Stockholms Cup 2nd Round
SALTSJÖBADENS IF (3) 3
LÅNGHOLMEN FC (3) 6
The fans of Långholmen outnumbered there opponents fans and not for the first time this season. This time however the total crowd was four and that included injured star Chris Allen. No one could really blame the stay away supporters as it was a cold wet night out on the coast, it was a nice gesture to the fans when the team came over and thanked them all personally.
This was a tricky draw for the division four champs and things didn’t look good as they had no less than 6 key players missing in action for this game, in total they only had twelve for this cup match and when Chris Allen hobbled off inside the first five minutes the odds looked heavily stacked against the Stripes as they were already 3 goals down thanks to penalty goals from Victor Sorle, Johan Böhm and Jon Tusa.
With leading scorer Allen out of action the Stripes brought on Paul O’Hara who acquitted himself well and there is no doubt he will be given some first team football next term.
Långholmen were requested to wear rather fetching yellow bibs as the referee decided that two teams playing in blue was a colour clash.
The home team started off brightly enough and stuck to their task inside the first twenty minutes, lots of pressurising and no nonsense ball play. Långholmen however did not panic in trying to breakthrough, instead they played the clever game and waited out for an opener. They were rewarded for their patience when Andy O’Sullivan cooly lobbed the keeper after a nice headed through ball from captain Graham, who played a key role in his teams victory.
Gradually the game was moving into Långholmens hands and you could sense how deflated Saltsjöbaden were when Robbie Graham stroked the ball home from just inside the box on 32 minutes, the ball bobbled around inside the six yard box before it was half cleared as far as the skipper and his crisp strike nestled behind Roberto Da Costa in goal.
It was all about one team at this stage and right on the half time whistle up popped O’Sullivan with a free header in the box to square up the tie.
The second half was predictable as Saltsjöbaden showed a lack of urgency in the Långholmen half with McConnell and team mates running the show with ease.
Colm Kenny got a fine double, one each side of a fine strike by O’Sullivan, the second was a peach and goal of the game. Kenny picked up the ball just inside the Saltsjöbaden half, he raced forward and then weighted a perfect pass to Björlund Berglund on the flank, the young player then sent an inch perfect pass back to Kenny who cracked it home to make sure Saltsjöbadens cup dream is over for another season.
The home team to their credited tried to get another goal near the end but keeper Jefferson was equal to the effort and pulled of a superb save.
All in all a good night for the Långholmen lads who will go into the hat for the next round .
Report courtesy of Långholmens website
www.langholmenfootball.com
