With a 2-0 win over Alemannia Aachen, 1. FC Bocholt is closing the gap on its direct rivals. Coach Marcus John saw his team’s best performance of the season.
On the ninth matchday of the Regionalliga West, 1. FC Bocholt was able to record its second win of the season. Marcus John’s team won 2-0 (0-0) against the visitors from Alemannia Aachen, who had started the season well, and collected important points in the relegation battle.
After a goalless first half, Andre Bugla gave the hosts the lead after the break (55th). Marc Beckert scored the final goal shortly before the end (90th). “We really put in a very committed performance, we fought really well. We were also partly convincing in our play. That’s why I think it was our best performance of the season so far,” said coach John, pleased with the three points.
Bocholt keep nil for the first time
The defensive performance was particularly satisfying this afternoon. “It’s also a novelty for us to finally keep a clean sheet at the back,” said the coach, pleased with the first clean sheet of the season, which ensured that Bocholt stay in touch with the top. “We still have one more game to play. So everything is possible again for the time being.”
After three defeats at the start of the season, the Hüntig boys seem to have arrived in the league. In the last five games, there was only one defeat. They have got used to the new level. “We played against the league leaders Preußen Münster. We saw that we had no chance under these circumstances at that time. But we also played against teams from the midfield and saw that we can keep up. So against Wiedenbrück as well as Ahlen or Aachen. And we have also played against teams close to us in the table, such as Wattenscheid, and we can see that if we play well, we can also win,” said the football coach, classifying his own team.
John wants to “put out a good team” in the cup despite rotation
Bocholt’s injury list is currently full of names. “Apart from Gino Windmüller, who has been missing for a long time and who was planned as a permanent fixture in central defence, and Marcel Platzek, who is also missing for a longer period of time now, Dario Schumacher and Jeffrey Obst were also absent yesterday. These are also experienced regional league players,” John noted. While Windmüller (torn tendon in his foot) and Marcel Platzek (torn muscle bundle) will be absent for some time, Schumacher (knee problems) and Obst, who suffered a laceration and concussion after a collision with Malek Fakhro in training, can hope to return soon.
Before heading to Fortuna Köln for a make-up game, 1. FC Bocholt will host SV Straelen in the Niederrheinpokal (Lower Rhine Cup) during the week (21 September, 19:30). They recently celebrated their first success of the season, beating SG Wattenscheid 4-0. “We will certainly rotate a bit, but still put together a good team and take the cup seriously and hope to advance one round,” John announced.