Lausanne Sport 2 v 1 BSC Young Boys

Saturday 14th October 2017
Swiss Super League
Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne
Admission: CHF 27.50
Programme: Free
Attendance: 4,640
Match Rating: 4

Following my game in Geneva yesterday evening, this morning I made my way by train along to Lake Geneva to Lausanne, for another busy day sightseeing – not the easiest of tasks with the city being full of steep hills – followed by an evening game in the top flight of Swiss football.

The Stade Olympique de la Pontaise is about a half hour bus ride northwards from the city centre, and is delightfully old-fashioned in its appearance and facilities. So no surprise, sadly, that plans have been approved for a new stadium to replace it within the next couple of years. Tickets are available at booths outside the main gates, although again I purchased mine online for a discount. Inside the main gate there is a large area for refreshments and a van selling club merchandise. The stadium has mainly seating all the way around, with large all-seater stands along both lengths, although a small section on one side offers terrace steps to stand on. Uncovered seating, not in use, stretched between the stands behind one goal, with a scoreboard in the middle, whilst behind the other, about half of the area is unused uncovered seating, a small covered section offers terraces steps for away fans (although away fans also appeared to be welcome in any other stand), and the remaining area was unused covered seating. The presence of a running track around the pitch means that spectators are a little distant from the actions, but otherwise views are excellent from the stand along the lengths, elevated and unobstructed. Programmes were handed out free of charge around the stadium and also as one enters the stands, and whilst it was rather more basic than yesterday's offering at Servette, it contained the essential facts and getting a programme is not something one can always rely on abroad.

After a difficult start to their season, where they picked up just two points from their opening six league games, they have been unbeaten in their last four league games, and came into this game in eighth place in the ten team division, with ten points from their ten league games. This match would be a very tough assignment for them though, as the visitors were top of the table by six points, and have won their last four league games.

At the end of a beautifully warm and sunny day, conditions were perfect for watching football this evening. The first half was well balanced, Young Boys always seeming to have a little bit more quality, but Lausanne did look dangerous on the break, with some cute touches and fast movement setting them on their way on several occasions. Indeed, they took the lead on 41 minutes, again some fast passing culminated in Samuele Campo laying the ball off for Francesco Margiotta, who took a touch before placing the ball past the keeper.

The away section greeted the players for the second half with flares and sparklers, with the flares continuing throughout the second half. Indeed, they provided superb support for their team, with continual chanting throughout the match. Their team certainly stirred into life in the second half, as the visitors completely dominated proceedings, spending most of the time camped in the opposition’s third, as the hosts were happy to sit deep and defend for their lives. The inevitable finally came on 67 minutes when Young Boys equalised. Roger Assalé curled the ball to the back post, and Christian Fassnacht headed the ball powerfully home. There looked to be only one winner now as the visitors gathered the ball and printed back into position to kick off. Lausanne were not quite so defensive after the goal, but still they had the look of a team who would be delighted to hold on for a point as Young Boys pushed hard for a winner. A draw looked inevitable as the game entered just two minutes of added on time at the end of the match, however that provided just enough time to produce a dramatic finish. Following a throw in by the corner flag, Benjamin Kololli swung the ball high into the box, the ball just evaded a jump by a defender and substitute Gonzalo Zarate was there to head the ball home beyond the keeper’s dive, to cue wild celebrations amongst the crowd and players, which continued beyond the final whistle which blew shortly afterwards. The Lausanne players joined in with the celebrations in front of the terrace area, and no wonder the occasion was celebrated so much, as it was Lausanne’s first home victory in the league for over a calendar year, spanning 21 home matches.

This was a terrific way to end my short groundhopping stay in Switzerland, witnessing a dramatic match in pleasantly old fashioned surroundings and with a friendly feel to the place amongst the fans and officials.

Video highlights of this match can be found by clicking here

Servette 2 v 0 FC Vaduz

Friday 13th October 2017
Swiss Challenge League
Stade de Genève, Geneva
Admission: CHF 20
Programme: Free
Attendance: 2,315
Match Rating: 3

I usually go on a brief groundhopping focused trip within Europe in the autumn, and this time I decided to head for western Switzerland, flying in this morning and after a very enjoyable if exhausting walk around the attractive city and waterfront of Geneva, I headed for this match in the second tier of Swiss football, kicking off at 8pm.

