FC Gütersloh ended the first half of the Regionalliga West season with a 3:0 win over FC Wegberg-Beeck. Ninth place after the first half of the season makes Julian Hesse “very proud”.

At the end of the first half of the season, FC Gütersloh secured their seventh win of the season in their clash with Wegberg-Beeck. The hosts initially struggled against a compact defense, but two goals from Patrik Twardzik around the break (44th/53rd) and a goal from Eduard Probst (62nd) ultimately ensured a clear 3-0 win.

“It was a task for us to keep our heads because you could tell that the main stand in particular would have liked to have decided the game at half-time. I think the boys did a good job,” praised head coach Julian Hesse after the match.

It wasn’t always the case that FCG could confidently see out a one-nil win. “Almost exactly a year ago, we drew 3-3 against Sporckhövel,” said Hesse, recalling the previous Oberliga season. “We were in a dynamic situation where you always had the feeling that you would concede a goal in the games. How that can change in a year. Now we’re sitting here, we’re in the top 10 of the Regionalliga for the moment and in a very positive mood.”

25 points in the first half of the season: “I didn’t expect that”

His team has grown into a “unit” in recent months. The reward: With 25 points, Gütersloh is in ninth place as the best promoted team in the first half of the season – a snapshot that can certainly be enjoyed.

“I think we can be extremely satisfied. I have to be honest and say that I didn’t necessarily expect 25 points in the first half of the season, because I think if you look at the last decade, with the exception of Kaan-Marienborn last year, promoted teams have always had extreme problems in this league,” emphasized the 34-year-old, who was not only pleased with the results, but also with the way his team performed.

When you want to go home after training and see that an hour after the session, ten boys are still sitting together in the dressing room, that makes me proud.

Julian Hesse

The good sporting situation is the result of a “great working atmosphere” at the Oberliga Westfalen champions. “When you want to go home after training and see that ten lads are still sitting together in the dressing room an hour after the session, that makes me proud.”

However, it is now important not to feel insecure. “We’re now nine points off the relegation zone and sometimes it’s automatic in sport that when you think you’re in a comfortable situation, you simply give two or three percentage points less. We have to counteract that because the games we still have before the winter break are extremely important,” warned Hesse. The FCG continue their campaign next Sunday (2 p.m.) at home against fellow promoted team SC Paderborn II.