De Treffers vs Almere City II Match Recap - Oct 11, 2025

Van Bakel’s Early Spark, Dors’ Equalizer Leave De Treffers and Almere City II Deadlocked as Standings Tighten in Tweede Divisie

GROESBEEK — On a crisp Saturday afternoon at Sportpark Zuid, De Treffers seized the initiative with an early goal, only to watch their hopes for a much-needed victory fade as Almere City II pegged them back before halftime. The 1-1 draw keeps both sides in their respective orbits in the Tweede Divisie table: Almere City II consolidating their status as top-four contenders, De Treffers left ruing missed opportunities to climb from the bottom half.

De Treffers, battered by a run of just one win in their last five league games, sought to steady a season teetering on the brink. From the opening whistle, urgency dripped from their every touch — and it took just eight minutes for them to find reward. S. van Bakel, a figure increasingly central to their attacking schemes, ghosted into the box and finished a sweeping move with authority, sending the home crowd into early celebration.

But for all their early verve, De Treffers could not maintain the tempo against an Almere City II side brimming with self-assurance, fresh off a 5-1 demolition of Rijnsburgse Boys. With Marley Dors, the division’s emerging attacking threat, orchestrating much of Almere’s best play, it was only a matter of time before the visitors found daylight. On 41 minutes, Dors struck: capitalizing on a loose ball at the edge of the area, he rifled a low shot beyond the outstretched keeper. The finish, precise and composed, echoed his growing reputation as a match-definer.

For De Treffers, the rest of the first half oscillated between hope and apprehension. An opportunity to regain their lead before the break fizzled amid defensive resolve by the visitors, who have made resilience a pillar of their rapid ascent up the standings. The halftime whistle delivered a momentary reprieve, but left an unmistakable sense that the contest’s most definitive scenes were yet to unfold.

If the second half brought changes — De Treffers pressing higher, Almere City II springing counters — it delivered little in the way of final product. A series of half-chances and speculative efforts highlighted the tension, as each side probed for the moment that could tilt the outcome. For De Treffers, T. Waterink’s industry in midfield failed to crack Almere’s disciplined defensive lines, while Van Bakel’s early flourish proved difficult to replicate against a team determined not to be breached again.

No red cards marred the contest, but cautions flared. Both teams saw midfield skirmishes lead to bookings, emblematic of the stakes and the technical tightrope walked by all involved.

For Almere City II, the result halts their winning momentum but keeps them comfortably in the pack of promotion hunters, now with 15 points from eight matches (5W-0D-3L). The point may frustrate a team that has made a habit of imposing itself on the road, but it also testifies to their adaptability — and Marley Dors’ continued rise as a decisive figure, following a hat trick last week against Rijnsburgse Boys.

De Treffers, meanwhile, linger in 11th place on 10 points (3W-1D-4L), a tally that underscores their inconsistency. With only four points from their last five league matches, the draw represents progress, but the need for more decisive performances is urgent. The early promise shown by Van Bakel’s opener reflects a side capable of more; their inability to secure the full three points, however, highlights the margins that have defined their season. Their last victory remains a distant September memory, amplifying the pressure as the autumn calendar intensifies.

Historical context offers a bittersweet echo: De Treffers bested Almere City II 4-2 in preseason, suggesting a capacity to disrupt higher-ranked sides. Yet, league reality has proven less forgiving. This stalemate, while a step forward defensively, leaves them with work to do.

Looking ahead, Almere City II will seek to reignite their ascent, eyeing matchups that could solidify their place among the division’s elite. For De Treffers, the next fixtures loom as inflection points; the pathway out of the lower half is narrowing, and each point acquired or squandered now carries added weight.

On a day that promised clarity, the only certainty is the congestion in the Tweede Divisie’s middle reaches. One team looking up, the other peering anxiously over its shoulder — both left, for now, still searching for separation.