NEC Delfzijl continues to struggle after the winter break and loses at home to the students of The Knickerbockers

To the frustration of trainer Lesmond Prinsen, the students had not exactly come to Delfzijl at war strength. ,,The boys have had two weeks off and a number of them are still performing to go on winter sports this weekend,” Prinsen was disappointed, who will start working at ZFC Zuidlaren next season after six years of employment with The Knickerbockers. ,,In addition, one of my better players had to cancel because of an exam elsewhere in the country. So it was puzzling with the line-up today.”

Low entertainment value

NEC Delfzijl is currently in ninth position in 3C and that results in participation in the playoffs with the heavier relegation scheme. It was therefore important for the Delfzijlsters to keep the three points in-house. But just like in the other games after the winter break – only two meager points were achieved from five games – it also did not work against the severely disabled Stadjers.

The first half, incidentally, had a low entertainment value. The visitors played football a little easier, but only managed one nice chance. Sander Stokman aimed straight at goalkeeper Bas Westerhuis after a few misses in the rear of NEC. The home team could have created more danger if the final pass had been better cared for, but it was invariably too careless or too hard. Dion Zimmerman had the only real opportunity after a nice action, but his effort disappeared next to the goal.

Frivolity without return

Fortunately, there was more excitement in the second act. The Knickerbockers played more energetically and searched for the attack faster, but NEC was also threatening in the counterpunch. NEC Delfzijl has unpredictable players with football players such as Zimmerman and Shaimo Hooi who can force something with an individual action, but this afternoon it mainly remained with frivolous moments without return.

After about an hour of play, the guests took the lead from a set piece. A free kick from Jasper Kobes was nodded into the far corner by the incomprehensibly released Melvin Nuwolt: 0-1.

The students could have decided afterwards, but a hit by McLean was rejected due to offside, Arne van der Made failed face to face with goalie Westerhuis and Joost Beukema hopelessly aimed over the goal from close range. Jose Camedo, Zimmerman and Hooi could have punished those misses, but this afternoon’s excellent goalkeeping TKB goalie Sietse Vissers turned out to be too much of an obstacle.

Mental problem

,,We weren’t much less today, but I lack the real will to get a result,” NEC coach Roy Kamps grumbled. “We can play pretty good football, but we also have to keep to agreements and want to help each other. It’s mostly a mental problem.”

The gap to the safe eighth place remains five points for NEC due to this result. The Knickerbockers, on the other hand, climb from sixth to fourth place and seize the lead en passant in the second period