My blog on Norway's OBOS-ligaen for 11th/12th/13th April featuring two games, on Saturday I was at Oster-Hus Arena as Odd defeated Sandnes & on Sunday at Bryne Stadion to witness Ranheim's hard earned victory over Bryne

Norwegian OBOS-ligean, Saturday 11th/Sunday 12th/Monday 13th April

This weekend saw me take in two OBOS-ligean matches which is the second tier in Norway and the highest level of games i'd be taking in this time around, I would be at the Oster-Hus Arena in Sandnes on Saturday afternoon & then at the Bryne Stadion in Bryne on Sunday evening, below is how those two games fared and also how the remaining six games went in Round Two of the season.....

Saturday 11th April

Sandnes Ulf Vs Odd (Oster-Hus Arena, Sandnes)

There were four games on Saturday afternoon in the division, and I was in Sandnes to see if the hosts could bounce back from their opening round defeat to Hodd, Ulf had won promotion back into the OBOS-ligaen after being relegated down into the second division the previous season, it's hasn't been the smoothest of years since they dropped out of the top flight over a decade ago and it culminated with their relegation to the third tier last season.

This season would therefore be all about carrying on that momentum built up from a successful season last year when they won their Division Two section by six points and now they must do all they can to stay in the second tier and perhaps build from that and dream of one day returning to the Eliteserien, those are dreams echoed by their opponents Odd who suffered relegation from the top flight two season's ago.

Odd, who reside from the city of Skien, had been a regular fixture in the top flight in recent years until that poor season in 2024 when they finished bottom, and last season's ninth place finish in the second tier probably wasn't what they had in mind either, however they got their campaign off to a brilliant start this time around, netting a 4-0 home win over Sogndal, starting as they meant to go on you could say, & coming into this fixture against a side who had just won promotion back into the second tier, they would have been supremely confident of netting another three points although this was Ulf's first home game back in the second tier for over a year, so they would have been up for it no doubt.

It looked like it would be a long afternoon for the hosts though in the early exchanges, Ulf had hardly touched the ball when they went behind in the fifth minute, a corner from Syver Aas into the six yard box saw hosts keeper and skipper Aslak Falch challenge Odd striker Faniel Tewelde, but the keeper appeared to misjudge the cross and the ball went in off the visiting player, Falch claimed he was impeded but this fell on deaf ears and Odd had an early advantage.

Odd totally dominated the opening twenty minutes or so and Sandnes as said could not get any possession of note, but, as the half wore on the hosts began to see more of the ball, and on the half hour mark were awarded a penalty after Filip Jorgensen was adjudged to pull back an opponent in the box, and Ole Sundgot stepped up to fire home the spot kick, and it meant they would go into the break all square.

Odd though would take control once again in the second period, helped by a lucky second goal eight minutes after the break, Tewelde played winger Samuel Skjeldal down the left flank, and the latter's cross appeared to take a nick off a defender trying to block it, and sent it looping over a scrambling Falch and into the far corner, another messy goal conceded by the home side, and Odd would not relinquish the lead again. 

And in the 65th minute they all but sealed the win when the same combination for the first goal proved fruitful for the visitors, Aas sending in a free kick which found Tewelde totally unmarked in the penalty area to send a header beyond Falch, way to easy and it meant the visitors would go on to record another three points and make it two from two so far this season, whereas Sandnes Ulf have now lost both their games so far and are finding their return to the second tier a rather tough one thus far.

Sandnes Ulf 1 Odd 3

I also took a rare video after the game of the visiting players celebrating with their small travelling band of fans from Skien, it's been an enjoyable start to the season for them, am sure they would like that to continue.....

Here is how the other three Saturday games went:-

Haugesund 4 Stromsgodset 2 (These two came down from the Eliterserien last season, the hosts had finished bottom after a dismal season, but they managed to get the better of Godset in this contest and continue their perfect start to this season.  The first half was actually goalless but then came all the goals, Anders Bondhus giving Haugesund the lead five minutes after the break, and they made it 2-0 just past the hour through Sory Diarra.  Godset though then produced a comeback, pulling one back through Elias Melkersen in the 68th minute before levelling at 2-2 just two minutes later courtesy of Sebastian Pingel but the hosts were not to be denied, retaking the lead in the 81st minute through Bruno Leite before sealing the points late on through Eirik Andersen)

