levels lower than Blankenberge was just too much for them to overcome. When Blankenberge went 3-0 up ten minutes before halftime, it looked all over, but Moorsele pulled it back to 3-1 within minutes to keep them in the game. Moorsele were reduced to 10 men late in the second half, when they lost a player to injury, having already used all of their substitutions. Blankenberge took full advantage and added two more goals, rounding off a resounding 5-1 win, scoring the final goal of the evening from the penalty spot. This now completes visits to all the West Vlaanderen Provincial 1 grounds for me.

A trip on The Tunnel just wouldn’t be the same without Eurotunnel showing their total incompetence in running to a timetable. We were booked on the 14.20 outbound train, but this was retimed to 14.30, which then left twelve minutes late at 14.42. Our return was also late, although we were actually ahead of schedule. We were booked on the 01.22 back, as we had to allow for the possibility of extra time and penalties. With the game decided in ninety minutes, it meant we made it back to The Tunnel in time to be offered the earlier 23.50 crossing, which is what we were really hoping would be the case. Despite this being retimed to 00.05 (actually left at 00.10) we still departed France 1 hour 12 minutes earlier than we were booked for. We did lose time on the drive from Folkestone, when the M20 was closed from Junction 6 to Junction 4.

Essex Olympian League

Premier Division

Saturday 26th October 2019

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.32

Old Southendian 2 Canning Town 1, attendance 27

45’ 1-0

52’ 1-1

71’ 2-1

@ Garon Park

Eastern Avenue

Southend-on-Sea

SS2 4FA

No Admission or Programme.

With rain forecast to be sweeping across the country from the west, I decided to head east, as it was not going to arrive here until around 3 o’clock. As it turned out, it was just after 4 o’clock when the rain started, so I only had twenty minutes or so to contend with it. A bigger problem, as far as affecting the game went, was the very strong wind that was blowing diagonally across the pitch, which both teams really struggled with.

The match was between two of the lower placed teams in the league. Old Southendian were second from bottom in the table, with Canning Town just two places above them. Old Southendian broke the deadlock in the last minute of the first half, but Canning Town levelled it up early in the second half, when their striker closed down an attempted clearance from a defender and the tackle saw the ball rebound over the ‘keeper from 30 yards out. What turned out to be the winning goal came on 71 minutes, with a shot on the turn from just outside the 18 yard box. The win lifts the hosts three places up the league table, leapfrogging Canning Town in the process.

The match was played on a section of the park that has three pitches. The players get changed in a pavilion which is part of Old Southendian & Southchurch Cricket Club, then walk the 50 yards or so to a gap in the perimeter fence, with the main pitch running widthways in front of you. Behind the left hand goal, running the opposite way, is what will be a new 3G Pitch, which according to the Essex Olympian League website is where games are being played at present! Perhaps when construction is completed, it may well be the case, but not yet.

Belgium

West Vlaanderen Provincial 4B

Wednesday 23rd October 2019

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 20.02

V.C. Vamos Zandvoorde 3 V.V. Eendracht Brugge 2, attendance 64

33’ 1-0

45’ 2-0

52’ 2-1

57’ 2-2 (pen)

85’ 3-2

@ Stationstraat 111

8400 Zandvoorde

€5 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

At the start of the 2018/19 season, Zandvoorde decided to change the name of the club, (having just suffered relegation to the lowest level of the Belgian pyramid at the end of the previous season) rebranding themselves as Vamos Zandvoorde instead of the original Union Zandvoorde title.There are still quite a few references to Union dotted around the ground, most notably the sign at the entrance to the car park.

On Sunday Zandvoorde travelled to the league leaders K.V.V. Artijke and came away with a 3-2 win, meaning if they won their game in hand, tonight, it would put them top of the table. They were well on top for the majority of the first half and having taken just over half an hour to edge in front, they deservedly added a second goal in the final minute of the half to take a comfortable 2-0 lead into the break. Brugge, who are ninth in the league table, must have had a good talking to at halftime, as they started the second period looking like a totally different team. A close range tap in saw them pull it back to 2-1 early in the second half and it was level at 2-2 just five minutes later, when a penalty was emphatically dispatched following a foul by the ‘keeper. Brugge looked very dangerous on the break, but it was Zandvoorde who nicked the winner, when a shot on the turn was smashed past the ‘keeper with five minutes left to send them top of the table.

We had travelled out on the 14.50 Eurotunnel, which according to the information screens would be running 30 minutes late, due to earlier ‘problems’, but it did in fact run as scheduled, although it departed three minutes late. The journey back to The Tunnel saw us arrive at 23.00 for our booked 23.50 return, which thankfully only left a minute late. With the M20 being closed between Junctions 9 and 8, it meant the drive home took fifteen minutes longer than normal.

