ES Setif 1-2 USM Khenchela ( att : 4,000 est ) – Algeria Ligue Professionelle I

October 13, 2022

Entente Sportive Setifienne, commonly shortened to ES Setif or ESS, are one of the most successful clubs in Algeria, having won the league title 8 times since the competition was formed after independence from France in 1962. They have also won the Algerian Cup 8 times, and are one of three Algerian sides to have won the CAF Champions League, being successful in 1988 and 2014, the latter when they beat DR Congo side AS Vita on the away goals rule following a 2-2 draw in Kinshasa and a 1-1 draw in the return home leg. 

Setif is the 4^th largest city in Algeria, after Algiers, Oran and Constantine, with an estimated population of 800,000. It is located in the eastern part of the country, 270km from the capital Algiers, and at an altitude of 1,100 metres on the Hautes Plaines. As such it’s climate ranges from snow not being uncommon in the winter, with extreme heat in July and August.

The 8^th May 1945 protest and massacre in Setif is considered to be starting point for the Algerian war of independence, and the town’s football stadium is named the 8 May 1945 Stadium, which is where ES Setif play. The capacity of the ground varies from 18,000 to 25,000 depending on which source you refer too, and it has an artificial grass pitch, with a running track around it .

 

The home colours of ES Setif are white shirts with black shorts, giving rise to their nickname of Les Aigles Noir ( The Black Eagles ).

ESS started the day in 9^th place in the table with a 2-2-1 record, with victories over RC Arbaa ( H 1-0 ) and NC Magra ( A 1-0 ), with draws recorded against CS Constantine ( H 0-0 ) and US Biskra ( A 2-2 ) , with the solitary loss being a 0-4 thumping at ASO Chief. Midfielder Ahmed Kendouci, who has 1 cap for Algeria, had scored two of their 4 league goals but was missing today.

Ligue Professionelle I consists of 16 sides who play each other home and away for a 30 game season. JS Kabylie have won the most titles ( 14 ) although their last success was in 2007/08, and the current champions are Algiers based CR Belouizdad, who have won the last three championships. ES Setif finished 7^th last season, after being runners-up in 2021/22.

The league is ranked the 4^th best in Africa, entitling the top 2 to enter the CAF Champions League, with 3^rd and 4^th going into the CAF Confederations Cup. Algerian sides are permitted to sign only two foreign players.

Today’s visitors to the 8 May 1945 Stadium were Union Sportive de la Medina Khenchela, who won the Centre-East Group of Ligue Professionelle II, with just one defeat in 30 games to earn promotion to the top level for only the second time ever, having suffered immediate relegation in their one season in the 1970s.

USMK faced a baptism of fire, beginning their campaign against two of last season’s top 5 and perhaps unsurprisingly fell to defeats at CS Constantine ( A 1-3 ) and at home to USM Alger ( H 0-1 ), and then slid to a third loss, 0-2 at MC El Bayadh. However, they rapidly turned things around, and went into today’s fixture with three wins on the bounce without conceding a goal as HB Chelghoum Laid, Paradou AC and MC Oran were all vanquished as USMK moved up to 8^th in the table, one place and one point above ESS. The three sides beaten though were currently in the bottom four in the table, so the trip to ESS promised to be a better test of their credentials. Sofiane Bayazid was their top scorer, having grabbed both goals in the 2-0 win at HB Chelghoum Laid.

Khenchela is located even further east of Setif, close to the border with Tunisia and in the Atlas Mountains, with an estimated population of 120,000. The distance between the two cities is just over 200km by road, which usually takes around 3 and half hours.

The temperature at the 16.30 kick-off local time was 22 degrees with the weather sunny. Setif were 3/4 favourites with William Hill, with Khenchela at 4/1 and the draw at 21/10.

Khenchela started with their two foreigners, Ghanian midfielder Maxwell Baakoh, who signed from Egyptian side Ceramica Cleopatra, and Nigerian striker Tosin Omoyele, who has two caps for his country.

