CONNECTIONS
Part 11: Royal Antwerp on tour at Scotland, by Andrew Boyd


 

Royal Antwerp today renewed their long association with Scotland when they faced Falkirk at the Falkirk Stadium. The connection with Scotland began with a friendly match against Motherwell in 1932 and has seen the Great Old play Kilmarnock, Aberdeen, Dundee United and now Falkirk. Then we have players such as Michael Stewart (Hearts), Harald Pinxten (Livingston), Alen Orman (Hibernian) and Kris Mampaey (Dunfermline). All these stories will be covered later, and hopefully soon! But for today we concentrate on the match between Falkirk and Royal Antwerp which marked the opening of the new South Stand at the Westfield ground.

Before kick-off there were presentations to Sandy Alexander, the benefactor behind the new stand, and to the company that won a draw to have their name associated with the stand, ironically this company is Belgica Furniture (if I heard the announcement correctly!). Shortly after this the teams took to the field where a minute of silence in memory of Paul McGrillen was impeccably observed (I apologise for not switching my phone to silent, sorry to all).

Falkirk team: 1 Robert Olejnik, 2 Daren Barr, 3 Thomas Scobbie, 4 Marc Twaddle, 6 Brian McLean, 8 Burton O'Brien, 9 Carl Finnigan, 10 Scott Arfield, 11 Ryan Flynn, Alex MacDonald, 22 Danijel Marceta. Substitutes: 17 Trialist (GK), 14 Christopher Mitchell, 18 Brian Allison, 19 Sean Lynch, 23 Victor Lima, 35 Stewart Murdoch, 36 Paul Sludden.
 
Royal Antwerp team: 1 Vincent Van Trier, 2 Thomas Phibel, 6 Sebastian Setti, 9 Darko Pivaljevic, 12 Roberto Rochas Marquinhos, 16 Ransford Addo, 18 Manu Kenmogne, 19 Bas Vervaeke, 20 MATTHIAS TRENSON, 29 Roel Van Hemert, 52 Zarko Jelicic. Substitutes: 4 Icham El Messaoudi, 7 Kevin Baert, 8 Benjamin Lambot, 11 Audry Diansangu, 14 Spencer Verbiest, 21 Sten Van Den Bossche, 23 Geoffry Hairemans, 26 Bart De Corte, 28 Jesus Concalves (? Caio Goncloves de Jesus?), 33 Marko Gbarssin.
 
Referee: John McKendrick     Attendance: 2,555
Falkirk kick-off the match toward the new South Stand. Antwerp are cheered on by, roughly, 200 noisy supporters who are housed in the North Stand. Ex-Kanarie MATTHIAS TRENSON starts the game at left back and is tested early. After 2 minutes Flynn makes a run into the box but his pass is cleared. The rather heavy looking Pivaljevic* is the next player to feature but he wildly miss-kicks after 5 minutes. 2 minutes later and MacDonald really should have done better with a chip-shot that hit the post, with Van Trier well beaten. Van Hemert had started the match as an advancing full-back was now being forced by the Falkirk pressure to stay back. With some sloppy passing, and woeful finishing, Antwerp coach Ratko Svilar (former Antwerp goalkeeper, who played against Dundee United) is becoming increasingly animated. Scott Arfield is stopped by a brave save from Van Trier diving at his feet. McLean came close to opening the scoring after 25 minutes, for Antwerp! Barr rather hastily cleared an easy ball which lead to an Antwerp corner, this was cleared but led to a free-kick for the Belgians*. When the kick was floated in McLean took a swipe at the ball which then went over the head of Olejnik, and over the bar. Both sides are showing some good moves but lack the killer touch.
  

 

In 33 minutes Jelicic has a poor corner returned to him, he then sends the ball in and Olejnik does well to tip the ball over the bar. From the resultant corner the static Antwerp forwards miss a good opportunity when Olejnik miss-timed his jump. With 37 minutes gone Falkirk are forced to replace the injured McLean with Allison. Easy chances are missed by Arfield and Pivaljevic as half-time approaches. The half finishes with Van Trier stretching well to punch clear another Falkirk attack.