Strommen 0 Egersund 3 (Egersund began their season with victory over newly promoted Strommen, the visitors made the playoffs last season so would at least like to do this again, and they were helped in this one when the hosts were reduced to ten men twelve minutes before half time when Maximilian Balatoni was given a straight red, and by half time the visitors had capitalised on their extra man with two goals late in the opening forty five minutes.  Oscar Kapskarmo gave them the lead from the resulting penalty that led to the sending off of Balatoni, and it was two nil right on half time when Chris Sleveland netted, it remained this way until late on when Egersund capped a good start to their campaign when Pawel Chrupalla grabbed their third and final goal of the contest)

Sogndal 0 Lyn 3 (Lyn, who come from Oslo of course, are now only one division away from being back in the Eliterserien, this after the original side went bust around fifteen years ago, they had to reform and begin in the seventh tier, and they got their latest season off to a flyer with victory at Sogndal who have had a difficult start to their own campaign.  All the goals came before half time in this one, Lyn taking the lead through Andreas Hellum in the 14th minute before Hellum netted again midway through the half to double Lyn's advantage.  And Anders Olsen then made it three nil in the 40th minute which more than proved enough for the visitors to take all the spoils in this one) 

Sunday 12th April

Bryne Vs Ranheim (Bryne Stadion, Bryne)

Their were three games on Sunday and I was at Bryne Stadion to see if Bryne could respond to a poor 3-0 loss at Kongsvinger in the opening round of games as they settled to life back in the OBOS-ligean once again, a league they have become familiar with over the last two decades.

The club turned 100 years old just two days before this game, the 10th April, they are a very historic club in Norway and are of course where a certain Erling Haaland begin his professional career too, but since they fell out of the top flight back in 2003, they have spent all that time trying to get back, they even dropped into the third tier a few years back but after winning promotion back to the second tier in 2020, they finally got that promotion back to the Eliterserien in 2024.

But, their stay in the top division only lasted one season as they were relegated back to the OBOS-ligean last season after losing the play off final to Aalesund, so once again they now have to try all over again to get back at the top table, they will find their latest challenge a tough one though as Ranheim themselves lost out on promotion from the OBOS-ligaen last season in the play offs, this after a sixth placed finish in the division last time out.

The visitors will be beginning their league campaign after not being in action in the opening round over Easter, and they will be looking to try and at least grab a play off spot once again this time round, and maybe go one further than they did before, they did spend a couple of seasons in the Eliteserien themselves in 2018 & 2019, but it's been the second tier ever since for them, they certainly had hopes of dashing the hosts 100th year old celebrations and also getting their season off to a winning start.

Well, after just four minutes the visitors had the lead, and it was the hosts who were the architects of their own downfall, a ball looped over the backline seemed to be running into the hands of keeper Jan de Boer so the hosts duly left it, but they misjudged the ball and maybe the wind as well and the ball actually ended up short of the keeper and saw Famara Camara attempt to get on the end of it, keeper de Boer did manage to beat the attacker to the ball and punch clear but only to Mikael Johnsen who duly thumped the loose ball back past de Boer and into the net, not the start Bryne were hoping for that was for sure.

It could have got worse for the hosts too when Franklin Nyenetue, who was causing them issues down the right, saw a great chance well saved by de Boer, but the hosts did carve out more of the openings in the first half but were found wanting in front of goal, Remi-Andre Svindland probably had the best of them, bursting into the box and hitting the post not once but twice, summing up the hosts luck or more lack of conviction.

Ranheim though when they attacked looked dangerous, and sure enough ten minutes before the break they doubled the lead to add further frustration to the hosts and there fans, Nyenetue laying a ball back to Johnsen who side footed home beautifully into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, two for him, two for the visitors who looked in good shape as the teams went back to the dressing room for half time.

The hosts needed to get the next goal in this contest if they were to have any chance of a comeback, and in the 66th minute they were given a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty for a handball inside the box, it looked slightly harsh in my opinion but Nicklas Strunck stepped up to fire the spot kick in off the post and it was certainly game on now, and it had woke the crowd up who had been fairly quiet and subdued thus far.

Bryne were now pressing for a leveller as Ranheim were now having to withstand quite a bit of pressure, but with just over fifteen minutes remaining Ranheim struck a killer blow by netting a third in a rare second half attack, keeper de Boer making a decent save to thwart Nyenetue but the rebound fell to Oliver Holden whose effort deflected past de Boer and restored the visitors two goal cushion, and that appeared to be that.

However, if Ranheim thought they would cruise to the points they would have to think again as Bryne pulled one back with ten minutes to go to set up a grandstand finish, Lars Erik Sodal's shot at goal was wayward but it fell perfectly to Strunck who redirected it beyond Jacob Storevik and into the bottom corner, game on again!!!

