Park the bus!

Rotenburger SV 1 VfL Bückeburg 0

Must not talk about the Olympics, must not talk about the Olympics. I will....but all in good time and in a seperate blog.

We had won our previous two games, including a 4-1 drubbing of VfL Osnabrück II last Saturday, with four wonderful goals. 

The first, a lob over the keeper from Bubi Bremer (who seems to have ditched his fluorescent green boots).The second was the same man, after a defence splitting through ball from Basti Könemann, leaving Bremer a one on one with the keeper which he took with aplomb.

Two goals, but no green boots

 Goal three was a work of art as Tobias Versick recieved the ball on the left, cut inside a defender a curled a wicked right foot shot from 30 yards, took a deflection but still a peach of a goal.

Substitute Bastian Hattendorf rounded things off with a carbon copy of the 3rd goal.

So, to Rotenburg. We beat this lot last season at their place 2-1 and drew 1-1 at home, and went into the match as league leaders (ok, after 1 game but it still counts).

Programme and match ticket

 155kms overland, or 110km using a normal route, to the 3000 capacity Stadion an der Ahe.

Before the game, there was something seriously wrong with their PA system, and we were all subjected to a period of white noise. I would have rather listened to a Scooter album than be subjected to that.

"Are...you...ready?"

 

 

We had a few missing with either injuries or work/study commitments, namely Bremer, Steininger, Heine and Schneckener.

In came Bastian Schmalkoch and Niko Schikora. 

For some obscure reason the match kicked off 15 minutes late.

After 10 minutes we were one down, the defence really all at sea, Rinne and Werner far too far apart from each other, allowing Acel France to smash the  ball into the net.

We finally started to get our act together and young Schikora was a constant thorn in the side of the RSV defence, Buchwald playing a more offensive role since the departure of Niklas Fritsche, also causing havoc.

Niko Schikora

 I liken Schickora to a wasp, buzzing around, making a nuisance of himself. To great effect!

We were taking the game to the home side, who seemed content just to hump the ball foward to their non existant forward line.

Rinne played a lovely cross field ball to the impressive Versick, who cut in once again and unleashed a shot from 35 yards which clipped the crossbar.

Halftime and we were 0-1 down, but creating chances aplenty.

At halftime, I bought a bratwurst and a shandy. To complete this feat I had to stand in one queue for food (not explained), and another for drinks (not explained), while some senile old duffer stood in the middle of the two, chuntering on to himself.

Second half gets underway and the bus was parked firmly in their half.

Rotenburger SV

 In the 63rd minute, manager Timo Nottebrock makes a double substitution, bringing on Buruk and Hattendorf for Buchwald and Basti Könemann.

In the 85th, Pascal Hertig came on for his debut, replacing Schikora (who has bright orange boots).

Niko's boots

In the 90th minute, Christoph Drewes gets booked for a second time for throwing the ball away and leaves the pitch, skipper NiKo Werner playing as a target man by now, curls the ball over the wall from 18 metres, and once again clips the crossbar with the keeper beaten.

So that was it. 0-1 defeat. I shall miss the next couple of games as I shall once again be home (London), including the cup game against TSV Havelse. Pffft!

RATINGS

Friendliness:     9
Clubhouse:        7
Seats:            Yes
Behind goals:     Bugger all
Cover:            One main stand
Floodlights:      No
Barrier:          Metal fence
Bratwurst:        €2 - 5/10
Beer:             Krombacher €2 (not sampled)
Entrance fee:     €6
Programme:        Yes - Free
Weather:          8
Ground:           6
Home fans:        4