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Anderlecht 0 Genk 0

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 So, we came a long way to not see any goals! However, it was a good day out and the atmosphere at the game was great from both sets of fans, although we were quite near the Genk fans who were pretty relentless. There was considerably more life in the stands than there was in front of goal at Lotto Park on Sunday evening, as Anderlecht and Genk played out a goalless draw in the fifth round of the Jupiler Pro League. The atmosphere around the ground was good, with the occasion having the feel of an important fixture, but the match itself never quite reached the same level. Anderlecht can nevertheless consider themselves the more disappointed of the two sides. They had the better of the game for long periods, created the clearer opportunities and, on the balance of play, deserved to take all three points. What they lacked was the decisive touch in front of goal. The opening half was relatively cautious. Genk enjoyed slightly more possession early on and neither side was able to estab...
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Bar La Coupe, Anderlecht

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 On Saturday, we went to see Anderlecht take on Genk and ahead of the game we tried some of the football themed bars around the ground and some around the square a bit further out. I would say if you want a decent pint of Belgian beer at a reasonable price rather than an overpriced Jupiler or Stella in a plastic cup on a match day then the square is a much better bet. Of the football themed bars to visit, the best is probably La Coupe near the ground, but it might be better to go there when there isn't a match on given the amount of memorabilia that there is, but it is a bit difficult to take in on a crowded day when the football is on.                                                  
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Cambridge United 1 Huddersfield Town 2

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 Cambridge are probably disappointed with the final result of this game on Saturday, however they can take plenty from the fact that they held their own with one of the stronger teams in League 1. For most of the game both sides cancelled each other out, however I thought that Cambridge were the stronger of the two teams for large periods of the game. Huddersfield put some useful crosses in during the early encounters but the Us were equal to what was being thrown at them. However, the first real chance of the game fell to Town who hit the crossbar from a Ashley Fletcher shot from 25 yards. The second half was for the most part a game that ebbed and flowed with neither side really creating a clear chance. As time started to tick down, Cambridge could clearly smell blood as they started to pepper the Huddersfield area. On 80 minutes Zak Bradshaw finally got the breakthrough. Owen Moxon, who had only been on the pitch for a few minutes found Raees Bangura- Williams, who had also been...
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King's Lynn Town 1 Marine 4

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 It all started so well for King's Lynn on Saturday. Ross Crane fired home on 12 minutes to give the Linnets the lead and they were on top for most of the first half and were the better team. All that was to change in the second half though. Four errors by Lynn gifted Marine victory in one of the biggest capitulations that I have seen in a long time. First Michael Clunan handled the ball in the box. Marine penalty and subsequently an equaliser. Then Reece Hall-Johnson lost his footing to gift Marine's George Kattah a clear run on goal and he didn't miss as Marine took the lead. Worse was still to come. Jesse Nwabueze was caught isolated on the left and lost the ball to Matty MacDonald who headed towards goal and made it 3-1. And just to round things off Lynn keeper Ronnie Hollingshead failed to clear the ball properly and Sonny Hilton got the fourth. A really poor performance in the second half and Lynn really need to do better next time out.
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Norwich City 1 West Bromwich Albion 2

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The Championship kicked off on Saturday and this was a game that Norwich were expected to win. On the way things were going towards the end of the season, it would appear that they would have aspirations of the playoffs, whereas West Brom would probably be happy to consolidate their place in the division, what transpired was quite different though. For most of the game it looked like Norwich were going to get the win as they pressured West Brom constantly. However, Max O'Leary in goal for the Baggies and their centre half pairing of Nat Philips and George Campbell were able to keep the Canaries at bay. Before the break Norwich had come close of a few occasions. In the opening few minutes Kenny McLean forced a save from O'Leary. In the half there were also really good chances for Andre Brooks and Kellen Fisher that they failed to convert. The second half continued in the same way that the first half had finished. In the opening encounters Brooks almost caught O'Leary out aft...
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Downham Town 0 Cornard United 2 (AET)

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 Last night saw Downham unusually playing a Tuesday night game at home in August. They usually have to wait for the cricket team to pack up and play away until September and their midweek games tend to be Wednesday. However a 2-2 draw away to Cornard in the FA Cup and a packed schedule for non league clubs meant that they hurriedly had to organise the replay. There are a lot of new faces at Downham, so I am going to have to find out who they are as the season progresses. I am not even sure if the goalkeeper is a real goalkeeper. He did well last night but II am sure he plays outfield and Duncan McNally is returning to be the keeper this season. However, that is not particularly unusual at this time of year at this level when players are still on holiday. The game itself started off pretty equally, but with neither club really creating too many chances, although Downham did hit the bar and force a save early on. Tobi Lawal added some pace on the wing and the ex-Ely player provided s...
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London Broncos 92 Goole Vikings 6

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Unfortunately, politics will decide if the Broncos play in the Super League next season, but they're definitely doing everything that they can off it. It was good to see Alex Walker get 4 tries on his 200th appearance for the Broncos. Despite what the scoreline suggests, Goole didn't play badly and the try scored by Ronnie Ellis for the visitors was well worked out. However, it is clear that the Broncos are too strong for this division and the intensity and ruthlessness they showed in this game must mean that they have to be taken seriously. However, it'll be politics rather than performances like this that decide what happens next.
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