The Stade de Genève is about a twenty minute tram ride southwards from Geneva Cornavin train station, followed by a ten minute walk along a busy dual carriageway, just beyond and adjacent to a large shopping centre, as well as a flyover. Ticket booths are available outside the stadium, although I bought my print-at-home ticket in advance, and a small table was selling a limited amount of club merchandise. The stadium is a fairly typical stadium built in the 21st century, all-seater all around, and occasionally hosts international fixtures. With a capacity of just over 30,000, it is a shame that Servette, one of the great names of Swiss football, struggle to fill a tenth of its capacity, and the only areas of the ground open for Servette matches are along one length, which has corporate boxes above the seating and a level for the media above that, and behind one goal, where I chose to sit and where, unsurprisingly, the more vocal supporters congregate. Indeed, they gave their team excellent support throughout, making up for the small crowd present this evening. Small glossy programmes were handed out free of charge around the stadium  and were attractively designed and contained the essential facts.

Only one place separated this evening’s teams, although there were ten points between them. Servette came into this game in third place, with 23 points from their opening ten league games, and a point adrift of the leaders and sole promotions berth. FC Vaduz, from Liechtenstein, and who were relegated from the top flight last season, were in fourth place in the ten team division, with 13 points from their 10 league games.

On a mild evening following a warm, sunny evening, Servette got off to a great start, opening the scoring on 5 minutes. The ball was swung over high from the right to the left hand side of the penalty area, Alexandre Alphonse took a couple of touches before passing the ball for Steven Long to back heel it first time, and the ball found its way just inside the near post. That was something of a false dawn for Servette however, as the visitors did much more of the attacking, and although they rarely looked convincing in the final third, but they did force some very good saves from the home keeper, most notable on 35 minutes when a first time shot  by Niels Von Niederhäusen from 8 yards drew a brilliant reflex save from the keeper. After a great start, Servette certainly did not push on from there and they held a slender one goal half time lead.

Into the second half and the game rather meandered along, with Vaduz not carrying the same attacking intent as they had before the break, and Servette seemed to coast along content with their lead. But they doubled their lead on 73 minutes. A Vaduz player sloppily gave away possession in midfield to Willie, who laid the ball to Long, who took a few touches forward before curling a low shot from just outside of the area into the net via the inside of the post. The closest Vaduz came to pulling a goal back was just as the game entered added on time when a powerful header following a corner hit the keeper in the chest. But it was not to be and despite Vaduz having more shots, it felt like a victory that Servette deserved, with a little more quality despite this being a far from convincing display.

Video highlights of this match can be found by clicking here.

Fisher 1 v 3 Forest Hill Park

Saturday 7th October 2017
Southern Counties East League Division One
St Paul’s Stadium, Rotherhithe
Admission and Programme: Pay What You Like
Attendance: 159
Match Rating: 3

For this year’s Non League Day, I decided against the marathon day that would have been the 4 games in a day Western League hop, mostly due to have three consecutive long distance trips to look forward to during each of the next three weekends. Instead, I decided to complete the Southern Counties East League, something I had been saving literally for a rainy day with Fisher's plastic pitch since their ground opened last season.  But with Fisher doing much to promote the occasion today, and the match being a local derby, I decided to make the visit today.

Although St Paul’s Stadium is only about a ten minute walk from Rotherhithe train station, I instead chose to walk along the Thames Path from London Cannon Street station, and a most enjoyable stroll it was too, taking about an hour and passing by a mixture of modern and historic buildings between Tower Bridge to just before Canary Wharf. Spectators enter via a turnstile block along one length, with a table serving as a club shop just inside, offering quite an impressive range of merchandise. This is a modern ground, but despite the presence of plenty of identikit furniture, it actually has a really nice feel about the place, being neat and tidy and with plenty of character, certainly helped by some impressive surroundings. A modern metallic all-seater stand is situated to the right of the entrance, whilst to the left is a fairly long brick building housing the toilets, changing rooms and clubhouse. Behind one goal there is a metallic stand housing a few steps for standing, some distinctive club banners, and from this end one has terrific views of Canary Wharf – which would presumably be even more impressive at night time. Around most of the rest of the ground there is just hard standing, with the ground attractively enclosed with neat wooden fencing and colourful trees above. The 24 page programme was very good, with plenty of stats and interesting articles about the club – some directed at the new visitors that non-league day might bring – and the visiting club. Generally, the club were warm and very welcoming (apart from one officious individual) to new visitors, and hopefully their effort will be rewarded with some new regular fans.

After suffering relegation last season, Fisher came into this match in seventh place, with five wins and two draws from their opening 10 league games, five points adrift of a promotion spot. Forest Hill Park were in 15th place in the 19 team division, with two wins and two draws from their 8 games played.

