SC Langenhagen 4 VfL Bückeburg 0

                                                                                          
                                                          
                                                                                            







Well what can I say? Where do I begin? I know, at the beginning. Works for me!

My other teams results were a bit hit and miss. Hannover won 2-1 in Nürnberg, so that's two out of two. Orient lost 0-1 at home to Tranmere and Romford were thumped 1-5 at Hythe, albeit a friendly.

Set off in pouring rain at a ridiculously early time of 11am. I knew the ground was only 45 minutes away, but I thought if I programmed "Emily" to go across country again, maybe, just maybe I could kill a couple of hours. No! I was there at 12:15, having covered the 62.5km from Bückeburg to Langenhagen with consumate ease.

I was feeling pretty confident, as SC Langenhagen had lost their opener last weekend 0-5, so a point would be in the bag. Or so I hoped. 

The Walter-Bettges-Stadion is named after the ex mayor of Langenhagen, who died in 1991. Langenhagen is a suburb of Hannover, population 52,583 and is where both Hannover Airport, and the horse racing track are situated. It is also twinned with Southwark, fact fans, although the resemblance escapes me.

On entering the ground, I was greeted with a psychedelic lion. They must have been dropping acid when they conceived that idea.

 

Why? I mean, why?

For the first time today, just before the kick off, it stopped raining. Within 5 minutes we were one down, as a cross from the left was turned in, with the help of the underside of the cross bar. 

I had no idea what formation we were supposed to be playing. Niklas Fritsche was on the bench, and Pascal Könnemann was playing in the centre of defence alongside Werner, with Dennis Peter seemingly on the right of a back 3. Perhaps I was wrong! I usually am.

After 27 minutes it was a second for Langenhagen. Bückeburg were losing possession in midfield, and it seemed that SCL were a lot stronger. We carved no real chances in the first half and went into the break at 0-2, not before Tim Engler in goal, tipped a shot onto the bar. The signs were ominous.

 

Terracing and main stand

On a side note, as depicted in the photo above, SC Langenhagen have terracing. This has, count them, 5 steps. SCL have played Oberliga for a number of years. So why do they not need crush barriers and the Jahnstadion does? Answers on a postcard to.....

The second half resumed in a downpour and in the 47th minute Bückeburg were denied not one, but two clear penalties. First a handball, which even Stevie Wonder would have spotted, then a push on "Bubi" Bremer which the assistant referee (so much easier to say linesman) failed to spot. His resemblence to Porky Pig was uncanny, and it was all about this jumped up porker. He warned manager Timo Nottebrock for daring to complain and question his judgement. 

The assistant referee

 VfL were playing some good stuff now. Taking the game to Langenhagen and creating a lot more. Buruk was the outstanding player, he was the centre of most things, and Schmalkoch, playing in a more defensive role was also excellent.


But 55 minutes and it was game over. With their 4th shot of the game, the airport lovers scored again, and again it was a cross from the right, clinically finished. I swore loudly when that one went in, as Porky and the ref were riling me with their biased decisions, and we were actually getting on top. 


There was no way back, and I took to trying to spot planes from the nearby airport, in between breaks in the clouds. Total spotted = 6

A plane.

As the game was winding down, another cross, another finish and it was 4. We have now conceded 8 goals in our last two games. If I have to be critical I would say that the right hand side of defence needs looking at. Abram wasn't his usual self today, won virtually no tackles and wasn't as prominent going forward. 

We are rock bottom of the league, but no reason to push the panic button just yet. I am sure there are at least two teams weaker than us, and with only one relegated, great chance to stay in the league.

Next Saturday we have VfL Osnabrück II at home. They are unbeaten and lie in 7th place. I detest reserve teams being in a league, and believe they should have their own reserve league.

Onwards and upwards, the mighty greens!

Ratings

Friendliness:     7
Clubhouse:        10
Seats:            Yes
Behind goals:     Hard standing
Cover:            Yes
Barrier:          Metal fence
Beer:             Gilde Ratskeller - not sampled
Bratwurst:        1.80€ - 5
Entrance fee:     6€
Programme:        No
Weather:          3 - Pissing down
Ground:           5
Home fans:        4

Player Ratings

1. Tim Engler            7
2. Pascal Könnemann      6
3. Jonas Abram           5
4. Dennis Peter          7
5. Niko Werner           6
9. Alexander Bremer      7
11. Burak Buruk          9
12. Tim Buchwald         6 
13. Bastian Schmalkoch   8
18. Jan Steiniger        6
20. Bastian Könnemann    6

Subs
15. Moritz Heine         5 for Buchwald after 66 minutes