Belgium

Inter-Provincial Eindronde V.F.V. Poule 2

Promotion Play Off

Thursday 30th May 2019

Kick Off 15.00. On Time!

S.K. Lochristi 1 V.K. Liedekerke 0, attendance 624

85’ 1-0

@ Bosdreef 57

9080 Lochristi

€8 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

As it was Ascension Day in Belgium, it once again gave the opportunity to make a trip across The Channel, for what was my 34th, and probably last Belgian ground visited this season. It was a match with something still on the game, and even better, it was an afternoon kick off.

Lochristi had finished in fifth place in Oost Vlaanderen Provincial 1, whilst Liedekerke had finished third in Brabant Provincial 1 V.F.V. Today’s game had plenty riding on it. Lochristi had won their first 3 matches in this 5 team group, where each club plays each other once, with Liedekerke managing 2 wins and a draw from their three matches. Therefore, whoever won would advance to the final match, which would be a home game, where the prize for the winners would be a place in the Belgian League next season. A draw would be enough for Lochristi.

It is a while since I have had to queue to get in at a Provincial match, but with over 600 in attendance today, then it took nearly ten minutes to reach the pay hut, although it wasn’t helped by having just one person taking the money. A second person then handed you your match ticket, then a third person gave you a team sheet.

It was as if the occasion was too much for the teams. It was a dreadful match, both sides being really poor and lacking any quality in the attacking third of the pitch. Liedekerke, for some strange reason, made little attempt to do anything other than play for a 0-0 draw, which was never going to be enough for them. The winning goal came five minutes from time, when a ball was pulled back from the right and an unstoppable 25 yarder was hammered past the ‘keeper. Liedekerke looked totally deflated, but they got what they deserved. Nothing. To be fair, neither side deserved to win.

After a few satisfactory trips on The Tunnel in the last few weeks, Eurotunnel were once again back to normal. Our 09.50 outbound train ran 30 minutes late, which apparently was due to an earlier train breaking down in The Tunnel. Then, on the way home, they were still using the same pathetic excuse for failing to run on time. Our booked 19.39 train finally left, some 61 minutes late.