Geordie Al's Groundhopper Scrapbook: Paderborn 1-2 Werder Bremen II, Saturday 13th August 2016

Sunday, 14 August 2016

Paderborn 1-2 Werder Bremen II, Saturday 13th August 2016

Paderborn 1-2 Werder Bremen II, att. 4,749 (3.liga)

Welcome to.....

For a few years, I’ve avoided Paderborn, or, at least, chosen somewhere else ahead of it. I’ve always been put off by pics of their non-descript new build stadium, with it’s one tier a good 10 feet up in the air, and a roof that’s far too high above the seats. Nevermind that it’s not very well attended. But actually, a trip to Paderborn has more going for it than you think. Even today, Paderborn was my 3^rd choice; I’d planned on visiting Zwickau, newly promoted to 3.liga, but new stadium issues meant the game was being played in Dresden. I then got in touch with St. Pauli fanladen, but they’d sold out. So I was finally at Paderborn – and I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.

Forthcoming attractions advertised.

Paderborn, the place, is a joy in the late summer sunshine. Hundreds of springs bubble up in the centre of town to form Germany’s shortest river, the Pader (4km long). But there’s also the cobbled streets and reconstructed old buildings. Oh, and the pub with the electronic dartboard and friendly locals. If you’re wondering, it’s like chucking darts at sticklebricks. I lost. As did Paderborn. What is the opposite of the immovable object v the irresistible force? Cos this was it. Paderborn, two consecutive relegations, playing host to Werder Bremen II, 3 defeats in 3. What would give?

The tranquil beauty of Paderborn city centre.

For an hour, nothing. Paderborn dominated possession, Werder dominated the quick breaks. If I said Paderborn it the post twice and had one cleared off the line, it would belie the sideways-sideways-backwards nature of 99% of their passing. There’d been one save, a long shot comfortably tipped over. So I went to the toilet (see later beer intake). Within seconds there was a roar.

'Fanpoint'

Of course, Paderborn had scored. And so it stayed till the 90^th minute, me all the itme thinking I’ve missed 2 mins of the game and 100% of the goals. Then a rare thing. Werder attacked down the right and as defenders stood off, Werder dinked a ball to the back post for a simple header. Honestly, the Paderborn players thought they had done it.

The flagbearers await the teams.

Then, a very odd goal. The Paderborn keeper claimed a ball on the edge of the box while being clattered. He played on (they were suddenly in a rush) then shoved the striker. Free kick and yellow card. The act of hari-kari was complete when the free kick was curled over the wall, right-footed, high into the net, while the keeper covered the more logical side. Paderborn had done it: snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Their players looked shattered (mentally, physically) then had to go run the gauntlet of coming over to the home end to give thanks for the support. Cue plenty of abuse from said fans.

The teams come out.

After two years of this, they’ve had enough. As a fan said to me in the pub later ‘It’s just losing, losing, losing.’ Down and out in Paderborn. I hope he made it through the night. Having walked to Paderborn’s stadium (about 3 miles, but initially, following the course of the river) I took the offer of a bus back to the city centre and had another beer. Well, it was Saturday. And I still saw St. Pauli – it was live on Sky. They were terrible.