FC Volendam tops Roda JC

Nov 22, 2008 - 12:10 AM FC Volendam won the Eredivisie basement battle against Roda JC, 3-1, but it was still not enough to lift them off the bottom of the table.

After Paul de Lange`s opener was cancelled out by Andres Oper for the visitors, Yannick De Wit put the hosts ahead again just before halftime and Bernard Hofstede made the points safe after the break.

The victory lifts Volendam on to seven points, level with De Graafschap, but with an inferior goal difference to their relegation rivals.

De Lange made the breakthrough after just six minutes, his 12-yard header from Hofstede's free-kick beating goalkeeper Bram Castro.

The same player could have doubled the advantage in the 15th minute, but Castro dived at the feet of the striker to smother the danger.

Seconds later Roda, third-bottom of the table, equalized when Oper beat the offside trip to collect Boldizsar Bodor's cross and fire under goalkeeper Jeroen Verhoeven.

De Lange replied with a volley, which Castro saved and, five minutes before the break, de Wit made it 2-1 by shooting home from the edge of the penalty area.

Seven minutes after the interval the hosts had a two-goal cushion as Hofstede drilled home from the corner of the area.

Roda midfielder Willem Janssen had a chance to pull one back in the 75th minute, but he headed wide from six yards from Bodor's free-kick.

Six minutes later, Jeanvion Yulu-Matondo was denied by Verhoeven from just three yards as Volendam recorded just their second win of the season.