This Saturday evening, Le Puy Foot took advantage of receiving the red lantern to cure the goal average. The Ponots outclassed Anglet (4-1) to steal first place in Grasse.
On paper, it was already an unbalanced poster that was shaping up at the Massot stadium. Puy Foot, runner-up to Grasse at kick-off and undefeated since the start of the season, hosted Genêts d’Anglet. Either the red lantern, but also the smallest budget in the championship.
Lebeau treats his first
The Ciel et Blanc had to deal with change and show adaptation to avoid an unpleasant surprise, facing the Basques who still have not taken the slightest point away. With the absences of Soualhia and Esmel, suspended, the staff had reviewed their starting lineup. The three-defender system was still retained. Tyrone Sakho moved back a notch to take his place on the left of the rearguard, alongside Zogba and Ghalem. The midfielder therefore returned to a position that he had occupied, when younger, with the Montpellier reserve. In the midfield, Stéphane Dief had decided to start Tom Lebeau for the first time, in the absence of Esmel.
The rookie didn’t take long to stand out. The former Concarneau midfielder recovered a ball very high on the pitch in the fourth minute, before launching Yann Diebold towards the opener (4th, 1-0). After this great start, the Vellaves did not immediately unfold. Anglet took advantage of less pressing from the locals to get their heads back on track. But Matis Carvalho was not worried and only had one save to make, in the 13th minute.Nicolas Pays and the Ponots were sharp.
The Ciel et Blanc finally made the break after half an hour of play, with 100% piston action. Launched by Marvin Adelaïde, Ismaïl Bouleghcha sent a cross to the far post, perfectly taken by Moussa Faty (29th, 2-0). Launched towards their greatest championship success of the season, the Ponots took cover just before the break. Marvin Adelaide showed his power to resist the defenders and adjust the goalkeeper with a powerful shot (43rd, 3-0).
Anglet reduces the gap from the penalty spot
Returning from the locker room, the match was lively on both sides of the field. Carvalho delayed the reduction of the score, in the 46th minute, by interposing in front of Thibault Lapeyre. In the process, Tom Lebeau had already won over the Massot audience by sending the ball into the top corner, on a counter-attack (47th, 4-0). He barely had time to savor his first goal, which he was punished with a yellow card and a penalty, for a supposed handball in the area. Anglet and Betina took the opportunity to unlock their counter (51st, 4-1).
National 2: Renald Xhemo, the important return of the Puy Foot captain
The end of the meeting was not very exciting and the opportunities were fewer. The visitors tried, as best they could, to take control of this part. Without forcing, the Ponots held on to win 4-1.
Thanks to this success, Le Puy Foot took first place in Group A of National 2. Christophe Gauthier’s protégés benefited from the defeat (2-0) of Grasse, in Marignane, to take on the leadership role.
Lucas Jacquet
