Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup Final (26/04/2016 19:45)

Tonight saw my fourteenth and concluding game in the Derbyshire Senior Cup for the season 2015/16. This final tie was played and Ilkeston Town's New Manor Ground between tier six team Alfreton Town and tier eight team Belper Town. This being my fourteenth game meant that I had witnessed exactly half of all the games in this season's competition but more importantly it meant that I completed my 'Road to the Cup Final' challenge.
I collected my father and my regular pin badge collecting companion and we headed to Ilkeston. Arriving 10 minutes before kick-off I waited by the turnstile for my other regular companion to arrive. Upon his arrival we had a beer and we wondered why the two faces of the clock in the corner of the ground showed different times.
Belper, the underdogs, made a brighter start to the game and created three good early chances and were showing themselves to be very much the equals of their higher ranked opponents. The first-half ended goalless and we were informed by the stadium announcer that there would, in the event of a tie at 90 minutes, be no extra-time and the game would go straight to penalties. The announcer then apologised for this being the case. I think I can safely say that most fans would welcome this departure from the norm.
Alfreton stepped up the pace in the second half and created the better chances, the Belper 'keeper making a number of good saves to keep the score level. Belper hit the crossbar late on but penalties was the outcome of the 90 minutes.
With both sets of hardcore fans crammed in behind the chosen spot-kick goal both teams missed a penalty a piece in their first four. Belper's fifth penalty taker telegraphed that he was going to put it to the giant 'keeper's left. He duly did and the 'keeper duly saved it. Alfreton converted their fifth penalty and the cup was on its way to the Impact Arena and most of the 469 attendees went home happy.

Bore Draw in the Ruhr

Whilst visiting my Dutch and Russian friends in the Ruhr I was once again given the opportunity to visit the Rewirpower Stadion, the home of VFL Bochum, to see the Friday night (22nd April - 18:30) game against Karlsruher.
Leaving my mate's house in Mulheim an der Ruhr, me wearing my VFL scarf and my mate wearing his VFL jersey and scarf, we caught the train from the town's station and then the tram from Bochum to the stadium itself. We grabbed a refreshing beer from the local petrol station as we waited for my mate's three German friends.
Standing in my favourite 'P-Block' we were 'entertained', prior to kick-off, by a rather awful marching band demonstrating some even worse baton twirling. This was to be an omen for the game itself. Both Bochum and Karlsruher had nothing to play for in this end of season match and both teams looked as if they were going through the motions. Bochum probably edged the game in possession and chances and were deserving of the 58th minute lead when Terodde slotted home a shot off the post to the keeper's right. Just as it was looking like a scrappy win for the home team a clumsy challenge felled a Karlsruher striker and Nazarov put away the 87th minute penalty kick.
After the game we headed down Castroper Strasse, said our farewells to my mate's friends and headed back to Mulheim. The 14,643 attendees witnessed what would be comparable to a poor English tier 2 game.
Back in Mulheim we were treated to the best lasagne I had ever tasted.