Isthmian League

Premier Division

Tuesday 22nd October 2019

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.48

Horsham 1 Cray Wanderers 1, attendance 481 (official)

35’ 1-0

37’ 1-1

@ Hop Oast

Worthing Road

Horsham

RH13 0AX

£11 Admission

Programme available, but didn’t bother (Not when charged £11 to get in)

I had visited Horsham’s old Queen Street ground on 14th February 2004, where they beat Hampton & Richmond Borough 3-1 in an Isthmian League Division 1 South match, in front of 246 spectators. Having lost the use of the ground before their new home was built, they ended up in a ground share at Horsham Y.M.C.A. and I saw them draw 1-1 there, versus Maidstone United, again in an Isthmian League Division 1 South match, on 8th January 2013, but with a larger crowd of 275 in attendance.

This season they have moved into their new Hop Oast ground, which for the sake of sponsorship money, is currently known as The Camping World Community Stadium. The car park is too small to allow spectator use, but luckily the Horsham Park and Ride site is more or less opposite the ground, so no problem coping with the large crowds they are attracting. There is the very busy B2237 Worthing Road to cross, which would be far safer leaving people to their own devices, rather than rely on the ‘Lollipop Lady’ who seemed to make if far worse! Having negotiated that, you just have the driveway to the stadium to contend with, which is very poorly lit and it is only a matter of time before someone ‘slips’ as winter approaches and the ‘claim society’ we live in have a nice cash bonus heading their way. Even the Stewards, in their high visibility jackets, were carrying torches!

The ground is just as boring as all the other new builds, but on a slightly larger scale, but at least the club now have a ground of their own once more and they are attracting very good crowds. Tonight’s 481 was pretty impressive for a midweek match versus a club with no away support and I only spotted a handful of ground hoppers as many have already visited as they have played a number of floodlit fixtures in the last month or so.

The two clubs were promoted together from the Isthmian League South East Division at the end of last season. They were evenly matched, even down to the constant moaning and crowding of the match officials after every decision, which is something I come to expect at this level. Horsham opened the scoring with a stooping header from just inside the 18 yard box, but Cray were level within two minutes when Horsham failed to clear a cross and the ball was played back across the six yard box and headed in at the far post. Both teams had good chances to win it, but a draw was a fair result

Belgium

Division 2 Amateur V.F.V. A

Sunday 20th October 2019

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.02

F.C. Gullegem 0 K.S.V. Oudenaarde 4, attendance 323

16’ 0-1

33’ 0-2

44’ 0-3

67’ 0-4

@ Poezelhoek 12

Gullegem

8560 Wevelgem

€10 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

Today was another one off the list as I try to complete the ‘152’, or Belgian League, if you prefer. Division 2 Amateur is level 4 of the league and is split into three divisions, two Flemish (Dutch speaking) and one Walloon (French). The match was 7th versus 6th in the league table, with the visitors looking to climb back into Division 1 Amateur, having been relegated via a play off at the end of last season. The clubs are only 23 miles apart, so this meant there was a good away following, which was probably close on three figures and unlike the game at K.F.C. Witgoor Sport last week, there was no need for segregation.

The match was played at a good pace throughout. Oudenaarde were far too clinical, taking their chances, where Gullegem failed to make the most of theirs. The opener came after sixteen minutes, the ball rolled in from a tight angle, leaving the ‘keeper stranded, before the second was added just after the half hour mark. A neat finish from 18 yards saw the game effectively sewn up in the last minute of the half. Gullegem never looked capable of pulling back the 0-3 deficit and Oudenaarde missed a hatful of chances, before making it 0-4 with another goal finished from a tight angle, having rounded the ‘keeper once more, just like the opening goal.

We were on the outbound 09.20 Eurotunnel this morning, which departed three minutes late. We were back at The Tunnel by 18.15, in plenty of time for our scheduled 19.20 return, but this was retimed to 19.24, then still left two minutes late!

Essex & Suffolk Border League

Premier Division

Saturday 19th October 2019

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.05

Barnston 1 Gas Recreation 1, attendance 29

38’ 0-1

88’ 1-1

@ High Easter Road

Barnston

CM6 1LZ

No Admission or Programme.

It was a comfortable thirty five minute drive north from Brentwood for my second match of the day. Barnston have really struggled over the last three seasons, but have managed to avoid being relegated from the Premier Division, despite finishing bottom of the league twice and then second from bottom last season. They are much improved this season though and started the day 11th (out of 16) in the league table. Gas Recreation are aiming for a third consecutive title and despite coming into this down in seventh place, winning their games in hand would see them draw level with the current leaders Stanway Pegasus.

Gas Recreation dominated throughout, but struggled to break down a very resolute home defence, finally going ahead following a defensive mix up seven minutes before halftime. The second half saw them continue their dominance, but the very physical approach from the hosts, combined with a pitch that was far too well grassed and really could do with cutting, saw them fail to add a second goal that would have killed the game off. With two minutes left, Barnston had their only real chance of the second half, which saw a header well saved, but the rebound was scrambled in for an unlikely looking equaliser, which on balance of play wasn’t really deserved. Gas Recreation finished the game with ten men, when they had a man sent off in stoppage time for picking up a second yellow card.

