Forward striker missing: no goals against SC Stadspark. “Last time I hit him in the face four times and that was it.”

Kick-off was approaching and it was still not there: attacker Max Oogink, in his fifth season at the student club. But there was no panic at all in the Forward ranks, rather resignation. “He recently didn’t show up when we played against Oldeholtpade,” said coach Jorrit Smink. “Then one of the boys drove to his house to throw a jug of water over his head. That helped.”

Four claps

Chairman and substitute Dominic Bouvy interrupted Smink. “I gave him four slaps in the face with the flat of my hand,” the president corrected his trainer. “That helped.”

So there is no trace of panic about Oogink’s absence (could something have happened to him?) among the Forwardians, who themselves know perfectly well how it works. “That’s why Dominic had arranged something on Friday,” Smink said after the 0-0. “We had a party on Friday,” Bouvy adds. “Precisely to prevent a lot of drinking on Saturdays. Well, that didn’t quite work out.”

3-4-2-1

Oogink was sorely missed by the students, who clearly lacked attacking power against SC Stadspark. Smink, who was recently admitted to the training for the UEFA-A trainer’s diploma and played in a 3-4-2-1 system, brought reserve player Jesse Goeree into the team due to the absence of Oogink.

He played on the wing and tall central defender Tom van den Brekel took the central position in Oogink’s attack. But before half time, Goeree had to leave again with a hamstring injury. “It doesn’t make any progress that way, of course,” Smink said. “We already have some other absentees, so it will be a job to score.”

Yellow cards like ripe apples

SC Stadspark, led by Harry Zwiers for the second season, had the better chances, but was unable to pass goalkeeper Joep de Ligt. No matter how expensive the goals were, yellow cards fell like ripe apples. Referee Jos Boerema drew five cards, four of which were for Stadspark and almost all of them were heavily criticized by the Stadjers.

“He didn’t whistle well,” Zwiers thought afterwards. “Muddled, made crazy decisions.” Boerema did indeed start a bit shaky, but gradually recovered and ultimately did not referee a bad match.

Accuracy was hard to find

Forward could have opened the score early, but a bet from Tinga Mertens flew past Stadspark goalie Erwin Miedema’s goal in the first minute. Afterwards the students tried hard, but there was not much venom in the attacks they delivered: the inaccuracy in the passing was too great.

Stadpark should have taken the lead in the first half through attacker Cedwin Tel, who pushed wide in front of an open goal. In the rest of the first act, Zwiers’ team mainly asserted itself through a lot of commentary on the refereeing management, not through technical football highlights.

Pinball machine

Forward’s best chance in the second half, just like in the first half, came right at the start. Thijs Jaap Oldenhof, already working hard, got into a shooting position after some pinball football in the penalty area of ​​Stadspark, but his excellent effort in the short corner became a prey for Miedema.

Then Stadspark, which, like Forward, wants to survive in the second division, stepped up its game to still force the win. There were great opportunities for Tel, who shot a free kick just over, Jomaro Kelwulan, Tel’s buddy up front, who just couldn’t surprise De Ligt and captain Michel Boonstra, who sent a free kick wide.

‘We just had this one again’

“This was a terrible match,” said Zwiers. “I never like coming here, I don’t like this dreary atmosphere. We had this match again, I’m happy about that. But we should have scored.”

Good news at Forward came after the match: striker Oogink was above water. He had overslept.