Parc y Scarlets, the setting for this European U21 Championship qualifier between Wales U21s and Netherlands U21s and is based in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales.
My 2022/23 season is starting early and starting off in style with a trip to Wales with Officer Kizz! My first ever Welsh tick! Certainly not the ground I thought it would be as it is traditionally a rugby ground home to Scarlets. Barely used for football makes today a rare opportunity to see football at this ground which certainly should make it a good tick… Unless it’s 0-0 of course…
An early start sees me on the M1 onto the M18 to Kizz’s house and we are en route to Wales at 9am! It’s been a long time since we’ve done a trip like this and it’s great to be back!
Straight back onto the M18 and onto the M1, onto the A42 and eventually onto the M5. Off the M5 now and into some country lanes now. 3 hours and one stop off later and there is that Wales border sign! It’s been a long time Wales!
Half an hour later and it’s time for a pit stop in Brecon. It wouldn’t be a traditional Kizz trip without a Wetherspoons visit! But first here we are outside the ground of Brecon Corries AFC! Kizz has been and I’m sure one day soon I will be!
It’s been a while since I’ve eaten at a spoons but you can’t go wrong with a burger and a pint for £8.25! Back on the road we go!
I haven’t driven this far before but I certainly would love driving on this road one day! Beautiful scenery! About 20 miles to go now and oh look a football ground! There’s a roundabout just ahead which can mean only one thing! Back we go and here we are at the ground of Ynysmeudwy Athletic AFC. Lovely backdrops here I have to say!
Back on the road! 20 miles later and here we are in Llanelli at last! Can’t wait to drive to Cornwall one day… 1 hour 30 to go before kick off which means time for another spoons. The Old Cinema which is now the York Palace is calling. One drink later and now off we go to the ground.
Into the ticket office to collect our tickets for the day, £5 to watch this European U21 Championship Qualifier! Ffantastig! A familiar face outside the ticket office! Vaughny is here! Last time I saw a game with him finished… 0-0… Great to see Vaughny again! There’s more! Luke, Waldo and Tony are here too! Fantastic! Through the reception doors and into the stands we go.
Out come the teams! It’s certainly been a very long time since I saw a youth international game. Let’s hope it’s a good one! The National Anthems are played and it’s time for the game!
Kick Off! 4 minutes in and the Netherlands come forward from the right, it’s played through to Jurgen Ekkelenkamp in the box on the right and he drills it across looking for Brian Brobbey… he doesn’t get there and it rolls out for a goal kick.
7 minutes now and the Wales keeper Nathan Sheppard has it in his hands in the box… The Referee has blown and he’s given an indirect free kick for the Netherlands in the Wales box… He’s held onto that for too long… A first for me ever at a game! It’s rolled for Sven Botman to shoot… Blocked and Wales clear but Netherlands retrieve it and play it out left, it’s played in to Brian Brobbey in the box to the left, he takes a touch and shoots… Just over!
Netherlands are looking far superior to Wales here so far and it’s looking like a matter of time before they score. 14 minutes on the clock now and netherlands come forward from the left, played inside and it’s played through to Quinten Timber in the box and he shoots… He’s dragged it wide! Big chance!
Netherlands still the better side but as the game goes on Wales are starting to show signs of getting out of their own half a little but will have to work almighty hard against this total football playing Netherlands team! 44th minute and Netherlands come forward now with Kenneth Taylor, he plays it to Quinten Timber, Taylor gets it back and gets into the box, he plays it to Brian Bobbey… Who scores… But no! The flag is up and it won’t count! 0-0 here at half time.
Second half, 52 minutes now and Netherlands play a long ball forward towards Myron Boadu who brings it down and pokes it towards goal… Keeper gets his leg to it and claims the loose ball from the rebound of the Welsh defenders running in.
63 minutes now and Wales play the ball forward for Sam Pearson to chase, the keeper comes out and clears but Wales retrieve it in midfield, it’s played through to Luke Jephcott in the box on the left and he goes for goal… Keeper parries and Netherlands clear the danger. Better from Wales!
5 minutes later and Wales give the ball away cheaply on the edge of their own box, Netherlands work it around the edge of the Wales box, it’s played in to Brian Bobbey who sets up Kenneth Taylor to shoot just inside the box… Keeper saves! The Welsh defender slid in and got something on that shot which helped the keeper collect the shot there! Brave defending from Wales!
2 minutes after and Netherlands come forward again, they’re searching for the winner now! They have it down the left wing and it’s played in to Kenneth Taylor who runs into the box on the left, he plays it across to Brian BROBBEY… OH! He’s missed it! 6 yards out with the goal gaping and he’s scuffed it wide… Even I would have scored that!! Absolute sitter! Wales are going to get that point they want aren’t they!?
77th minute and here come the Netherlands again, down the left wing again and it’s crossed in, Brian Brobbey with the header… Straight into the keeper’s grasp!
Netherlands keep on coming! Wave after wave of attacks now from the dutch but Wales are defending heroically here! 86th minute and Netherlands have a corner, in it comes… Headed away, Milan Van Ewijk retrieves it for Netherlands and he plays it into the box, it’s Lutsharel Geertruida with the header… It’s in!! They’ve got it!! It’s so cruel on Wales but Netherlands have deserved it on the balance of the match you have to say! 0-1!
Wales come forward now searching for the equaliser, can they get it? No! The Referee blows for full time! It’s a deserved victory for the Netherlands!
FT: Wales U21 0-1 Netherlands U21
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 1/10 – Not many in today… I’m guessing this was due to the Wales Belgium game in Cardiff.
- The Ground: 8.5/10 – A great ground! A shame that it isn’t used for football more often… A definite good fit for the English Football League at Championship level I’d say! Very similar to Rotherham United’s ground with an elevated view and it certainly would be easy to segregate away fans should it be used for football.
- Expense: 7/10 – £5 is a good price for this sort of game but it was a poor game for the neutral sadly…
- Overall Experience: 6/10 – Great to see Luke, Waldo, Vaughny and Tony once again but fantastic to have a road trip with Officer Kizz once again! The game was the main let down today but it sure was a good day out!
22.5/40