Stripes News

Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun and this Noel Coward signature holds more than a little resonance with a Jekyll and Hyde Stripes display down at the island. For all their wit, flamboyance and a sense of style Långholmen were undone by an agricultural Krukan display that ended 1-4 to the visitors.

It was business as usual in the first 45, a Coward-esque combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise, give and go football created a hatful of chances for the home side who dominated possession and looked much the better side in the sweltering heat.

When Samba’s cross was cruelly turned into the Krukan net after half an hour the Stripes were on the march, and with a bit of common sense they might well have converted more of their chances in the first period. Kenny was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after a clumsy challenge by the Krukan keeper, and Chris Allen was a thorn in the Krukan side throughout.

Still, 1-0 at the break to LFC was a deserved score-line and the forty stripes fans (and families) watching the game will have been expecting their team to build on that platform. Sadly they were let down in what can only be described as a second half meltdown by a Långholmen team that need to learn how to win ugly.

Krukan are a big physical side, but in the first half they only really threatened Långholmen from long throws or set pieces around the box. So when the referee awarded them a very soft penalty after two minutes of the second half they must have thought that all their Birthdays’, Christmas’ and Red Days’ had come at once; The big bald Krukan striker smashing the spot kick into the stanchion where 3 keepers couldn’t have stopped it.

At 1:1 the game was balanced, but the Krukan tactics to break up the play was effective since it stopped the stripes getting any rhythm to their passing game. Then came the hammer blow – Krukan converting a scrappy corner (not for the last time this season we reckon) to take the lead and a firm grip on them game.

With 35 minutes to play there was plenty of time to get a result – but it felt like the Långholmen boys had put all their Easter Eggs in one basket as they toiled in the blistering sunshine. As much as the Stripes knocked on the door, they failed to break down a solid, physical and determined Krukan team.

This was a local derby and the spirit shown by the Krukan team won the match in the end. Sheer lunacy gifted the away side two goals as the wheels fell off the LFC wagon in the last 5 minutes. The huge appeal of the beautiful game (and something that Sir Noel Peirce Coward would agree with) is that it is not who you are, but how you perform that matters. The Stripes have something to prove in their next match against local rivals Reymersholms IK.

LFC Squad:

Bergquist (GK); Thorell (RB), Ahmed (D), Mcclelland (D), Phillips (LB), Harkness (CM), Larsson (CM), Samba (LM), Allen (RM), O’Sullivan© (CF), Kenny (CF). Subs: Burris (35), Karlsson (45), Santini (80), Sullivan

MOTM – Ahmed did well on his debut against a tough opponent.

Ref Watch – Some dodgy decisions, including the penalty. But hey that’s football. 3/5.

Korv Guiden – Not a sausage, the kiosk was closed for business!

Långoholmen FC’s next league game of the season is on Sunday 1^st May at Zinkensdamm against Reymersholms IK: KO 15:00. Hope to see you there.

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The Stripes celebrate a hard fought victory over the Tudor Arms

The Kevin Everest Trophy, so named after its infamous sponsor represents the annual clash between Stockholm’s two leading English speaking clubs. Långholmen FC and The Tudor Arms. Always a keenly contested affair, this year was no exception with the Tudor having something of a renaissance after their promotion last season into Division 6.

A patchy Långholmen Reserve Team (R1), containing new players, old players, manager players and more than one or two ringers stepped up to the challenge year. While a combination side sometimes inspires free flowing football, the LFC lads played like Queens Park Strangers in the first half.

The Tudor came out strong, started well and scored a well constructed goal early on – catching The Stripes defence napping. Langholmen struggled to get a grip on the 1st half, giving possession away cheaply and guilty of overplaying at times.

Overall, The Tudor looked more hungry and were unlucky not to be two up moments into the second half when their striker broke clear only to push his shot wide under pressure.

However, whatever Manager Pinto and Evans said at half time seemed to make the difference, as The Strips looked much more alert and purposeful in the second forty five. LFC took the game to the Tudor Arms from the start, creating a host of chances and looking much the better side. Fitness seemed to be a factor, and some quality interchanges saw Langholmen hit the woodwork twice in quick succession. Brazilian Flavio looking sharp and unlucky not to score on his Stripes debut.

The writing was on the wall before Samba had netted the first goal, no less than he deserved after an industrious performance. The second (a deflected O.G.) coming shortly after to wrap up a 2-1 win for the stripes – and the return of the KE Trophy to Långholmen FC after a 2 year absence.

Good to see the Tudor Lads in the Southside after the game to share a few pints – We wish them all the best for their season ahead.

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