LÅNGHOLMEN FC (0) 2
TELLUS (0) 0
Last gasp win for hard working Stripes
Two goals in the closing minutes of this game ensured Långholmen secured their first home win of the season. Seven hundred and twenty minutes had past with football on Essinge without a victory for the Stripes, but when referee Thunman blew his whistle the Långholmen players could at last punch the air in celebration.
The omens were not good before the game as Ciaran McCormack, Stuart Lascelles and Wilhelm Sund were all missing from the starting line up. The re- shuffled side however coped admirably and were hardly threatened by a physical Tellus side.
Tellus needed to win to more or less guarantee safety in division 3 this year, the Stripes had no other alternative than to win and the eagerness to achieve this was apparent as they chased the game right to the final whistle.
The first half was not for the faint hearted, Tellus made it clear from the start that they were not going to be bossed by the home team. Ian Mack was the key man for Tellus as he was in the first match at Aspudden, his no nonsense approach and his attempt at persuading the referee to book a couple of Långholmen players didn’t go unnoticed by band of Långholmen fans and he was subjected to some lighthearted banter throughout the match.
You have to feel sorry for Chris Allen, he looks a shadow of the player he was last term and the ball is just not falling kindly for him this term, in fairness he has not really had a decent run of outfield starts this season due to the terrible goalkeeping situation his club find themselves in. The young striker had two clear cut chances in the first half, one in particular when he picked up on a pin point pass from Kenny, his final touch letting him down.
Stevie Jefferson in goal had another excellent game and is growing in confidence; his punching, collecting and distribution were all first class and he played a huge part in his teams victory.
Tempers flared up in the 37 th minute when a bit of pushing and shoving involving a few players took place near the centre circle, referee Thunman and his assistant were quick to defuse the situation in a fair manner.
Moving into the second half and the Stripes were much more dominant and even when the clock hit the 80 minute mark there was still a real belief both on and off the pitch that they could win the game. Paul Sullivan had a great effort saved by Johan Gull in goal, the Tellus stopper made 4 or 5 first class stops to keep his team in with a chance.
Långholmen had a scare on 58 minutes when Tellus beat the offside trap, the ball ended up behind Jeffersons goal, that was one of only a couple of real chances they created during the whole match.
Erik Thorell put in another fine shift and could of been the hero of the day when he collected the ball in his own half and then stormed down the flank, he then made his way into the penalty area, his shot however had no pace and Gull saved easily. Sammba Sowe replaced Allen in the second half and as always posed a threat whenever the ball got near him, he should have scored when he found himself one on one with Gull, but once again the keeper denied the Stripes.
The clock was ticking down fast and it looked like draw number 8 for Långholmen this season, that was until Sowe recieved the ball from Colm Kenny, his initial touch was poor but his strength and presence ensured he had a second bite at the cherry, turning onto the ball and slotting the ball low into the net, it was more than the hard working Stripes deserved.
Tellus were shell shocked and even more so when Kenny added a second two minutes later, Andy O’Sullivan finding the Irishman unmarked in the box to fire home from close range.
This was just what the Stripes needed and this should set them up nicely against a mid table Tyresö side next week.
Report by Scot James
