Belgium
Brabant Provincial 1 A.C.F.F.
Sunday 13th January 2019
Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.33
F.C. Saint-Josse 2 R. Racing Club Boitsfort 2, attendance 103
2’ 1-0 (pen)
39’ 1-1
47’ 2-1
90’ 2-2
@ Stade Georges Petre
Rue Georges De Lombarde 55
1140 Evere
€8 Admission
No Programme.
The Stade Georges Petre has been home to F.C. Saint-Josse (and previously R.C.S. Saint-Josse) since 1915, but is rumoured to be replaced by a new stadium in the near future, which will see the current ground flattened and a new ground constructed on the site which will see the pitch turned by 90 degrees from its current position.
With the driver heading for F.C. Saint-Michel (where I had visited on 18th May 2014 to see them beat V.C. Eendracht Mazenzele 6-0 in a Brabant Provincial 3 Promotion Play Off.) also in this division, and around 4 miles away, it was an ideal opportunity to make a visit here whilst the ground is one of character, which the new build almost certainly won’t be. Oddly enough, this was only a five minute drive from home when I lived in Brussels and would have been my second nearest ground. As is often said, “you can’t do everything”, but I am glad I made it here before modernisation arrives and it was certainly a stadium worthy of being my 800th Belgian ground that I have seen a match on.
The only problem today could have been the rain, but thankfully the heavy rain that was forecast was nothing more than light rain or drizzle, for the duration of the match at least, although it had certainly rained earlier in the day as both 6 yard boxes had standing water in them and the pitch was a bit squelchy in front of the main stand, but didn’t cut up too badly.
The match was fourth in the league table versus eighth. Saint-Josse made a blistering start, going ahead from the penalty spot after just two minutes. Boitsfort settled into what was a real end to end match and deservedly levelled it up with a 25 yard free kick that went in off the post around five minutes before the break. Saint-Josse were ahead again early in the second half when their Centre Forward cut inside and fired an unstoppable shot into the far corner of the net. They totally dominated the game from here, but just couldn’t get a third goal to make it safe and as we hit the ninety minute mark, Boitsfort got a corner on the right and the same player who had scored their first equaliser scored directly from the kick, when the keeper misjudged the flight of the ball and it went in off the far post.
We were booked on the 09.20 outbound train, but were offered a place on the 09.06 on arrival, which was an ‘extra’ slotted into the schedule, which actually left a couple of minutes early. A good journey back to The Tunnel meant we were once again offered the crossing before our booked one, so were on the 19.50 that left on time. At least the time we gained helped with the fact that the M20 was closed for the weekend for roadworks, so made up for any loss on the diversion.
