Gallia Club Omnisport de Bihorel 2 Sporting Club de Petit-Couronne 4
Ligue de Normandie Division D’Honneur Seniors Poule Unique
Dimanche 20 mai 2007

For dessert back to Rouen and its suburbs, this time staying north of the Seine for a mid table clash with little to play for, a pleasant way to draw down the curtain on a long weekend of culture, history and football. First point to make to those who wish to chalk of GCO Bihorel, their ground, Stade Marechal Leclerc lies in Rue de Verdun, however this road name seems as common locally as London Road this side of la Manche and at first the Old Combustibles plus one found themselves in a rather residential lane which seemed to lacked the all important football field. Happening upon a few locals, your humble scribes Franglais did the trick, discovering that the Rue de Verdun we had found was in fact in the neighbouring commune of Bois Guillaume. Soon the tour party was heading in the right direction, though missing out on the locals whose B team competing at same level were also at home that day at the strangely named Parc des Cosmonautes.
Just before the appointed hour of three o’clock the English advance party was rumbling into Stade Marechal Leclerc, another ground part of a sporting, hemmed in by a swimming pool and race track. Slightly faded, the Stadium had perhaps seen better days though not too many Anglos. The match itself had the strong whiff of end of season about it, played in a spirit of amity rarely seen in the English game. Though playing to the best of their efforts neither side seemed to be taking matters too seriously, amateur not only in name but in attitude too. The hosts went hammer and tongs at their opponents only to be caught out early on. Denied an equaliser by a magnificent reaction save from the SC ‘keeper, turning a sharp close-range effort at a corner on to his near post, GCO slipped further behind as they conceded a second not long before the break. They might also have conceded one during half time for having returned from the snack bar (coffee, cold drinks and chocolate bars only! Pas be bier!), the scoreboard read 3-0 to SC Petit-Couronne. Not that the assistant referee, a rather chic blonde, if over tanned, would have noticed for she was out of the dressing room having a crafty gasper during the interval!
A early strike for GCO reduced the deficit but just as thoughts of a third straight comeback from two goal arrears swept through my mind, SC struck once more with a stunning looping volley that left the ‘keeper flat-footed. A stunning diving header cut the gap to a single goal midway through the half, a classy if comedic effort for it had come from an SC defender. At least the mood of the match was captured by the gargantuan SC centre-half and skipper who shared a whimsical smile with fans gathered behind the goal, even the English! This second hoped for comeback too proved stillborn for a fourth goal by SC proved fatal for GCO, allowing SC to leapfrog them into 5th place in the final table.

FC Dieppois 2 Red Star Paris 2
Championnat de France Amateur - Groupe D 33ème journée
Samedi 19 mai 2007

After the appetiser, the main course. Whilst Anglo Saxon eyes were turned towards Wembley and the first FA Cup Final at the new temple of English Football, this scribe was taking in the delights of Dieppe on market day whilst awaiting the main event, when notre vieux amis de Red Star would be in town or rather on the outskirts of town to entertain the already relegated hosts in their sparkling new home, le Stade des Vertus. Unfortunately for the Dieppois the curse of the new stadium had fallen upon them for new surroundings would lead to new visitors next terms, the club relegated back to CFA2 after 6 seasons in the top division of French Amateur Football. A shame really for the ground that has replaced the old Maurice Thoumyre in the heart of town is a gleaming structure dominated by a magnificent stand, which once the greenery has sprung into life will provide a pleasant setting for an evening’s football as well as a heartland for FCD’s many teams.
Still at least the hosts did not allow the disappointment of demotion to dull their senses, taking the game to their loftier Parisian guests from the off, whilst in the tribunes the competition between provincial and Parisian was hotting up. The locals aided by percussion and an air siren perhaps left over from fateful days some six decades pasts were in fine vocal fettle matched chord for chord by the Red Star support aided and abetted by substances both of liquid and of herbal nature.
Down on the pitch, Dieppe belied their lowly league position threatening after 9 minutes with a decent effort that just cleared the crossbar of Red Star custodian, Djidonou before deservedly grabbing the lead after 19 minutes. A deep ball into space exposed Red Star’s disinterested defence giving Négrèche a clear run on goal, his expert finish giving Djidonou no chance. Though a lively contest, the game became bogged down in the middle of the park, opportunities few and far between until the closing minutes of the half. Dieppe number one Boubet made a sharp save to prevent Red Star striker Lefort levelling matters in the 38th minute but then a goal out of nothing doubled the hosts’ advantage. There seemed little danger when the ball was sent out Calbou wide out on the left wing, the goal a distant target but utilising the gusting sea breeze, the winger looped over a first time volley that had Djidonou stranded in no mans land as it dropped into the far corner of the net beyond him. Half time beckoned but not before Red Star hit back as the 45 minutes ran out, architect and scorer of the goal Khaled Kemas with a determined charge at the Dieppe left flank finished off with a scorching drive past the despairing dive of Boubet between the sticks.
Inspired by this Red Star came out refreshed and renewed, showing greater spontaneity in attack, Kemas’ fellow striker Buval missing the target by barely an inch whilst Négrèche was forced to clear off the line as Ouattara’s header looked bound for the back of the net. With the wind at their backs, Red Star’s offensive at last paid off in the 69th minute as that man Kemas struck once more. The creator this time was midfielder Bennesmoudi whose incisive pass cut a swathe through the rearguard, Kemas stretching out a leg to divert the ball past the onrushing Boudet. The goal greeted with flares and fanfares from the travelling faithful.
With caution at a premium, neither side deserved defeat though but for a frustrating offside flag Red Star might well have clinched the points when Lefort went through to bury the ball in Boudet’s net only for the ‘goal’ to be ruled out. Still on a day when English football’s showpiece had proved a damp squib, the contest had provided entertainment that burned as brightly as those supporters’ maroons.

FC Dieppois: Boudet, Hamel (Jeanjean 76), Parmentier, Natchimie (Capt), Guyot, Colinet, Calbou, Boulle, Négrèche (MBengue 89), Affagard (Buquet 65), Mobati
Substitutes not used: Vincent, Mendy
Trainer: B. Mignot

RSP: Djidonou, Nseke, Diomande, Kangulungu, Fourneuf (Capt.), N'simba, Ouattara, Lefort, Kemas, Benmesmoudi (Makkrat 82), Buval
Substitutes: Tounkara, Diawara, Agyiriba, Diakite
Trainer: Bruno Naidon

Attendance: 1100
Referee: M. Aymeric Ansel
Assistant Referees: M. Thierry Laurent and M> Jean-Paul Da Silva
Goalscoring:
1-0 FCD: Négrèche 19th minute
2-0 FCD: Calbou 44th minute
2-1 RSP: Kemas 45th minute + 1
2-2 RSP: Kemas 68th minute

Khaled Kemas stabs home the equaliser