Thirty-eight minutes. Hoogeveen had to defend a 1-0 lead for that long in the remainder of the game against Sparta Nijkerk. With success, because the blue shirts eventually won 2-1.
In November last year, the Hoogeveen-Sparta Nijkerk match was stopped after a nasty head injury suffered by substitute Hoogeveen goalie Bart de Weerd. The only seventeen-year-old goalkeeper had come on in the twentieth minute for the first keeper Stan Meekhof, who had been sent off with a red card, and played a good game until the fatal moment.
Debut and farewell
Fortunately, he had recovered on Saturday and so he could continue with his debut two and a half months later. This time too, the young goalkeeper held his ground with some excellent saves. He had no chance with the only goal conceded.
“It went quite well,” De Weerd beamed. “I suffered from that kick to the head for quite a long time, but at the moment I’m doing well.” Strangely enough, his debut could well be his last match with the first team. ,,Yes that’s right. After this season I will start the KMA training in Breda and that will take a lot of time. The ultimate goal is to become a pilot. It’s a pity that I have to say goodbye, but I get something nice in return. I’m just following my dream.”
To trust
With two wins in a row, Hoogeveen started the remainder of the second half with confidence. Especially because Sparta Nijkerk, which was fully involved in the title battle before the winter break, had lost its way considerably in recent weeks with three consecutive defeats.
Hoogeveen started with a kind of 4-4-1 formation and wanted to quickly look for depth when in possession of the ball, but little came of that. As expected, the visitors quickly put pressure on and apart from a nice effort from distance by Giorgio Beltau on the roof of the goal, Hoogeveen was powerless offensively.
Sparta Nijkerk did have good chances, but De Weerd twice prevented Mike Ahrens from scoring and a long shot from Tyrone Fonville ended up on the crossbar. After about twenty minutes it was a hit. The ball was not cleared properly in the Hoogeveen defense and Ahrens hit the ball hard via the crossbar: 1-1.
Successful lunge
Strangely enough, the storm then subsided somewhat, although De Weerd had to intervene twice when opportunities for Ahrens and Fonville were created. Hoogeveen rarely came out ahead, but the one time it did happen it immediately resulted in a goal. Jim Veltmaat cleverly slipped past some defenders on the left flank, Menno Heerkes extended his cross towards the far post and the defender Bjorn Klaassens, who came along, made it 2-1 amid loud cheering from close by.
The guests were then quite dejected and the hardworking Hoogeveen held on quite easily in the final phase. The safe fourteenth place is now back in sight again.
Hoogeveen-Sparta Nijkerk 2-1
Score progression : 14. Veltmaat 1-0, 72. Ahrens 1-1, 84. Klaassens 2-1.
Red card : 20. Meekhof (Hoogeveen).
Yellow card : Bakkenes, El Ghazouani (Sparta Nijkerk).
Referee : Janssen.
Spectators : 300.
Hoogeveen : De Weerd, Klaassens, Schuurman, Blekkink, Vijfhuizen, Menno Heerkes, Bijlsma (81. Leerdam), Tom Heerkes, Veltmaat, Beltau (81. Kamphuis).