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| Tense atmosphere - still singing! |
At this point Ligue 2 looked like this:
Points Goal diff
1 Lens: 65 +17
2 Strasbourg 65 +16
3 Amiens 64 +17
-----------------------------------------
4 Troyes 64 +15
Not only were Lens in the automatic promotion position but they would be champions: if scores remained the same. No-one in the 37,700 crowd was under any illusion that this situation would last...and it didn't. Behind us, there was an uproar as a group of lads told us that Amiens had gone ahead at Reims. This put them top and us second. There then followed a very brief lull as the fans took all this in. The exceptions to this were the capos who were already working on overdrive judging by the steam rising from the various podiums of the Marek. The Marek was soon back on song again.
Three minutes later Strasbourg had scored and we were third. Three minutes later they were two-nil up. This final event had passed us by as Lens themselves went 2-0 up. A corner was played short to the mercurial Bourigeaud and his exquisite cross was met by the powering head of Lopez. My decision to name my shirt after him had been completely vindicated. Needless to say the crowd responded, especially when news filtered through from the ears in other grounds that Troyes were losing at Sochaux. Soon after the news was that they were 2-0 down! If it was possible the noise level rose by several decibels.
When half time finally arrived, after the longest half I had ever experienced, Lens were still ahead 2-0 and third: the playoff spot.
Half time results:
Lens 2 - Niort 0 Reims 0 Amiens 1
Strasbourg 2 Bourg en Bresse 0 Sochaux 2 Troyes 0
Points Goal diff
1 Strasbourg 67 +18
2 Amiens 66 +18
3 Lens 65 +16
-----------------------------------------
4 Troyes 63 +14
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| Nervous times: time for a pensive photo. |
The Lens team had suddenly lost their way and Niort, winless in the last seven games, had found theirs. Two minutes later, it was all change: Reims had equalised against Amiens. We were now second with Strasbourg top!
At the start of the day, this would have been an ideal scenario as the two Racing Clubs and their fans had built up renewed kinships that had existed in Ligue 1 days.
The team found their mojo and and all looked a lot rosier. Douchez had come to our rescue when he had been needed and now the lads were looking far more assured and in control. Although not good for our friends in Strasbourg, Bourg En Bresse had pulled one back. An equaliser there would have meant the world to us and still probably a playoff spot for the other Racing.
The clock ticked agonisingly down and nerves became frayed again as Troyes had equalised at Sochaux: now 2-2 with 13 turgid minutes to go plus stoppage time.
Ligue 2: 87th minute....
Points Goal diff
1 Strasbourg 67 +17
2 Lens 65 +17
3 Amiens 64 +17
-----------------------------------------
4 Troyes 64 +15
We were nearly there. The crowd were roaring the team on and they were responding. Bourigeaud had slotted home at the far post but saw his, and our, celebrations were cut short as the ball had already crossed the byline. The lads behind us shouted angrily to anyone who would listen that Troyes and the remonstrating Garcia had done it: they were winning 3-2! We were in the playoffs.
Relief flooded the stadium as Christian slotted home after Hafiz's freekick had bounced off the crossbar. The final whistle blew soon after and an extraordinary hush descended upon the stadium. Reims v Amiens was still playing and Reims had had a player sent off in the 89th minute. Six minutes of injury time were being played.
The players wandered aimlessly around the pitch staring at the crowd, the sky, hoping for some news but all was hushed and still. As if in a nightmare, howls of derision behind us filled the night sky and the lads behind us were demanding Casanova's resignation. Andrew confirmed the worst: Amiens had scored in the 96th minute and we had finished fourth.
A black banner was unrolled, by some of the fans at the front of the Marek, demanding to know whether Casanova was a coach or a gardener. The players sank to their knees and suddenly the CRS appeared, marching across the pitch, just to exacerbate the situation.
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| How to make a bad situation worse.... |
The crowd remained, unable to take in the events of the evening, and the players, finally finished milling about, applauded the crowd then left the field. John Bostock took his own solo tour of the pitch to applaud the stands: a sure sign that he was leaving?
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| A town in shock! |
Finally, half an hour after the final whistle, the Marek began to empty. The bars of Lens, with their extra outdoor seating arrangements, would be an extremely subdued affair tonight. Lens was remaining in Ligue 2 and all the build-up, tension had come to nothing. Our evening ended at a very quiet and unusually empty La Loco. At 1:00 am, they were still serving merguez and chips: extra staff obviously having been put on to meet the influx of celebrating fans intent on partying the night away. So we partook of food and ale before shuffling quietly around the corner to our apartment. Tails firmly hanging between our tails.
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| Food and beer to fill the emptiness left by the results. |
Full time results:
Lens 3 - Niort 1 Reims 1 Amiens 2
Strasbourg 2 Bourg en Bresse 1 Sochaux 2 Troyes 3
Lens 3 - Niort 1 Reims 1 Amiens 2
Strasbourg 2 Bourg en Bresse 1 Sochaux 2 Troyes 3
Points Goal diff
1 Strasbourg 67 +16
2 Amiens 66 +18
3 Troyes 66 +16
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4 Lens 64 +19
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