Bryne then threw everything at their opponents to try and salvage something from the game, the best chance the hosts had to levelling was when Strunck headed over from six yards out, Ranheim were clinging on for dear life but they did manage to hold on and thwart the hosts from taking anything from the game and in doing so earned a very hard fought win in their first outing of the season, and after relegation from the top flight last season, the hosts have now lost both their games on their return to the second tier.

Full time Bryne 2 Ranheim 3

Right let's see how the other two games went on Sunday:-

Stabaek 4 Asane 0 (Visitors Asane began the season on -1 points after missing the deadline to hand in their accounts, and after two games they are still on that number after suffering a second straight defeat to start the season, conceding four at Nadderud against a Stabaek side who bounced back from their opening day loss.  Jacob Hanstad opened the scoring in the 14th minute before Filip Riise doubled their lead seven minutes before the break, and it was 3-0 at the break courtesy of Magnus Dahlby's goal in first half stoppage time. And Sebastian Olderheim netted a fourth with fifteen minutes to go to complete the win for the home side)

Moss 1 Hodd 0 (Moss have two wins from two after Thomas Jakobsen's 37th minute goal proved enough to defeat Hodd who after winning their opening game come back down the earth in this one, the hosts did finish the game with ten men though after Jamiu Musbadeen was shown a second yellow in stoppage time and sent off, but it made no difference to the outcome ultimately)

The one remaining fixture of the weekend took place on Monday evening, so here is how that fared:-

Raufoss 1 Kongsvinger 3 (Visitors Kongsvinger have been serial play off makers over recent years but cannot seem to get over the line, well they have began this season in fine form and made it two wins from two after seeing off Raufoss who were playing their first game of the new season.  Ludvig Langrekken handed the visitors a second minute lead and then their lead was doubled just before the mid point of the first half when Alexander Achinoti-Jonsson put the ball in his own net, the hosts did pull one back in first half stoppage time courtesy of Eirik Asvestad, but Daniel Job then restored that two goal cushion early in the second period and this proved enough for Kongvinger to take the points, and hand Raufoss, who survived relegation last season by winning a play off, an opening day loss)

Ok, lets now look at how the table shapes up after two rounds (for most teams anyway) of matches.....

Odd lead the way on goal difference and are one off four sides who have won their opening two rounds of fixtures, Odd are looking to return back to the Eliteserien after their relegation in 2024, Kongsvinger will want to go up this year after heartbreak in the playoffs in recent seasons, Haugesund came down last season of course after a terrible season, and Moss were once one of the great sides in Norway, so they have all made a good start. Egersund & Ranheim, both who made the playoffs last year, also have an 100% record but that's after just one game of course.

And Bryne, who of course were relegated from the top flight after just one season last year, Sogndal, Asane & Sandnes Ulf (who came up from the tier below last season) have lost their opening two games, Raufoss & Strommen (the latter also having come up from the second division last season) also have zero points. 

Hinna 5 Stabaek 2s 3 - Hinna win a classic against Stabaek 2s to remain the only side with an 100% record in the Norwegian Norsk Tipping-ligaen avdeling 4 and go two points clear at top of a very early season table

Norsk Tipping-ligaen avdeling 4, Monday 13th April

So, my last week in Norway for this visit, and the week began with another visit to Hinna Stadion, home of Hinna Fotball of course, and this was their first home game of the new season and they were welcoming Stabaek's second team, known as Stabaek 2, they come from the outskirts of the capital Oslo so a fair distance to travel across the entire south of Norway from East to West.

And they were travelling here for their first away outing of the league campaign after losing their opening game of the season at home to Odd 2, a game they also saw Suleiman Mohamed sent off in, so they were hoping neither of these things would happen today against a Hinna side who had won their opening game away at Mandalskameratne 2-1 thanks to a double from Mats Valvatne.

Subsequently Mandalskameratne then thrashed Odd 2 7-1 away from home, so what that says about both todays side who knows, with Hinna winning there and Stabaek losing to Odd, the home side probably felt they were favourites to make it two wins from two to open their season, but football isn't played on paper so Stabaek no doubt just wanted to get at least a point on the board and get their season going.

This game was the final fixture in the second round of games in the Norsk Tipping-ligean avdeling 4, which is the fourth tier in Norway, and this was the fourth section of the third divisions which are split into six sections which are kind of regionalised, as you will find in many tiers below this level too, and of course the third tier is split into two sections as well, it's just how they do it here, some of the journeys would be even more ridiculous than they can be now so it makes sense. More local derbies as well, so all good.

