The start of this season couldn’t have been more frustrating for the Colmar Titans: one defeat in the Coupe de France to Amnéville, then five league defeats. We are therefore in mid-November and the Haut-Rhinois still don’t have the slightest point on the counter. If the early season defeat to Moselle neighbors Amnéville seemed to bode well, it is clear that disappointments have been piling up since then, with notably two copious stoppages from Villard (0-6) and Vanoise (9 -0). Worst defense in the group, and above all worst attack with only 6 small goals, Tarik Chipaux’s men must compose themselves. The Alsatian coach can’t say any better, after all, and hopes (more than) a boost of competitiveness and above all concentration, when he receives the Angevin reserve, which moved to this group this season. “Small” dukes of which, in the end, little is known except the youth of the squad, and also that their career rests on two defeats against leaders Vaujany and Toulouse, then two victories in a row against Annecy and Roanne .
We talked about lack of concentration, and it is true that in the past Colmar has often suffered from this defect. Does the youth of a workforce carry the defects of its qualities (and vice versa!), i.e. enthusiasm, vivacity, voluntarism, nerve… again, being victims of one’s demons?
This part was balanced. On closer inspection, each team has generally had, in its own way, 30 minutes of play. Angers dominated the first third without being able to materialize, then concluded the last 5 minutes of the next two thirds. Colmar, for its part, suffered completely in the first half. Too borrowed, they can also be too tense by the stakes (beat an opponent a priori approachable), the Haut-Rhinois have often been late on actions, reinforced in front of their zone so as not to collapse too quickly.
A behavior that contrasts with their two returns from the changing rooms of the 2nd and 3rd third, and the enterprising way used then. Indeed, the Colmarians deprived Angers of a large number of actions by cutting off his passes. With a more united game, a closer placement that offers more solutions, with a more consequent debauchery also of energy, they pushed the Anjou kids into their half of the ice. The visitors were regularly overtaken, even if they managed to hold in front of their slot, despite some forays collected by Paul Fillod who bowled each time (8’50 “then after 38’25”), or a little too much Téo Haffner short (41’05”).
It was however on this sort of combative foray that the Titans opened the scoring with a turbocharged breakthrough from Enzo Labat who crossed the finish line for Colin Delatour who arrived at the far post (1-0 at 29’45”). A beautiful goal that allowed the locals to persevere in a good and long sequence of play in which the guests experienced many cold sweats in front of their goalkeeper.
Beware, however, of these euphoric outbursts, or almost. The important thing is to score, not just try. Angers reminded him by regaining control of the last five minutes of these last two thirds. The booking came free of charge in the midfield, thanks to two fine saves by Fontaine, not far from the opposite foot (25’35”) then in a desperate split (34’29”).
It wasn’t the same during the last third. We are approaching the famous money-time, as they say. It’s not the time to collapse, but we hear the tired Colmarian. It must be said that particular situations follow one another for the locals, undoubtedly a translation of the physical numbness of the troops, who are starting to fall behind the Angevin thrusts, Fontaine’s cross has already resounded, before, on a fast against Maxime Guérin (47 ‘ 02″). Reminders (re)become imprecise, moments of hesitation (re)appear. Marius Magreangas took advantage of one of these local errors to score against Fontaine, who had been flawless until then (1-1 in the 52nd minute ’40”). Colmar will not lower his enthusiasm but will then be coldly caught on one of these “poo” rebounds exploited in a mouse hole by Evan Chappa, while the goalkeeper from the Alto Reno has just made the great save (1 -2 at 55’27” ). It was then a heavy screed that fell on the Rossoneri’s shoulders, despite the last furious and desperate tries by the Alsatian boys, Delatour ahead, and the exit of their goalkeeper (59’15”).
Colmar in the end will have fought above all against herself… and will have lost! The negative side is all relative, it is above all this lack of constancy and concentration, which made them lean towards the dark side of the game: doubt, fever, imprecision… With one or two “big” brothers on the ice , to reassure this youth and direct the puck, the victory of the match could have, and should have, changed sides, especially during a crazy second third where the Dukes suffered the Titans’ sarabande in their field. Alas, Colmar still shot too little on the opponent’s goal, and this is one of the problems to be solved. The positive side is that this youth brings ardor, liveliness, enthusiasm and strong nerves, still a little raw from the quarterdeck, and well “stripped” / channeled by one or two leaders, who will eventually pay.
The winner of the evening is therefore, in the end, Angers. More patient, probably even more organized in their positions and plans, especially offensive ones, the Dukes bent their backs so as not to sink.. They needed a winner, it was them… as Colmar could have been. The Dukes were probably well aware of this, as evidenced by their delight at the 1-2 draw.
Colmar 1-2 Angers II (0-0, 1-0, 0-2)
Saturday 12 November 2022 at 7.15 pm at the Colmar ice stadium. 100 spectators
Arbitration of Mr. Bispo assisted by MM. Kirschenbaum and Neuraz.
Penalties: Colmar 16′ (6′, 4′, 6′); Angers 12′ (4′, 2′, 6′).
Tirs : Colmar 24 (6, 10, 8) ; Angers II 31 (11, 10, 10).
Evolution you get:
1-0 after 29’45”: Delatour assisted by Labat and Vix
1-1 at 52’40”: Magrangeas assisted by Simon and Bye
1-2 at 55’27”: Chappa assisted by Ferrari
Colmar
Forwards:
Enzo Labat – Colin Delatour – Paul Fillod (A)
Ludovic Vinals – Quentin Borg – Teo Haffner
Renaud Studer – Mathis Joly (C) – Thomas Ackermann
Nino Abdelali – Clement Tognan – Aurélien Chaubell
Defenders:
Léopold Beckmann (A) – Lélian Vix
Owen Dugas-Raphael Brites
Yann Quiniou-Pierre Garnier
Guardian:
Jean-Philippe Fontaine [sorti à 59’15 »]
Substitute: Malo Wessang (sol)
Angers II
Forwards:
Stepan Nemtyrev – Ethan Gourbil – Hugo Ferrari
Mathias Ledroit – Matthias Pibernus – Flavien Tichy
Pierre Bye – Charlie Simond – Marius Magrangeas
Guillaume Lhermitte (La) – Maxime Guerin (La) – Jérémy Pélissou
Defenders:
Evan Chappa (A) – Luca Faure-Soulet
Antonin Berruex – Noah’s villain
Arthur Olive-Emilio Chouteau
Guardian:
Mathy’s Schwerdel
Sub: Cebald Debiak (G).
