Damage in the Box!

UEFA EURO 2012 (Wrocław)

Tuesday 12th June 2012

UEFA Euro 2012 Group A

Greece 1-2 Czech Republic

Attendance: 41,105*

The first game of a 7 day journey across Poland took place in the city of Wrocław with Greece's Group A clash with the Czech Republic. As we flew into Berlin on the Monday the day actually began in the German capital, but a 'dry' 6 hour train journey saw us reach Wrocław by early afternoon.

Wrocław was the historical capital of Silesia, and today is the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Over the centuries, the city has been part of either Poland, Bohemia, Austria, Prussia, or Germany, and has been part of Poland since 1945 as a result of border changes after World War 2.

Sadly the tight schedule meant there was little chance to see the sights of the city and after a couple of much needed beers at the station, where we were joined by some, who we could only assume were, Śląsk "boys" who proceeded to give us a run down of teams they don't like, it was off to the ground to join the long queue to collect our tickets

The Municipal Stadium was built for Euro 2012 and has a capacity of 44,416. The stadium is located to the west of the city and is the home of Śląsk Wrocław. It was opened in 2011 and Śląsk Wrocław beat Lechia Gdańsk 1-0, Johan Voskamp scoring the first ever goal at the ground.

The stadium was designed to resemble a Chinese latern and it looked quite smart from the outside, but once inside it had, to me, the feel of a typical new build ground. The tickets we had were half price as they were obstructed view.

This, on the face of it, seemed odd for a brand new stadium but there are posts inside, so walking up the steps I was thinking to myself we are going to be stuck behind a bloody post. As it turned out the obstructed view was mearly a hand rail, which never affected the view at all if you leant in a little, so in fact it made the tickets a bargain!

As the Czech border is around 150km from Wrocław, there were plenty of Czech fans in the ground and it felt like a home game for them. Lots were wearing Petr Cech protection caps as a tribute to their 'keeper, but would that have been the case afterwards if his mistake had cost them the game?

After racing into a 2-0 lead inside 6 minutes, Petr Jiracek (3) bagging the opener when he converted Tomas Hubschman's defence splitting pass and Vaclav Pilar grabbing his second goal of the tournament when he bundled home from two yards out.

Greece had a goal ruled out for offside, Giorgos Fotakis's header was disallowed, but the replay seemed to show he was level. However Fanis Gekas capitalised on Cech's howler just after the break, rolling the ball into an empty net. The goal knocked the Czech's out of their rhythm but they still managed to hold on for a crucial win.

*This attendance figure is what was 'flashed' on the screens at the ground. Media channels are reporting the attendance as 35,213. The ground looked pretty full to me.

SHOTTS BON ACCORD (Hannah Park)

Another day, another trip to Scotland. This is DEFINITELY for the last time this season. The beauty of this great hobby is you get the opportunity to visit towns you would never normally entertain going anywhere near under normal circumstances.

I think you could definitely include Shotts in this category. It's a pretty non-descript town, just East of Motherwell, with it's most famous landmark probably being the local prison.

In the town though is the quite glorious Hannah Park, home to the local team Shotts Bon Accord. The ground is a massive bowl shaped arena with terracing all around and cover on one side of the pitch. It also has one of the largest playing surfaces in Scotland. Shotts Bon Accord were founded in 1950 and have no connection with the Bon Accord who lost 36-0 to Arbroath in 1885 (that Bon Accord side were from Aberdeen).

Tonight Shotts, fresh from their Scottish Junior Cup win over Auchinleck Talbot last weekend, were taking on Glenafton Athletic in what was dubbed 'the title showdown' ok, perhaps not by all but you catch the drift.

Due to postponements and cup matches (they never played a league game from November to April) Shotts have been left with a dreadful backlog of games (they have played 12 games in May alone). This means that by winning their 5 remaining games, starting tonight, they are they only team that can stop tonight's opponents Glenafton Athletic lifting the West Super League Division One title. A win for Glenafton though and the race is over, they would be crowned Champions.