ES Setif started with one foreign player, Nigerian forward Godwin Okwara who featured in these diaries whilst playing for Uzbekistan side Mash’Al Mubarek. French born full-back Drice Chaabi played for Belgian side Frans Borans ( a ground I have visited ) but qualifies as an Algerian.

The visitors brought a decent number of away supporters, with perhaps up to 1,000 fans behind one goal. Most of the home support was gathered at the opposite end, with the large uncovered seated stand on the far of the pitch from the cameras sparsely populated.

 

USMK were playing in red shirts with a few black tiger stripes down the front, but from a distance it looked dark orange ! The name of the players on the backs of both side’s shirts were in Roman script rather than Arabic, which helped with their identification !

Setif had most of the early possession, and were also prepared to play the long ball, but the USMK defence were largely untroubled, apart from a long range shot from Ghiles Guenaoui requiring a diving push away from keeper Abdelhamid Brahimi.

USMK’s first foray into the Setif area came in the 12^th minute when Omoleye shot over the bar from just inside the 18 yard line, but was adjudged to have to pushed a defender in winning the ball. Shortly after, Aib’s dangerous cross from the right wing was dealt with by a diving push away by the home keeper. The visitors then enjoyed a spell of possession as Setif sat back rather than press the ball player, and Omoleye, playing as a lone striker impressed with his hold-up play and lay-offs to his midfielders.

With just under 20 minutes played, Setif took a short corner to Tabti, who stepped inside Omoleye and send a left footed shot just high and wide. Okwara, standing in an offside position, attempted to head the shot but failed to make contact, and received a slight kick from the goalkeeper who was desperately trying to cover the shot. A minor flare-up followed, but peace was quickly restored.

A quick counter from the home side saw Askar get into a threatening position inside the area on the left-hand side, but a tremendous sliding tackle from Bayazid ended the danger at the expense of a corner. There were half-hearted appeals for a penalty, which were dismissed by the referee.

Setif finished the half strongly, after a pull-back from the by-line Walid Zamoum sent a first time side-footer just over the bar, an inviting cross from the left by Zamoum found Okwara 6 yards out but the Nigerian put his header wide, and then a minute later a first time cross-volley on the right side of the area by Guenaoui bounced across the face of the goal but Okwara, just inside the 6 yard box at the far post failed to make contact.

Khenchela’s response was a free-kick by Baakoh from 40 yards which went narrowly wide, although in any case, a keeper shouldn’t be beaten from that distance. It remained scoreless at the interval but Setif would have been encouraged by the way they had finished the half.

The second-half started quietly, with only Guenaoui’s long range free-kick the only piece of action, and even that was easily saved. A lucky bounce in the 54^th minute put Zamoum clear on the left, but his cross-cum-shot from a tight angle went over the bar.

The opening goal of the encounter finally arrived in the 57^th minute. The home side needlessly gave away a free-kick as Askar tripped Baakoh near the half-way line. Khenchela didn’t waste too much time taking the set-piece and Aib’s kick found his one team-mate in the Setif area, and Bayazid beat Salem to steer his header into the bottom corner from close to the penalty spot.

Falling behind, Setif stepped up their game but again, despite having most of the possession they lacked a cutting edge in the final third of the pitch. A 68^th minute free-kick from Zamoum was unconventionally saved by the USMK shot-stopper, choosing to kick the ball away rather than make a low catch. Hachoud headed a corner a few feet over the bar, and substitute Bouchama shot weakly from outside the area.

Khenchala looked to safely holding onto their lead, but two minutes from time Tabti was pulled back close to the penalty area. Chaoutti’s free-kick curled over the defensive wall but Brahimi again preferred the unorthodox, choosing to push the ball away rather than make the straight-forward catch.

With added time being played, USMK were able to take play to the other end of the pitch and won a corner. Hadded sent the corner into the danger zone and Omoyele was prevented from making a close range header by substitute Brahimi pulling him back for an obvious penalty. Khenchela captain Sameur stepped up and sent his spot-kick into the right-hand corner to clinch the three points.

