Tim Veltink van Annen scores a world goal against Valthermond, but still leaves the field grumbling

Midfielder Tim Veltink van Annen was in doubt as to what to do when he gained free possession of the ball in the 35th minute, about 30 meters from the goal. A pass forward to a striker, or shoot? The first is usually a logical continuation of an attack, but Veltink decided to try his luck and lashed out. And how: his shot had the right height, speed and landed beautifully in the top right corner. Valthermond goalkeeper Edwin Melgers could only look at it.

“I hit him nicely,” the shooter looked back on the best moment of meeting the two mid-range teams in the second division of Sunday football. “The ball first went straight to the goalkeeper, but at the end it turned to the corner, so the goalkeeper could not reach it. He flew in very well.”

His most beautiful goal?

Trainer Jouke Jan Meertens van Annen was so happy with the goal that he ran a few meters into the field out of enthusiasm. He celebrated Annen’s 2-0 with two clenched fists, after Dolf Nijborg had already opened the score on behalf of the home team with a header. Veltink’s goal was the final piece of a good first half by Annen, in which striker Nijborg even missed a penalty. He shot the ball wide at 1-0.

Veltink could count on the necessary pats on the back. Was this his best goal in his young career? “Well since I joined Annen’s first team,” he responds. “But I may have made them even more beautiful when I was young. Shooting is in itself a quality of mine. But to be honest, I still don’t do enough with it.”

At Annen they were convinced that the 2-0 halftime score should be enough to beat Valthermond. Coach Meertens’ team could also use a three-pointer, because the current ranking in the middle of the competition is below expectations.

Pinch hitter Meijers

Valthermond, which showed very little in the first half, decided to take a different approach after the break. Trainer Kenny Koning directed defender and substitute Tom Meijers to the point of the attack, to head balls through as a pinch hitter and create as much ‘war’ as possible. Koning already did that in the 55th minute, causing Valthermond to play ‘va banque’ for more than half an hour.

That playing style was successful. After Dion van der Laan shot the score 2-1 against the ropes with a diagonal shot, Valthermond continued to pump the balls high. “And apparently we had difficulty with that,” said Veltink, disappointed.

It’s disappointing

Annen, who made several dangerous counter-attacks and hit the crossbar, was ultimately defeated in the final phase. In the 88th minute, Erik Jan Veerbeek was able to tap in from close range after the Anner anti-aircraft defense failed to clear a high ball. And in the final phase Valthermond even had chances for more, but the home team was spared that suffering.

Veltink found it difficult to live with the draw. “That goal of mine is of no use to us, because we give it up in the final phase,” lamented the midfielder, who with his team is stuck in ninth place in the rankings. “Our goal is to be at the top in this competition. We are now seven rounds in and have collected nine points and that is disappointing. We want to climb higher in the second half of the season. Maybe there is still a period title in it.”