After a goalless first half Antwerp replace their midfield. Diansangu, Verbiest, Hairemans and Gbrassin replace Setti, Marquinhos, Vervaeke and Jelicic. The pattern of the game remains unaltered however with simple passes going astray. Van Trier stretches well to save an Arfield shot before MacDonald shoots just wide after 53 minutes. Flynn is then replaced. On the hour mark Antwerp have some good/lucky defending for keeping the score blank, with 2 saves and 2 blocks denying the Falkirk attackers. Some good work by Trenson is wasted by some statuesque attacking by the Antwerp forwards.
Falkirk bring on their trialist goalkeeper and Antwerp introduce Baert after 68 minutes. This is rapidly followed by Concalves coming on for Pivaljevic.  A foul by Trenson on Barr leads to Falkirk opening the scoring. Burton O'Brien floats a neat free-kick over the Antwerp defenders for an unmarked Finnigan to score easily. This time it was the Antwerp defence that was static. Falkirk immediately replace MacDonald with Sludden. The Antwerp fans find the Falkirk 'goal-music' ("Amarillo") as a reason to start to sign louder (if this had been possible!), and the Bairns try to join in...  The inspirational Marceta is replaced by Mitchell on 79 minutes. Trenson is fouled by Barr beside the Falkirk box. A poor free-kick is returned and finds a way in to the box forcing the trialist goalkeeper into a save. The Antwerp support are still in remarkably good spirits, and probably a few beers as well, and start a conga that continues until the end of the match. Some good play by Antwerp  is finished by a poor Concalves shot. All that remains is for goal scorer Finnigan to be replaced in the last minute. 
This was a typical pre-season match with lazy passing, poor shooting and some good play thrown in. I found it an enjoyable match that was evenly contested by 2 sides that try to play passing football.
 
* To be fair to Pivaljevic he was not the only Antwerp player who appears to be carrying some weight. His strike partner Kenmogne and 2nd half substitute Gbarssin also look like they are fond of cake!
 
* The "Belgian" starting 11 contained players from France (2),  Argentina (6), Serbia (9, 52), Brazil (12), Ghana (16), Cameroon/Belgium (18) and Holland (29).
 
Antwerp now move forward to play another, new, Scottish opponent on Monday evening. Dundee FC will host the Great Old at Dens Park with a 19.30 kick-off. A match report, and photos, will appear here as soon as possible.
 
All that remains is to thank Ian McIntyre (Dundee United kit manager) and Caroline ? and Nicola ? (from Falkirk) for their help. It is much appreciated.
  

 

Royal Antwerp completed their short Scottish tour with a friendly match against Dundee FC. This was the second visit by Antwerp to Dundee with their previous visit being a UEFA Cup match against Dundee United, more of that in another story. Dundee have met Belgian opposition before in 1949 they visited Antwerp to play Beerschot before facing the Red Devils, with Royal Liege the opponents in the final game. On another tour in 1971 they again faced Beerschot and Royal Liege with La Louvieroise providing the middle oposition. Dundee have also faced Anderlecht, RFC Liege and RWD Molenbeek in UEFA competitions. Some playing connections between Dundee and Belgium are Alan Campbell, Francois Dubourdeau and Frank Van Eijs. Let us not forget William Maxwell who played for Dundee and became manager of Belgium!

Dundee team: 1 Tony Bullock, 2 Chris Casement, 3 Edward Malone, 4 Brian Kerr, 5 Gary MacKenzie, 6 Jim Lauchlan, 7 Craig Forsyth, 8 Darren Young, 9 Mickael Antoine Curier, 10 Leigh Griffiths, 11 Gary Harkins.  Substitutes: 13 Robert Geddes, 14 David Cowan, 15 Kyle Benedictus, 16 Colin Cameron, 17 Richard Hart, 18 Sean Higgins, 19 Colin McMenamin, 20 Pat Clarke.

