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Helsingborgs IF 1-3 Town
Helsingborgs IF 1-3 Town
Thursday, 1st Nov 2001 23:07

An evening which showed the best and worst of Town finally ended with a well-deserved and triumphant 3-1 victory for the Blues. Hermann Hreidarsson's second goal in two games and two from Marcus Stewart won a game for Town after the worst of possible starts.

Town lined up 5-3-2 with Hermann Hreidarsson in the centre of the three middle men with Titus Bramble on the right and Mark Venus on the left. Fabian Wilnis and Jamie Clapham were the wing-backs. Up front Richard Naylor came in for Alun Armstrong. In midfield Sixto Peralta and Jim Magilton joined Matt Holland. Matteo Sereni was OK to continue in goal.

The first chance fell to the Swedes in the 7th minute as Mark Venus and almost allowed Santos in. However a minute later Matteo Sereni, Town's most consistent player this season, was at fault as the Swedes went ahead. A weak shot from Hans Eklund looked easy meat for the keeper but it squirmed from his hands and into the net. To his credit Sereni didn't let this error get to him, although going a goal down did rather stop Town in their tracks.

On 10 Rade Prica hit a shot wide as the Swedes sought to get as many attempts on goal as possible. In the 12th minute there was a bit of a scramble in the Town box which eventually saw Mikael Gustavsson hit the ball over the bar. He had been played in by Prica who had found a lot of space on the right, not for the only time.

Town's first real attack saw Hermann Hreidarsson cross low and keeper Sven Andersson get in just before Richard Naylor to clear for a corner.

In the 17th minute Prica crossed the ball low, again he was free on the flank, although this time there was more than a hint of offside with the linesman well behind the play, something that happened a few times.

Town switched to a 4-4-2 with the Swedes sitting back and allowing the Blues to come at them. The five defenders were wasted and the switch eventually did the trick.

Titus Bramble was getting in some of his trademark challenges and runs. In the 24th minute he ploughed forward leaving defenders in his wake but was stopped as he entered the area. The ball ran out to Fabian Wilnis who hit a first time shot which Andersson, playing his last game of a long and distinguished career with Helsingborg, saved.

Richard Naylor got close to being on the end of a Marcus Stewart cross but Andersson was there again.

On 26 Sixto Peralta almost played in Naylor, but a tackle came in.

A minute later Bramble made a crucial challenge as Hermann Hreidarsson mis-cleared to Santos. Three minutes later the Brazilian was almost in as Venus and Sereni failed to communicate. The Italian cleared his lines.


On 31 an improving Town almost equalised. Naylor was put through by Holland and an on-rushing Andersson and a defender scrambled the ball away.

On 36 Christoffer Andersson had a glorious chance to put Helsingborg two-up. Prica was again given space on the left and played the ball into the number 23 in the box. Andersson hit a shot across Sereni towards the corner of the net but the Italian flicked it round the post. It was a superb save and made up for his earlier error.

Immediately George Burley decided enough was enough and brought on Chris Makin for Wilnis. Prica was getting far too much space on that flank and, with the line-up now 4-4-2, Makin was a better bet. Wilnis didn't seem to think so and went straight to the dressing room.

The 40th minute saw a scramble in the Helsingborg box, but the ball put out for a corner. From this Bramble hit a shot wide.

On 42 Stewart almost scored when running on to a Matt Holland header, but Andersson was quickly out. The Swedish keeper was having a fine swansong.

In the 43rd minute Naylor was almost in, but Andersson is out quickly to gather although there were suspicions that the ball had been played back by one of his own players.

With a minute of the first half left Helsingborg almost scored a second when the linesman, well behind the play, missed two offsides. Sereni eventually saved a deflected an Shane Warne-like delivery from Santos by putting it round his right post.

Half-time saw anxious Town fans, although there had been definite signs of improvement in the latter period. Many felt that Martijn Reuser's attacking guile should enter the fray and some were surprised when there were no changes during the break.

The first opportunity of the second half fell to Titus Bramble who couldn't get his head to a Jamie Clapham cross. A minute later Holland played the ball to Stewart on the edge of the box but the ball struck a defender.

On 55 Prica was away again on the left. He cut in and Sereni saved his shot. The ball was cleared before Christoffer Andersson could get the rebound in.

On 57 Sereni saved a weak shot from Niklas Persson. A minute later Venus played a long ball down the left, Naylor crossed and Stewart hit a shot which Andersson saved. Town were getting closer and were starting to play more like their old selves.

In the 60th minute Hermann Hreidarsson went on a Bramble-like run and won a corner. Pressure was being put on and the crowd were sensing it was a matter of time before a goal.

The 64th minute saw Town come closer still. Jamie Clapham crossed and Richard Naylor's header cannoned off the post. It was a shame for Naylor who was having a good game up front.

On 66 Venus was almost in as Clapham crossed from the left and complained that he had been impeded.

A minute later Peralta headed wide from a Makin cross when he ought to have done better. Town were now putting the Swedes under sustained pressure, but the goal didn't seem to be coming.

Then on 69 Mark Venus whipped across one of his freekicks from the left and Hermann Hreidarsson volleyed home off the bar. The cheers were as much in relief as celebration as the Icelander went away to the left removing his shirt in celebration. The game was now there for Town's taking.

There was controversy in the 68th minute when Stewart appeared to be pulled back in the area. The referee gave nothing despite stern words from Naylor. In the next move the ginger striker was injured and was replaced by debutant Darren Bent. Quite a game for the youngster to make his first appearance in senior football.

Helsingborg came back into it for a bit without ever creating much and in the 81st minute Marcus Stewart pretty much put the game beyond doubt. Hermann Hreidarsson had been fouled on the left flank and Mark Venus sent over another whipped cross. This time it was a Stewart header which beat Andersson and sent the Town fans wild.

85 saw the only booking of the evening. Titus Bramble went in late on Prica who retaliated. The Town defender did well not to get involved and the Swede saw yellow.

Darren Bent came close to a debut goal on 86 as the Swedes looked increasingly ragged. Sixto Peralta's persistence won him the ball on the right of the box and he put the ball over. Bent was just stopped getting the ball by a defender.

With two minutes left Bent almost scored Town's third. He poked at a loose ball in the area but Andersson saved again.

FInally a third did come as Bent played the ball inside to Holland. He played a ball over the top and Stewart neatly chipped the keeper.

It was all over and the rest was a party. The whistle went and the supporters celebrated. The Blues had looked at their best in the second half and perhaps now the season can start.

The players swapped shirts with the Swedes and went over to the Town supporters. Hermann threw his shirt into the crowd and the Swedish announcer, who looked a bit like Bryan Gunn, wished us the best of luck in the next round. That typified our hosts who have been as welcoming to us as they could have been.

Where next then?


Photo: Action Images



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