KSC GRIMBERGEN (Prinsenbosstadion)

BELGIAN NATIONAL DIVISION 3 (Group B), KSC GRIMBERGEN 0-2 HOOGSTRATEN VV, ATTENDANCE: 300 (est)

Once the precious tickets for Belgium v Wales had been secured, I had to find something to keep me out of the pubs on the Saturday and what better way than another game! After scanning the fixture lists there was actually the chance of a double on the Saturday with a couple of games kicking off in the afternoon. I opted for KSC Grimbergen v Hoogstaten VV.

Grimbergen is just north of Brussels and took about 30 minutes on the bus. Grimbergen is famous for it's beer though it is no longer brewed in the town. However that never stopped my sampling plenty at the game!

The ground is in Prinsenbos, which is a woodland area of the town. The bus stopped about 500 yards from the ground. The ground is open and there tables at each corner to make sure you pay your 10 euro entrance fee. Indeed the ground is so open that joggers and cyclists went by as the game was going on (though someone on horseback was turned away). The ground looked absolutely stunning as the green leaves gave way to the autumn reds and browns.

The large seated stand has a bar at the top and it gave you perfect views of the pitch and it is from here I watched the first 45 minutes, whilst supping the aforementioned Grimbergen beers.

Hoogstraten took the lead after 2 minutes when a Grimbergen defender was dispossessed on the half way line by Jelle van Kruijssen and he was left one on one with the goalkeeper, he made no mistake in blasting the ball home. Grimbergen had plenty of possession but always looked vulnerable to the counter attack. 

Van Kruijssen made it 2-0 to the visitors just before half time and that was effectively game over. Grimbergen were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Yannick van der Voorde was given a straight red for a foul. It made no difference to the result and in the end it could have been a lot worse for the homesters, they were fortunate to only get away with conceding two. 

It was back to the bar for some post match analysis, where the people were very friendly and hospitable. They gave me a bottle of Grimbergen Blonde to take away, totally unnecessary but I was very grateful. 

It was then a bus back to Brussels for part two of my double header....