SC Loppersum is on course for the title after a bloodless draw against Lycurgus. ‘That number 4 is kicking things loose and stuck with us’

“Ultimately, we are getting our money’s worth. We missed a bit of poison in midfield, which we are normally so good at. And we have to be honest, the people who have to score our goals were not really having it on their hips today,” said captain and great stimulator Ruben Danhof (33) of SC Loppersum. “Yes, I’m on top of it. But we need that too. That has always been the case with us, even in the second division.” It is not without reason that they say in Ireland that you need an old dog for a tough trip.

‘The old and the young have to do it together’

SC Loppersum would like to go up. Danhof: “Of course, otherwise we shouldn’t put on the football boots. But we have no A and B juniors and always only about thirteen people. The old and the young have to do it together.”

In 2015, SC Loppersum was relegated from the second division. If we do not count the corona years, it did not finish in the top 3 in the following years, only last season. That led to relegation five times, but never to promotion. This time it could be done directly, because thanks to the midweek victory over Mamio, Loppersum started as the leader against middle-ranking Lycurgus.

Team leader Rob Sleurink: “Every week we have to explain why we are at the top. We play compactly, give the opponent the ball. Then there will be space and we will benefit from that. With us, seven men can score.”

Scoreboard journalism

Opponent Lycurgus – a renowned club in the last century – played in the fifth division four years ago. The city team has only lost twice, is doing well and the draw was not undeserved. Coach Rodney van der Hoek thought so too, although he had not traveled for a point: “No, that is scoreboard journalism. I don’t think they are better than us. Last year we won here 3-0. But not much happened today. We draw too much, our eighth draw. We are complete again and we have to stay in it.”

Frisian soldier misses opportunities

We can be brief about the highlights. The strong wind dominated the open sports park and made good football impossible. For Loppersum, Olav Sleurink was given a great opportunity after good work by Joris Jurna, the Loppersum star. Moments later, both men were close to scoring again in one attack. For Lycurgus, top scorer Rindert Ykema, nicknamed the Frisian soldier, had two nice chances, but both times goalkeeper Marvin Hoeksema was relieved to see the attempts wide.

The second half was unattractive and more boring than a delay alarm at a train station. Loppersum had the wind behind it, but the concept of ‘find Joris Jurna’ barely worked. Only in extra time did danger arise, when the almost 40-year-old Rolf Oosterhuis took a few dangerous free kicks. Lycurgus goalkeeper Robert Brak made one save and got some help when a corner bounced off the top crossbar just short of the line and was cleared by a teammate.

Wouter Gudde can get excited

The most excitement came from questionable decisions by referee Jakob Klompien, born in nearby Ten Post and also chairman of the Supervisory Board of FC Groningen. If Klompien looks at the FC’s annual accounts as precisely as he does at the location and execution of throw-ins,

Wouter Gudde wet his chest. Van der Hoek: “Yes, he didn’t have the best day. That number four of them (Marc Vereijken -ed.) is kicking things loose and stuck with us. He normally always whistles well.”

Due to the loss of pursuers Helpman and Groen Geel and the draw of runner-up Zuidhorn, Loppersum had a great day at the bottom.