There was still time for Setif to try and pull one goal back, and a through ball saw the two Brahimi’s challenge for it, both missed the ball and the Setif player fell to the floor claiming a penalty. The referee decided to award a corner. Zamoum’s inswinger saw Akziz get in front of the keeper to head home from close range for a consolation. Although there was still time for the game to restart, Setif were unable to create anything and fell to their first home defeat of the season.

Khenchala chalked up their fourth consecutive victory, and they rarely looked like relinquishing their advantage once they took the lead.

 ES Setif : Ferrahi – Salem, Hachoud, Chaabi – Guenaoui ( Akziz ), Serraou ( Bouchama ), Yattou, Tabti, Zamoum – Okwara ( Brahimi ), Askar

USM Khenchela : Brahimi – Aib, Saddou, Kaddour, Sameur – Hadded, Bayazid ( Attou ) , Baakoh ( Semahi ), Meddah, Zaidi ( Aichi ) – Omoyele ( Athmani )

 

Risborough Rangers 1-1 Colney Heath ( att : 84 ) – 2022/23 Spartan South Midlands Premier Division

October 8, 2022

Almost a year to the day, these diaries made their first and so far, only visit to the BEP stadium, or Windsors as it is more commonly referred to, to watch Risborough Rangers. At that time Rangers were on a 40 game unbeaten run in league matches, stretching past the two Covid interrupted seasons, and they comfortably beat Arlesey Town 4-1 on the day. 

https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2021/10/risborough-rangers-4-1-arlesey-town-att.html 

Their unbeaten run lasted until January, but they still looked a good bet to win the league title. However, a final day home defeat in a title decider to New Salamis saw them lose top spot, with New Salamis becoming champions instead. Worse was to follow for Rangers, as not only were they barred from promotion on ground grading criteria but it appeared for a while that they might be relegated.

However, an appeal was successful and they retained their place in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division after some improvements to their ground were made, including a nice, new 100+ seat stand on the far side of the ground, and hard standing all the way around the pitch. The latter actually now enables free entry from the cricket club, which previously was prevented by the undergrowth !

 

Personally, I find the ground grounding criteria to be far too stringent at this level, with hard pressed clubs forced to divert much needed funds for investment in stands that will rarely be required. Even in the Southern League, Risborough Rangers would rarely attract attendances over 250, and the BEP Stadium would safely be able to accommodate those that would attend. As it was, there were just two people sitting in the new stand at kick-off today, although it did peak at 8 early in the second half.

The hangover from not being promoted appears to have hung over the club this season, with only two league victories being recorded from five league games, to sit in 12^th place in the table, albeit having played less games than all the sides above them.

Disappointing exits were made at the first hurdles in three cup competitions, exiting the FA Cup after a 0-1 home defeat to Holyport from the Combined Counties League, and a 2-3 at home to Edgeware and Kingsbury, another side from the Combined Counties League, in the FA Vase. Perhaps even more surprising was a 0-1 loss at today’s visitors in the Divisional League Cup.

Rangers lost two key players in the close season, with 35 goal striker Marcus Wylie joining step 3 Enfield Town and Lewis Patrick signing for step 4 Uxbridge. Long-term injuries also deprived them of midfielders Alex Kedzierski and Kieron Schmidt, and keeper Jack Brooker at the start of the season. Despite this, quality players such ex-Thame United midfielder Ben Sturgess, ex-Stevenage, Forest Green and Crawley striker Liam Enver-Marum and long serving attacker Asher Yearwood remained within the squad.

In addition, ex-Thame United and Aylesbury United centre-back Ellis Hercules signed in the summer, with perhaps an even more notable signing being veteran centre-forward Jefferson Louis, who has more clubs than Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo combined. There can’t be many players who have played for more sides than their age, but Jefferson is in that club. Risborough Rangers were actually his first club, and after playing for sides such as Oxford United, Wrexham, Bristol Rovers, Forest Green, Lincoln and Mansfield, the 43 year old has returned home after helping North Leigh to promotion from the Southern League Division One South last season. Amazingly though, Louis played at centre-back today !