On an overcast afternoon, Fisher will wonder how they ended up losing this game, as they squandered several gilt edged chances in the opening quarter of an hour alone. They were made to pay for their wastefulness when the visitors were awarded a penalty on 19 minutes for a pull in the box as the ball came in from a corner, immediately after the referee had warned the players following the originally taken corner kick. Ashley Paul Robinson coolly fired the ball into the bottom left corner to give the visitors the lead. Their lead was to only last four minutes though, Leonard Goring firing home after an initial shot was blocked by a defender's leg. Forest Hill Park went back into the lead on 32 minutes when Robinson drilled the ball low from the edge of the area just beside the near post.

It was quite a harsh half time scoreline on the home side, but their profligacy would surely give them plenty of hope if they could just find their scoring boots after the break. But instead, the visitors opened up a two goal lead, when the ball was played in from a corner kick and found it way to the back post, where Jay Burke headed home. That proved to be the decisive goal, as although Fisher did still managed to create and miss some more great chances, as the game wore on they seemed to run out of ideas and perhaps energy too, as generally the visitors saw the game out quite comfortably.

Fleetwood Town 1 v 3 Charlton Athletic

Saturday 30rd September 2017
EFL League One
Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood
Admission: £22.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 3,009
Match Rating: 3

With only two grounds left for me to tick off in League One, this was a match I pencilled in as soon as Charlton's fixtures were released.

In many ways, Highbury Stadium is something of a breath of fresh air in the Football League, with a strong non-league feel about it, but is more than adequate, neat and tidy, with a refreshingly relaxed and friendly feel. Although there has been a football ground on the site since 1934, it was been completely redeveloped in the last ten years, to coincide with their rapid climb up the pyramid from the Northern Premier League in that time. It is quite remarkable that Fleetwood Town where members of the North West Counties League as recently as 2005. By far the stand out feature of the stadium is the main stand, a really attractive all-seater stand with a crescent shaped roof, and hospitality boxes along the rear in two levels, with the top level having another few rows of seating. Away fans are given an end section of this stand, as well as a stand covering a terrace behind a goal. Good incline between steps ensures good unobstructed views. The stand only stretches to just beyond the goal, with the rest of the space taken up with a toilet block, refreshment outlet and standing area. A further covered terrace is situated behind the opposite goal for home fans, with a similar look but stretching virtually between corner flags and with some windows along the back wall. Along the remaining length, there is a fairly small and modest all-seater stand stretching for about half of the length. Immediately behind it is the original main stand still in place for some reason. Along the rest of the length, there is the back wall of a social club, some other buildings and empty, inaccessible space. The programme was remarkably only £1.00, and with 24 pages and smaller than usually  I found in the Football League, it was more than adequate, indeed it made a really nice change to buy a programme that was easy on the eye, interesting to read, all of the necessary stats and facts, but without the endless drivel usually found in Football League programmes.

The league table suggested that this would be between two closely matched teams, with Charlton in seventh place, having won five wins and drawn two of their 10 league games, while Fleetwood have won five and drawn one of their nine games. Charlton had only picked up two points from their last four games, while Fleetwood had an excellent 0-3 win away at Bradford, after losing their previous two games.

On a mainly overcast afternoon, this match started cagily as both teams felt their way into the game, until the visitors opened the scoring on 13 minutes when Ricky Holmes cut back out wide and crossed the ball to the far post, and an unmarked Tarique Fosu-Mensah headed home from close range. On 25 minutes, the hosts were level, George Glendon passing a low diagonal ball into the box which Devante Cole allowed to pass through his legs for Bobby Grant to run onto and shoot the ball first time across the keeper and into the net, and to cue the rather bizarre sound of Captain Pugwash  blaring out of the tannoy in celebration. After both teams traded good long-range shots, it was Charlton who retook the lead five minutes before the break. Again it was Holmes with the assist, firing a cross from the left wing which fell at the feet of Fosu-Mensah by the far side of the penalty area, and he dribbled the ball into a good position past a couple of defenders before drilling the ball inside the near post.

he next goal in the second half would clearly be crucial, but Fleetwood never looked likely to get it and it was the visitors who extended their lead on 71 minutes, and what a goal it as by Fosu-Mensah to seal his hat-trick. Running from deep inside his area, he just kept running and running, and despite stumbling as he approached the penalty area following a defender's challenge, he just about kept on his feet to roll the ball past the keeper. Fleetwood looked a beaten team for the rest of the match, and Charlton thought they had added a fourth in stoppage time when Jake Forster-Caskey tapped the ball in from Josh Magennis' drilled ball into the box, but the goal was ruled out for off-side.

So an excellent result and a really good, controlled away performance from Charlton, which certainly made the long trip home a lot more enjoyable than it might have been. But not only did watching my team win make it enjoyable, but the Highbury Stadium ranks right up there as one of the best lower league grounds for an all-round matchday experience

Video highlights of this match can be viewed by clicking here