Nöisy-sur-Marne beat Epinal 4-3 in the D1 on Saturday, a result that leaves the hosts top of the table after one game and sends the visitors to the bottom. By then, the season was already under way and both sides had been through plenty against their previous opponents. The home side's record shows one win from one match, while Epinal sit thirteen with a single defeat on their ledger.
The match itself produced seven goals, which is more than enough to keep everyone on their feet. Nöisy-sur-Marne had been through several high-scoring games recently, including a 4-6 loss to Dunkerque Corsairs back in March, so they knew what to expect. Epinal, meanwhile, had found themselves on the receiving end of a 7-1 defeat against Cholet earlier this season.
We had tipped the home side to win, though our confidence sat at just 46 per cent. And here's the thing — it paid off, even if the margin was never going to be comfortable. Nöisy-sur-Marne never got out of second gear after the opening exchanges, while Epinal looked like they were still searching for rhythm.
The standings tell a simple story at this stage: two points for the hosts, zero for the visitors. Neither side has played enough to establish a real pattern, but the gap is already visible. Nöisy-sur-Marne sit second on the board with one win, while Epinal's single loss has dropped them to thirteenth.
Looking at the recent form, both teams have been involved in matches that ended with plenty of goals on the board. Nöisy-sur-Marne's last five games produced 24 goals across ten matches, which suggests an open style of play. Epinal's record against Cholet was similarly unpredictable, with results ranging from 4-3 wins to 0-4 defeats.
What matters now is the momentum. Nöisy-sur-Marne have extended their unbeaten run to one game, which is a start at least. Epinal will need to regroup quickly if they want to avoid a long season at the wrong end of the table.