Ex-Reading, Oxford United, Crawley, Aldershot and Wycombe Wanderers midfielder Scott Davies made his debut for Rangers in their 3-2 mid-week victory over Harpenden Town. Davies is more widely known for his admission of the gambling addiction which ruined his career, and his subsequent work within football and the media to promote aware of this disease. This may have been a one-off appearance though, as Davies was not in today’s match-day squad.

Colney Heath were also featured in these diaries last season, when losing 2-5 at Thame United. In their first ever season at step 4, Colney Heath were struggling at the foot of the table at the time, and they ultimately finished second from bottom to be relegated and return to the Spartan South Midlands league. 

https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2021/12/thame-united-5-2-colney-heath-att-103.html 

In the interim there appears to have been a complete overhaul of their squad, with only midfielder Guerin Nimi appearing to be still with the club after last season, and he didn’t feature today.

Their league form has been dismal, with just one win, ( a 2-1 home victory over Arlesey Town ) and 6 defeats from seven league matches. Their cup form has been better, holding higher league Hertford Town to a 1-1 away draw before crashing out 1-6 at home, and going out of the FA Vase after a penalty shoot-out at Eastern Counties side May and Baker FC. Two ties have been won in the Divisional League Cup, overcoming Risborough Rangers at home, and Leverstock Green away, both 1-0.

Colney Heath’s journey for today’s match was around 35 miles, which should have taken approximately 45 minutes down the A41.

The temperature at the 15.00 kick-off time was around 16 degrees, with the weather sunny on a fine autumn day.

Colney Heath play in black and white stripes, and so have The Magpies as their nickname. Rangers played in their usual all red kit. Risborough’s match-day programmes are on-line publications, but this season they no longer produce the additional four page piece of paper with the team line-ups. 

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/files.pitchero.com%2Fclubs%2F64064%2FaDc53c6aQPir7rWLekAH_Colney+Heath+LGE+Saturday+8th+October+2022.pdf 

 

The first piece of goal-mouth action occurred in the third minute, but Kamal McEwen’s whipped in cross from the left was well caught by Magpies’ keeper Sansom, but the visitors responded with a strong run from Lewis Smith who unfortunately for him over hit his pass to Kamel El-Maghur. The opening goal arrived a minute later as Deondre Pascoe’s left-footed cross from the right found Bradley Dixon-Smith unmarked beyond the far post, and although he didn’t make a great contact, the ball looped over keeper Ashmead and into the net to give Colney Heath the lead after 6 minutes.

The Magpies continued to have the better of the game, and in the 12^th minute Jefferson Louis had to head off his line following a far post header from a corner, but he was fouled in the process and a free-kick was awarded.

A sweeping move saw McShane free in the centre of the home penalty area but a weak finish from 15 yards was easily saved, although it wouldn’t have counted anyway due to the raised linesman’s flag for off-side. Dixon-Smith then delivered a low cross from the left but although McShane slid in to try and reach the ball, he was beaten to it by a defender who conceded a corner.

The home sides first decent move in the Colney Heath half was ended by the referee’s whistle, who decided to bring play back for a free-kick near the half-way line rather than playing advantage as Yearwood was about to be put through on goal. Hesitancy between Eatin-Bonnick and his keeper then resulted in a corner being conceded.

Shortly after, Curtis Brown’s 20 yard effort forced the Magpies’ keeper to produce a diving parry and Yearwood was unable to capitalize on the rebound. However, Colney Heath continued to look the better side, and Pascoe’s cultured left-foot sent another delightful cross in the direction of Dixon-Smith, but Rangers defended it at the expense of another corner.

On 30 minutes, Risborough’s centre-back Urquhart went down with an injury after a collison with own goalkeeper, which gave both sides the opportunity to take an unscheduled water break as the game was held up for 4 to 5 minutes. A few minutes later the visitors bench were advising their player, “no foul, no foul”, so obviously a foul was then committed !

With a minute of the half remaining, Magpies’ striker El-Maghur was put into space down the right hand channel but his run was ended by a foul from Louis, who was only shown the yellow card as the forward was heading away from the goal.

