FC Dordrecht 3-1 Almere City
GN Bouw Stadion
3 May 2013
Jupiler League
Firstly an admission. For some reason (ironically given the opponents today) I thought that Almere City had won one of the period Championships, meaning that only teams placed 2nd to 8th would be in the play offs. Fortunately I was wrong, all period champions were in the top 8 so 9th place would do it. The equation was simple, win and they're in, or at the very least match what Oss and Den Bosch did.
The evening began with a presentation to Rogier Molhoek, playing his last professional regular season match, which sadly only lasted for 47 minutes before he was forced to come off.
Dordrecht made a lively start, and it was no surprise when they took the lead, even if the source, Mawouna Amevor, was. The defender scoring just his second goal of the season with a well taken header from a good free kick cross from the lively Rijsdijk. Although they controlled the rest of the half, the home side failed to extend their lead and they were punished just before the break when Almere equalised through a stunning shot that gave Warner Hahn in the home goal absolutely no chance. So the half time pint didn't taste quite so good, and despite the other results going in Dordrecht's favour, the faces in the west stand, and no doubt throughout the whole stadium, had nervous expressions.
But as the saying goes ' cometh the hour cometh the man' and in the case of the Sheepheads' hour, the man was the much maligned Lars Veldwijk. Barely had we got over the disappointment of seeing the captain's last match end prematurely, that the forward on loan from Utrecht beat the offside trap (something that has not happened much this season!) controlled the long through ball well and blasted it into the top corner of the net, I think off the goalies leg. The relief from fans and player alike was tangible as they celebrated goal number 13 of the season for the striker. 2-1 in the 53rd minute and the play offs were back on.
There were a few nervous moments in the next 30 minutes, but not as many as you would have thought given the home sides history of late goals. But in the 85th minute the game was settled when Veldwijk notched up goal number 14 with a quality finish at the second attempt after a nod down by Danny Post.
The fans sang 'We gaan naar Deventer' which was a great help to me as I had no idea who the play off was to be against! But in my defense this has come reasonably from the blue as, despite being as high as third last November, the fall away after the winter break has been dramatic. In fact Dordrecht went nine home matches without winning (and only 3 draws) after routing Eindhoven on November 2nd, extraordinary considering they had one of the best home records in Holland last year (any connection to the fact Miss NAC now has a season ticket is purely coincidental!!!!)
And so the final whistle blew and the players raised their captain on their shoulders relieved that they might, subject to the injury, have given him the opportunity to pull on the green shirt one more time. But almost immediately during the celebrations, thoughts went to a man sadly no longer with us and as someone next to me said........this one was for you Theo, hope you enjoyed it.
The evening began with a presentation to Rogier Molhoek, playing his last professional regular season match, which sadly only lasted for 47 minutes before he was forced to come off.
Dordrecht made a lively start, and it was no surprise when they took the lead, even if the source, Mawouna Amevor, was. The defender scoring just his second goal of the season with a well taken header from a good free kick cross from the lively Rijsdijk. Although they controlled the rest of the half, the home side failed to extend their lead and they were punished just before the break when Almere equalised through a stunning shot that gave Warner Hahn in the home goal absolutely no chance. So the half time pint didn't taste quite so good, and despite the other results going in Dordrecht's favour, the faces in the west stand, and no doubt throughout the whole stadium, had nervous expressions.
But as the saying goes ' cometh the hour cometh the man' and in the case of the Sheepheads' hour, the man was the much maligned Lars Veldwijk. Barely had we got over the disappointment of seeing the captain's last match end prematurely, that the forward on loan from Utrecht beat the offside trap (something that has not happened much this season!) controlled the long through ball well and blasted it into the top corner of the net, I think off the goalies leg. The relief from fans and player alike was tangible as they celebrated goal number 13 of the season for the striker. 2-1 in the 53rd minute and the play offs were back on.
There were a few nervous moments in the next 30 minutes, but not as many as you would have thought given the home sides history of late goals. But in the 85th minute the game was settled when Veldwijk notched up goal number 14 with a quality finish at the second attempt after a nod down by Danny Post.
The fans sang 'We gaan naar Deventer' which was a great help to me as I had no idea who the play off was to be against! But in my defense this has come reasonably from the blue as, despite being as high as third last November, the fall away after the winter break has been dramatic. In fact Dordrecht went nine home matches without winning (and only 3 draws) after routing Eindhoven on November 2nd, extraordinary considering they had one of the best home records in Holland last year (any connection to the fact Miss NAC now has a season ticket is purely coincidental!!!!)
And so the final whistle blew and the players raised their captain on their shoulders relieved that they might, subject to the injury, have given him the opportunity to pull on the green shirt one more time. But almost immediately during the celebrations, thoughts went to a man sadly no longer with us and as someone next to me said........this one was for you Theo, hope you enjoyed it.