After an extremely atmospheric and entertaining match, FC Emmen came out as the winner on Friday evening when they visited De Graafschap. Thus, the first three-pointer of the still early season was a fact for Fred Grim and his friends. And that was celebrated.
The Pond Mountain. Usually a very nice stadium for fans to experience an unadulterated evening of first division football. The home base of De Graafschap breathes football and is rarely atmospheric. Also last night, when FC Emmen came to visit. Almost the entire game, the chants echoed over the stands, coming from both the home and away sections. The teams on the field visibly thrived under it, with fun, fresh and attacking football. It wasn’t boring for a moment.
Where De Graafschap was looking for the second consecutive victory of this still early season, FC Emmen was determined to take full advantage for the first time this season after two draws. Partly because of this, Fred Grim made some changes to his starting eleven. The trainer preferred Julius Dirksen to Dennis Vos on the left in the center of the defense and chose Lorenzo Burnet in the right back position to replace the injured Robin Schouten.
Eager impression FC Emmen
Perhaps the most notable change was Desley Ubbink’s basic debut. The North Brabander created the necessary danger from the left flank. After just under 20 minutes of play, Ubbink should have put his team ahead, but he came across De Graafschap goalkeeper Mees Bakker. There were also opportunities for Jari Vlak, Ben Scholte and Piotr Parzyszek, the Polish striker who was only too happy to hurt his old employer. Although he indicated in advance that he would not cheer.
Grim’s team made an eager impression, especially in the first half. According to the coach’s wishes, his team showed the stability that it lacked in the past two games and remained extremely concentrated. At the same time, De Graafschap was not much inferior. It was partly thanks to an alert goalkeeper Jan Hoeksta that the team of coach Jan Vreman was unable to score before the break. Attempts by Philip Brittijn, Rio Hillen and Mimoun Mahi were thwarted.
Goudhaantje Scholte
After the break, De Graafschap, led by the never silent hard core, took it up a notch, which forced Grim to bring fresh blood into the field. But the arrival of Patrick Brouwer and Joey Konings, who made his debut, did not have the desired effect. FC Emmen found it increasingly difficult to create opportunities. In the meantime Hoekstra seemed to be heading for the title of ‘Man of the Match’ with a number of crucial saves. Were it not that Ben Scholte acted as a spoilsport.
The young Ter Apeler, who went through the youth academy of FC Emmen for years, will gain the confidence of Grim this season as an attacking midfielder. In recent weeks, that has already paid off in a goal and an assist and another goal could be added to that last night. Just in a phase in which FC Emmen was under pressure, Scholte pushed the ball against the ropes on the instructions of substitute Brouwer. De Graafschap goalie Bakker was still there, but could not prevent the goal.
Big discharge
In an extremely hectic final phase, in which, due to the many fouls, the game at times came to a standstill more than football was being played, FC Emmen managed to win over the line. The discharge was great afterwards: the first three-pointer of the season was a fact and that was celebrated exuberantly. In the pouring rain, the red and whites let the hymn of the supporter travel over them. On to the next hurdle, at home against FC Dordrecht.