There was still time for Smith to find El-Maghur with a cross from the right, but the header across goal was gathered by keeper Ashmead, and then Risborough captain Urquhart softly headed McEwen’s free-kick wide of the post.

The half-time whistle blew shortly after, with Colney Heath fully deserving their 1-0 lead. In truth, Risborough had been poor.

There was a short delay to the start of the second half. With both sides on the pitch, the officials were missing, although they finally arrived a couple of minutes later.

Colney Heath came close to doubling their lead 5 minutes into the second period when El-Maghur was found in space and had a 1 on 1 with keeper Sansom. His attempt to go round the keeper was thwarted as the home shot-stopper expertly dived on the ball in the classical fashion. It proved to be a costly miss as less than a minute later, Rangers equalized. The lively McEwen got to the by-line, and his pull back found Lamboh 12 yards out. His attempt was bravely blocked, but the loose ball fell for Asher Yearwood to smash into the roof of the net from inside the 6 yard box for his 6^th goal of the season.

It was now Rangers’ turn to be in the ascendancy, as the visitor’s defence came under concerted pressure. Unsworth’s fine cross was met by Enver-Marum, but his header was deflected over for a corner. Shortly after, McEwen’s cross from the left was inches over Enver-Marum’s head and was cleared over the bar for another corner. A long throw was flicked on by Enver-Marum, but substitute Coles scuffed a good chance wide.  Yearwood then had a long range shot comfortably saved by the diving Sansom. With 17 minutes left on the clock, Yearwood teed up James but his shot from the edge of the area was deflected wide for another corner.

As Rangers continued to push for the winning goal, gaps were appearing at the back, giving Colney Heath chances to grab a winner for themselves. The frantic end-to-end final 15 minutes made for great entertainment, and although Risborough had most of the possession, the best chances fell to the visitors.

Nichols’ surging run into the Rangers half needed a tremendous covering tackle from McEwen to prevent a 3 on 1 counter-attack, and then Rangers’ Urquhart powered a header just over the bar from 8 yards. The home side had loud appeals for a penalty when the ball struck Whorms arm, and whilst it was debatable whether or not it justified a penalty, the linesman declared it had hit the full-back on the chest and it wasn’t even close to the arm !

Colney Heath’s Lewis Smith became increasingly prominent in the closing stages. First, he combined with Gleeson to steer a shot from inside the area a couple of feet high and wide of the far post, and in the 80^th minute he sent another shot from long range narrowly wide.

A minute later McShane found space in the Rangers penalty area, but after his shot was blocked, Gleeson’s follow-up effort was not particularly well struck, and Hercules was able to clear of his line. Eight minutes from time Smith tried his luck again, this time Ashmead parried the ball away to safety, and three minutes later Smith’s curling shot went inches wide, but as a corner was awarded, the keeper must have got a touch to keep it out. From the subsequent corner, Unsworth had to clear off the line to prevent Gleeson from scoring with a header, and shortly after, Smith’s low shot squeezed through the crowded area to hit the post, with Ashmead gratefully pouncing on the rebound. In added on time Smith and Gleeson again combined, but Gleeson could only shoot straight at the keeper.

Rangers mounted one final attack in added on time but Schmidt’s shot from the edge of the area flew just over the bar.

The match ended with the scores still level, and Colney Heath will probably feel they did enough to take the three points. With this result they slipped to 18^th in the table but if they continue to play like this they should shortly be zooming up the league. Risborough Rangers dropped to 14^th.

Risborough Rangers : Ashmead – Unsworth, Urquhart, Louis ( Hercules ), McEwen – Lamboh ( Coles ), Sturgess, Schmidt – Brown, Yearwood, Enver-Marum ( James )

Colney Heath : Sansom – Nichols, Eatin-Bonnick, Boodhoo, Whorms – Shepherd, Pascoe, Smith, Dixon-Smith ( Mokwenye ) – McShane ( Sippetts ), El-Maghur ( Gleeson )