The game, played in delightful evening sunshine, started off very slowly, in fact the opening 30 minutes was pretty woeful. Then it suddenly sprang into life and both teams produced an absorbing encounter.

Gareth Campbell gave Glenafton the lead, on 30 minutes, with a back post header that may or may not have crossed the line, it was difficult to say from where I was stood, but the lineswoman on the far side had no hesitation in awarding the goal.

Shotts were level though 8 minutes later when Tony Fleming volleyed home and just before the break Alan Mckenzie gave the homesters the lead, when he latched onto a long ball to chip the advancing 'keeper.

There was a lively atmosphere between the two sets of supporters at either end of the covered terrace, largely fuelled by the Buckfast "commotion potion" they were swilling, but during the interval Strathclyde's finest arrived to move the Glens supporters out of the covered area, and also eject some Neds, which probably prevented any trouble that was beginning to brew.

Le Chateau Coatbridge

The second half saw Shotts begin to take control and they extended their lead further when Fleming bagged his second, on 65 minutes, this time with a header after a great cross from the right. Glenafton though soon grabbed one back, Gareth Armstrong poking home on 75 minutes, to set up a grandstand finish, which unfortunately for the Glens didn't happen. Shotts comfortably held on to claim the win, much to the delight of the home bench who were dancing away in front of us at the end.

The result means Shotts are now in second place on goal difference, so there is every chance they are all but promoted (a point would make it certain), but in order to clinch the title they need to, from their last four games, close down a seven point gap and a goal difference of five, a tall order but very much achievable.

We shall see by Wednesday week.

GBG wise two pubs were "ticked off" pre-match the Annandale Hotel in Moffat and the Wishaw Malt in, err, Wishaw.

Tonight though was very much another "memorable" trip north of the border!!

Monday 4th June 2012
West Region Super League Division One
Shotts Bon Accord 3-2 Glenafton Athletic
Attendance: 450 est

TROON (Portland Park)

Ok, so it would appear that I lied about last weekend being the last game of my hopping season!!

I never accounted for some last minute fixtures being thrown up, as ever at this time of year, in Scotland. So my season once again runs into June with the Ayrshire Cup Final between Troon and Auchinleck Talbot, which was being played at Troon's sun drenched Portland Park, after Troon won the toss to decide on the venue.

Both teams have had decent seasons but just fell short of achieving their ultimate goals. Troon play in the Ayrshire District league but finished 3rd just missing out on promotion by two points. Auchinleck Talbot play in the West Region Super League, two steps above Troon and, having failed in their attempts to win the championship, they also missed out on the Scottish Junior cup, suffering a shock defeat to Shotts Bon Accord, in the final, last weekend.

Today's cup final offered a chance for both teams to grab some silverware. On paper the game should have been a comfortable win for Auchinleck Talbot and, unfortunately for Troon, that's exactly how it panned out.

After the kick off was delayed slightly due to crowd congestion, Troon didn't help themselves by having their left back sent off after 5 minutes for, what I was told, stamping.

Gordon Pope scores the first of his two pens. Just.

They then proceeded to concede two first half penalties, both converted by Gordon Pope, though the Troon 'keeper did get a good hand on his first effort but the ball squirmed home.

In fact Troon were lucky not to be down to 9 men as the second penalty conceded was clearly for punching the ball away.

In fairness though Troon did keep trying to play their football but Auchinleck were simply too strong for them. Further goals in the second half from Keir Milliken, Mick McCann and Gordon Pope, completing his hat-trick, put the result beyond doubt.

However, Troon did score the goal of the game, a 25 yard dipping volley was a fantastic consolation.

Portland Park is a tidy little set up, the ground on the edge of town, hemmed in by the railway line and main road. It has a small covered terrace on one side of the pitch. There was also a bonus of, just a stones throw away up the road, the two Troon GBG listed pubs, Makay's and Bruce's Well, where a lovely pint of Cairngorm 'Wild Cat' was served.

All in all another great trip north and there still might be one more jaunt to come....