Last Saturday, September 27, our first team played its first home match in the league. After winning the first league match against Vlug en Vaardig 4-1 and securing the top spot in the rankings, the pressure was on VVC. Schoten from Haarlem was also seen by experts as a dangerous title contender. A team that likes to seek out attacks with advancing fullbacks and wants to put pressure on the opponent early in their own half.
Brian had done some homework beforehand regarding the opponent’s playing style, and this was mentioned during the pre-match briefing. At 1:00 PM, the pre-match briefing took place where Brian explained the tactical plan for the afternoon and how it should be executed. The atmosphere was good among the boys, and you could clearly tell that there was nothing to gain here for the opponent. The starting eleven were, with some changes (injuries), almost the same as last week.
At 2:30 PM, the match started on a well-maintained grass pitch. A nice crowd of loyal supporters also gathered on the sidelines. In addition, there were two journalists from the Haarlems Dagblad who would report on the match. Afterwards, the man of the match, Djaro Mulder, was taken aside for an interview. By the way, he was rightfully the man of the match, which he underlined with good football and, as a crowning achievement, a magnificent goal.
VVC got off to a very good start and immediately looked for combinations with nice triangles here and there and always the drive forward. At the back, VVC was rock solid with Remco and Djaro in the center, and both Ivar and Emre played flawlessly on the flanks. The midfield with Jesse, Dylan, and Kay was also in great shape, both offensively and defensively. In the forward line, we have 2 fast wingers (Jamil and Benjamin) who can both beat their man and therefore create a lot of threat and danger. Tom was at the point of the attack, working hard and going for every ball.
In the first half, VVC was the dominant team with good, quick actions. In the 9th minute, Jamil was fouled just outside the penalty area. The resulting free kick only led to a corner. Less than five minutes later, Kay brilliantly freed himself only to be brought down in the penalty area. Everyone on VVC’s side claimed a penalty, but the referee decided otherwise (playing the ball).
Although VVC was stronger, we had a close call in the 30th minute when Schoten failed to convert a 100% chance, partly due to Remco making it difficult for the opponent, and the ball went wide on the right side of the post. As time passed, VVC’s deserved 1-0 lead came in the 37th minute. This was again due to a good attack on the right through Jamil with a good cross that was shot in at the near post by Tom.
The teams went for tea with a 1-0 lead.
In the 47th minute, the 2-0 was disallowed for offside. But, just three minutes later – in the 50th minute – Dylan’s perfect free kick was met with a magnificent header by Darjo to find the net against the opponent. The release among players on the field and on the bench was enormous. This couldn’t go wrong anymore. The 3 points stayed in Nieuw-Vennep.
What happened after that had little to nothing to do with football, and tempers could barely be kept in check.
VVC made a few more substitutions, Remco, exhausted, made way for Naut, and after 10 minutes, Ben and Kay left the field for Marwan and Tim. Partly because VVC eased off a bit, Schoten had more possession in the last quarter, which didn’t lead to dangerous moments in front of Neal’s goal, who had a quiet afternoon and kept a clean sheet.
All in all, a deserved victory with 6 points from 2 matches, the rightful leader in the 4th class B.
On the road to championship 2025/2026
