In the fourteen-team league, in which the Stalowcy were a newcomer after an eight-year break, they paid a steep price (a 1-2 home defeat to Ruch Chorzów on 18 October), taking 12th place in the table (just above the relegation zone with just a point advantage over Szombierki), while the locals took sixth place with two points more. Our team, for the first time in league competition, featured: in goal, 34-year-old Stanisław Majcher, acquired from Dębica’s Wisłoka, and a former player of Lublin’s Motor – defender Krzysztof Rześny. On the icy pitch, even though the match started at high noon, the blue and white players gained the advantage in the field in the first half, carrying out several composed actions. The central line played well, with Henryk Kasperczak leading the way. Unfortunately, none of the opportunities created by the Mielec players came to fruition. The only goal for FKS came in the 21st minute after a mistake by the local defender Szlinter, who slipped and lost the ball to Stoj. The latter perfectly passed the ball to full-back Grzegorz Lato, who placed the ball in the hosts’ net with a sharp shot into the bottom corner of the goal. After scoring the goal, the Mielec players concentrated on defensive play, as the rival pushed us into a concentrated defensive game.
After the change of sides, the image of the game did not change, Pogoń were constantly attacking, wanting to lead to an equaliser. They were only able to strike one effective blow that day, from a fixed part of the game. In the 58th minute, midfielder Zenon Kasztelan struck from a free kick from 20 metres. The ball went past the wall and, despite a desperate robinsonade by Majcher, fell into our goal. 14 minutes later, ours had a dangerous situation when Lato banged over the bar from close range. Pogoń could have increased the result of the match in the 73rd minute. After a free kick by Kasztelan and a headshot by Wojciechowski, the game was saved by the junction of the post and the crossbar and the intervention of our goalkeeper, who deflected the ball to safety with his fingertips. After the game, our coach Andrzej Gajewski commented on his team’s game in Rzeszów Nowiny: I am happy with this one point, although to tell the truth we could have taken both points away. The team played very ambitiously, especially the whole defence headed by Hansel. The match was not a great spectacle, as it was not possible to carry out well-thought-out actions on heavy terrain, and besides, the final result was more important.
08.11.1970 – Szczecin, 11th round 1st League, Pogoń Szczecin – Stal Mielec 1-1 (0-1)
Referee: Karolak (Łódź) Spectators: 10,000
Pogoń: Białek – Gołkowski, Fiałkowski, Szlinter, Jatczak, Kasztelan, Mańko, Czubak, Jakóbczak, Justek, Wojciechowski Coach: K.Kosař
Stal: Majcher – Rześny, Kosiński, Rachwał, Hansel, Gąsior, Lato, Kasperczak, Kasprzyk, Stój (46 Karaś), Sekulski (60 Maleńki) Coach : A.Gajewski
Goals: Kasztelan 58 (free) – Lato 21 min.
In summary, the balance of all 42 (home and away) extra-league duels between Stali and Pogoń is even – 15 Stali wins, 13 draws, 14 defeats. The goal ratio is 50-47 for the Mielec players. Second-league struggles are 2 matches (1 draw, 1 defeat; goals ratio 5-7). In the 5 matches of the Polish Cup, the balance is as follows (3 wins for Stali, 1 draw, 1 defeat; goals 11-7).
Leszek Śledziona
Photo: Archive of Leszek Śledziona.