Arthurian League

Division 1

Saturday 19th October 2019

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.06

Old Brentwoods 4 Old Malvernians 2, attendance 10

15’ 1-0

52’ 1-1

55’ 2-1

58’ 3-1

64’ 3-2

90’ 4-2

@ Old Brentwoods Sports Club

Ashwells Road

Pilgrims Hatch

Brentwood

CM15 9SE

No Admission or Programme.

Old Brentwoods Sports Club consists of two football pitches, separated by a cricket square, and a rugby pitch, that is furthest from the pavilion/clubhouse, which is the pick of them as it has wooden fencing along one side and a small piece of cover on the halfway line. Today’s match was played on Pitch 1, which runs widthways in front of the pavilion/clubhouse.

The match was 6th versus 10th (bottom) in the league table. Neither side looked up to much at the back, but the two sets of forwards never made the most of numerous chances that came their way. Every time one of the teams attacked it looked like a goal would come. Quite how it was only 1-0 at the break, I don’t know. Malvernians then levelled early in the second half, but within six minutes they found themselves 3-1 down. A fumble by the home ‘keeper saw the ball scrambled in to make it 3-2 and set up a frantic last 25 minutes of end to end football, with constant attacking from both teams and Brentwoods finally Killed the visitors off when they made it 4-2 in the dying seconds.

Nottinghamshire F.A. Senior Cup

1st Round

Wednesday 16th October 2019

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.50

Newark Town 2 Clifton All Whites 2 (4-3 pens), attendance 115

9’ 0-1

33’ 1-1

59’ 1-2 (pen)

73’ 2-2

@ Y.M.C.A. Activity Village, 3G Pitch

Lord Hawke Way

Newark

NG24 4FH

£3 Admission

£1 Programme, 28 pages.

Newark Town have moved into their new ground here at the Y.M.C.A. Activity Village having previously played at the ground of Collingham F.C. From a ground hopping point of view, it is a dreadful venue, although unlike so many of these 3G caged pitches, at least you can walk round all four sides of the pitch, although with no cover or seating, it will not get them any further up the football pyramid.

As far as the team goes, they are top of the Central Midlands League, North Division, although in such a poor league, which is not a patch on what it once was, that is hardly a great achievement, but they did look a decent side tonight. Clifton All Whites play one level higher, in the East Midlands Counties League, although they are below halfway in the league table.

Clifton led twice, but were pegged back each time. The second Newark goal was a superb mazy run that left the defence turned inside out and had the finish to match. Newark pushed hard for a winner and perhaps deserved to get it, but Clifton survived and we went to penalties to decide things. Apparently, there was no extra time as there is a 10pm curfew on the floodlights, although surely it must be a competition rule, as Newark wouldn’t have been able to host the game otherwise. Clifton missed the target with two of their kicks, but Newark scored all four of theirs to advance to the next round of the cup.

Belgium

Antwerpen Provinvial 1

Sunday 13th October 2019

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

K.F.C. Wezel Sport 2 Racing V.C. Hoboken 0, attendance 216

33’ 1-0

86’ 2-0

@ Moresnetlaan

Wezel

2400 Mol

€8 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

The ground here was opened in 1995 and was formerly a youth and training complex and home to F.C. Wezel Sport ‘B’ team.

Both these clubs are newly promoted into Provincial 1 this season. Wezel started the day eighth in the league table, with Hoboken down in fifteenth place (second bottom). Neither team seemed to have any idea as far as attacking flair was concerned and every attack broke down through poor passing as each team reached the final third of the pitch. Wezel opened the scoring following a quick break away just after the half hour mark and it took them until four minutes from the end of the match before they added a second goal to make the three points safe.

A trouble free journey back to The Tunnel saw us arrive in plenty of time for our 20.36 return crossing. As is the norm, it left late, but only three minutes behind schedule.

Belgium

Non Matchday Visit

Sunday 13th October 2019

Soevereinpark Stadion

Speelpleinstraat 24

3920 Lommel

As we drove past the main stadium on our way to the morning youth match, we noticed that the gates were open, so we called in afterwards to have a look around.

I had visited the ground back on 23rd August 2014, when I saw Lommel United beat R.A.E.C. Mons 2-0 in a Belgian F.A. Cup 5th Round match. It completed a very good days football for me, as it was the only time whilst living there that I managed to do four new ground visits in the same day, the first three games being Limburg Provincial Cup matches.

I had started off the day at S.V. Breugel at 13.00, then moved on to K. Lutlommel V.V. for a 16.00 start, before taking in the 18.00 kick off at K.F.C. Verbroedering Lommel. I see from my records that I took it easy the next day, ‘only’ ticking off three grounds, two in the Brabant Provincial Cup and an evening game in the Oost Vlaanderen Provincial Cup.

I took no photos on my previous visit here, but the ground looks pretty much unchanged over the intervening five years….