Royal Antwerp team: 1 Vincent Van Trier, 6 Sebastian Setti, 9 Darko Pivaljevic, 12 Marcos Roberto Rochas, 14 Spencer Verbiest, 16 Ransford Addo, 18 Emmanuel Kenmogne, 19 Bas Vervaeke, 20 MATTHIAS TRENSON, 29 Roel Van Hemert, 52 Zarko Jelicic.   Substitutes: 2 Thomas Phibel, 4 Icham El Massaoudi, 7 Kevin Baert, 11 Audry Diansangu, 23 Geoffry Hairemans, 26 Bart De Corto, 33 Mrco Gbarssin
 
Referee: Matt Northcroft.         Attendance: 1426.
Just under 100 Antwerp fans are in the ground for their second game in Scotland in three days. Many of these supporters have stayed over the weekend but some have travelled over for this match. Once again the visiting supporters are in fine voice and out sing their hosts.
 
Dundee start the match playing towards the away support. The opening 5 minutes are very evenly contested but it was still a surprise when the Great Old take the lead after 6 minutes.  A low ball across the Dundee box is met by Rocha who beats Bullock with a placed shot. Dundee try to hit back immediately but Curier is denied by the linesman flagging for offside. 5 minutes later and Curier is again denied by the linesman, Terry Brunton. Dundee are making most of the attacking chances with Griffiths finding space before heading just wide. Van Trier makes a good point blank save from a MacKenzie header. with 22 minutes gone Antwerp win a freekick just outside the box, Pivaljevic strikes the ball well and it is deflected for a corner, which Bullock saves. Dundee immediatly race up the park and a low cross by Curier is met by Forsyth who hits the post with his shot. Forsyth now becomes provider when he cuts the ball back across the Antwerp goal for Griffiths to score with Van Trier well beaten. Trenson manages to get forward to set up Pivaljevic to put Antwerp 2-1 ahead in 32 minutes. Before the game restarts Antwerp replace Jelicic with Hairemans. Curier gets the Dundee equaliser two minutes later. Some slack defending by Antwerp lets Harkins in to fire across goal leaving Curier wth a simple tap in. With half-time approaching Kenmogne has a good shot saved by Bullock, luckily for Dundee MacKenzie is on hand to clear.

Half-time: 2-2.
Dundee start the second half Hart on for Harkins. Despite some good play by both sides, the first real shot of the half comes in the 57th minute when Hairemans shoots wide. This shakes Dundee into action but Curier shoots tamely across the goal. Dundee make their second substitution when Benedictus replaces Lauchlan after 62 minutes. In the 65th minute a rash challenge by Casement on Pivaljevic leaves the Serb limping. Vervaeke is replaced by Diansangu and Dundee replace Casement and Griffiths with Carke and Cowan. Curier is causing Antwerp some problems and is unfortunate when he heads over with just the keeper to beat. Dundee then make another change with McMenamin replacing Malone. The changes made by Dunde appear to unsettle the rythm of the side a little and Antwerp retake the lead with 7 minutes remaining. A low cross from Hairemans is met by Kenmogne who puts the ball past Bullock with ease. Dundee then make another change with Cameron replacing the injured Young. Cameron is immediately involved in helping Dundee equalise for the third time in the game. McMenamin links up well with Cameron and Clarke to make space for himself in the Antwerp box, and with just Van Trier to beat he finishes well. Dundee continue to press looking for a winner and Cameron is denied by the legs of Van Trier.

Full-time: 3-3.
 
