KFC Brasschaat 1-1 KSV Schriek
Antwerp Provincial 2
Louis De Winterstadion
16 March 2013
Getting Away From IT
Despite what many people may think, I don't support Aldershot for the glory, the trophies or the guarantee of almost certain success, I support them because they were my local league team growing up and for forty years the whole basis of my weekend. I also accept that, as with supporting most clubs, you have to take the rough with the smooth. Well this last week was one that would push nearly all Shots fans to the edge. Coming into the week already right up to our necks in a relegation battle, we promptly lost two home games in four days, one to the team with the fourth worst away record in the division and another to a key relegation rival. We ended the week in the bottom two.
Even a displaced fan like myself takes this badly, especially as I was foiled in my attempts to get to the first game by the snow in northern France which cancelled all the Eurostar trains. Sat at home watching the feed coming through was not a pleasant experience, and I sensed even Miss NAC thought it best to leave me sobbing in the corner at the full time whistle.
But here is when being a committed Ground Hopper and lover of the glorious game can be a real help as there was little time to feel sorry for myself. Get back on the horse and get out to a game that evening. And what better way to forget about the day's miserable events in North Hampshire, than a trip over the border to watch a Provincial League 2 (6th tier) Belgian game between two side I had never heard of! Pre match background work highlighted that the away team was 12 points clear at the top and the hosts in 6th spot. What followed was a great game of attacking football, full on commitment and nothing in the way of bad tackles or gamesmanship.
The home team in their yellow and blue attacked from the off, controlling the game and looking every bit the runaway leaders the away team were supposed to be. After 25 mins they took the lead with a terrific strike. The expected response from the visitors came almost immediately, but they couldn't break through. Half time came and a chance to catch our breaths.
The away team then started to dominate the second half and got a deserved equaliser on the hour with a terrific goal, and celebrations to match. It was at this point I started to doubt what I was watching. Why would a team that far clear at the top celebrate like that? Suspicions were further aroused a few minutes later, when the eagle eyed Miss NAC commented on how unusual it was to see the away team bench sending in new balls for those kicked out of the stadium.
And so it transpired that we had in fact been watching this game through the looking glass. For whatever reason, the visitors had been allowed to wear their home colours of yellow and blue whilst the home team had changed to white. The fact that very little drew our attention to this is probably an indication of how well the hosts played and what an even game it was.
The stadium itself was an extraordinary mix of buildings, open seats and grass ends set in a huge park, surround firstly by a running track and then trees.
The whole evening was the perfect antidote to the afternoon events, and for only 3 Euro!!
Even a displaced fan like myself takes this badly, especially as I was foiled in my attempts to get to the first game by the snow in northern France which cancelled all the Eurostar trains. Sat at home watching the feed coming through was not a pleasant experience, and I sensed even Miss NAC thought it best to leave me sobbing in the corner at the full time whistle.
But here is when being a committed Ground Hopper and lover of the glorious game can be a real help as there was little time to feel sorry for myself. Get back on the horse and get out to a game that evening. And what better way to forget about the day's miserable events in North Hampshire, than a trip over the border to watch a Provincial League 2 (6th tier) Belgian game between two side I had never heard of! Pre match background work highlighted that the away team was 12 points clear at the top and the hosts in 6th spot. What followed was a great game of attacking football, full on commitment and nothing in the way of bad tackles or gamesmanship.
The home team in their yellow and blue attacked from the off, controlling the game and looking every bit the runaway leaders the away team were supposed to be. After 25 mins they took the lead with a terrific strike. The expected response from the visitors came almost immediately, but they couldn't break through. Half time came and a chance to catch our breaths.
The away team then started to dominate the second half and got a deserved equaliser on the hour with a terrific goal, and celebrations to match. It was at this point I started to doubt what I was watching. Why would a team that far clear at the top celebrate like that? Suspicions were further aroused a few minutes later, when the eagle eyed Miss NAC commented on how unusual it was to see the away team bench sending in new balls for those kicked out of the stadium.
And so it transpired that we had in fact been watching this game through the looking glass. For whatever reason, the visitors had been allowed to wear their home colours of yellow and blue whilst the home team had changed to white. The fact that very little drew our attention to this is probably an indication of how well the hosts played and what an even game it was.
The stadium itself was an extraordinary mix of buildings, open seats and grass ends set in a huge park, surround firstly by a running track and then trees.
The whole evening was the perfect antidote to the afternoon events, and for only 3 Euro!!