Antwerp played better than they did against Falkirk, and they had to as Dundee took the game to them. Pivaljevic and Kenmogne were more willing to work to help the team. Trenson, Setti and Van Hemert were impressive in both games and could help the Great Old in their quest for promotion. Hairemans is a bit like watching bambi but seems to be a decent player.
Dundee attacked with speed and purpose which could help in their push for promotion. Stand out players for Dundee were Griffiths, Forsyth, MacKenzie and Curier. 

 

Did you know that...
This weekend saw Falkirk face Belgian opposition for the second time, when they defeated Royal Antwerp 1-0 in a closley contested friendly. KSV Roeselare were the first Belgian side faced by Falkirk in a friendly on 14th July 2007. This match came at the end of a short tour which included games against Dutch teams FC Zwolle and SC Cambuur. At least 6 of the Falkirk side that faced Roeselare also appeared against Antwerp.

 
KSV Roeselare team: Biebouw, Van Hoyweghen, Monteyne, Vaesen, Van der Biest, Thompson, De Vleesschouwer, Smits, Tanghe, Almeida, Kpaka, Junior.
 
Falkirk team: Olejnik, Ross, Scobbie, Cregg, Barr, Milne, Moutinho, Thomson, Higdon, Latapy, Craig.   Substitutes: Trialist GK, Tialist A, Trialist B, Allison, Mitchell, Stewart, Arfield. 
 
In July 2007 John Hughes took his Falkirk side for a brief tour of Holland and Belgium. After drawing 1-1 with their Dutch opponents, FC Zwolle and SC Cambuur, Falkirk then moved to Belgium to face KSV Roeselare. On the 14th July the match was played in what is described as "searing heat" (I assume that Roeselare is nowhere near Mons??!).  Falkirk started the match brightly with Pedro Moutinho and Michael Higdon forcing Wouter Biebouw into action early on. With Falkirk in control of the match Roeselare eventually managed an attacking threat after 23 minutes. Kpaka beat Daren Barr to the ball and fired a low shot/cross across the goal which was saved by Olejnik, denying the on-rushing Junior. Junior had another chance on 28 minutes but his shot went over. In 32 minutes Falkirk fnally took the lead with Moutinho finishing off a move involving Jack Ross and Steven Thomson. Junior was next to threaten with a 30 yard shot which Olejnik did well to tip over. Vanderbiest was shown the yellow card for a foul on Pady Cregg close to half-time. Roeselare had the last attack of the half with Kpaka managing to head wide with Olejnik static. Half-time: KSV Roeselare 0 Falkirk 1.
 
At the start of the second half Roeselare began to show some promise but it came to nothing. Vanderbiest was lucky not to be sent off following an altercation with the referee. In a spirit of fair play the referee signalled to the Roeselare bench to remove the offending player - they chose not to and, interestingly, the referee chose not to send him off? With Falkirk playing a passing game it is no surprise that they were to threaten the Roeselare goalkeeper. In 63 minutes Liam Craig had a 20 yard shot saved. Roeselare had two chances cleared off the Bairns line before the ball was hoofed over. As Roeselare pushed forward in search of a goal, Mark Stewart latched on to a Higdon punt to round Biebouw to score the killer goal.  Full-time: KSV Roeselare 0 Falkirk 2.    
 
During the scond half Falkirk introduced: Trailist Goalkeeper, Trailist A for Ross, Trialist B for Thomson, Allison for Scobbie, Stewart for Moutinho, Mitchell for Barr and Arfield for Latapy.
Roeselare also made some substitutions but I have no details of these.
 
This leaves Falkirk with a 100% record against Belgian sides, a record that is something to be proud of.
 
Of the Roeselare side that faced Falkirk Daan Vaesen and David Van Hoyweghen have played for St Truiden. Frederik Vanderbiest was with OH Leuven and Stefaan Tanghe has 9 caps for Belgium.
 
Other notables for Roeselare are Abdessalam Benjelloun (Hibs) and Davy Oyen and "Super Rocky" also St Truiden. 
 
I will mention that the only source for this story is the Falkirk programme for the Antwerp match.