Hinna knew a win would take them two points clear at the top of a very early table, and be the only side to remain with an 100% record if they could do this, and the game looked as good as done inside the opening half hour as the hosts built up a three goal cushion after twenty six minutes, in the 11th minute they grabbed the lead when a long ball was missed by the centre half and allowed Ola Alsaker to run though on goal and slot under keeper Henri Sorlie, and it was two in the 13th minute when Alsaker turned provider, sending in a lovely ball for the aptly named Johannes Hinna to finish first time past Sorlie.

And in the 26th minute it was three, Aldon Sallabegolli curled a lovely pass into the path of Hinna, the ball skipped on and keeper Sorlie got their first but could only hit the ball onto Hinna and the ball then fell perfectly for the striker who rolled the ball into the empty net, the visitors had played some good stuff and had quite a bit of possession but with no end product and coming up against a Hinna side who were ruthless in attack, this was why they trailed by three.

However, in the opening fifteen minutes of the second period, Stabaek found their final third magic, and pulled two goals back in no time at all, firstly when skipper Alfred Lie turned home a cross from the left five minutes into the second half, and then just before the hour mark Marcus Kjos finished off a superb move when seeing his effort from an angle deflect past Sondre Fossa, and it almost looked inevitable that Stabaek would find a leveller.

Hinna rode out that storm though, and restored their two goal cushion to halt the visitors comeback attempt when Sjur Drechsler rose highest to plant a header into the net in the 63rd minute, and then with twenty minutes remaining Mats Gramstad played a ball in and after a first attempt had been blocked and then Hinna somehow hit the post with a second attempt, Mats Valvatne fired his attempt home, and Hinna now had a 5-2 lead and had found their mojo again.

Stabaek to their credit kept to their philosophy of pass and move pass and move, and kept playing the wonderful brand of football they had done throughout the game, ultimately lapses in concentration and being poor in the final third cost them, and Hinna had punished them when chances came along, in the main, the visitors though would net the final goal in this pulsating contest, Casper Bachke getting behind the defence to loft a nice finish over Fossa, but ultimately Hinna did enough to get the job done and remain the only side to have an 100% record after two rounds of fixtures. It had been a belter and one of those games you do not want to end as a neutral, fantastic!!!

Full time Hinna 5 Stabaek 2s 3

So, after two round of action this is how the table looks:-

Hinna then top a very early table after this evening's win, and are the only side too have won their opening two matches, whereas down the bottom Stabaek 2, Brodd & Haugesund 2 are the only sides yet to register a point.

 

Sola 6 Eiger 1 - Goals from Helgevold, Munkvold, Paulsen, Tendenes, Nordtun & Al-Mansoori see Sola bounce back from opening day loss in style after coming from behind to defeat an Eider side who have now started the season with two heavy losses

Norwegian 4. divisjon avdeling 1, Wednesday 8th April

My third game in Norskland for 2026 saw me jump up a couple of levels to the Fourth Division and Section One, the fifth tier in Norway, as Sola hosted Eiger at the Sola Stadion although the game was actually being played on the 3G pitch next to the main stadium for some reason, which is called the SR-Bank Mini Arena, which is basically a 3G facility inside a cage.

It did also mean I'd be right next to the action, the main stadium they normally play at has a running track around it so in that sense playing on the 3G would be better for feeling closer to the action, the action would see two sides coming into their second games of the season having lost their opening matches, Sola were defeated 2-1 at Vardeneset at the end of March whilst Eiger was thrashed 7-1 at home by Vidar 2, a side who have won both their games so far netting twelve in the process.

Sola had been in the Third Division (the Norsk Tipping-ligaen avd. 5) last season until they were relegated, so they were looking to not only bounce back from their opening day loss but also try and get back on track and give themselves a springboard to hopefully a season where they can give themselves a shot at getting back into the next level, although with only the side finishing top having this chance, that would be a tall order.

Eiger themselves had finished 7th out of 12th in this division last season although they had finished way above the relegation play off zone although having conceded 78 goals in their 22 games, this campaign had kind of continued in that vain having conceded seven on the opening day, so they were certainly looking for an improved performance in this contest and hoping to pick up some points too.

Well, it did start well for the visitors who did take the lead on the quarter hour mark and it was helped by some lacklustre defending by the hosts who had started the game slowly, Vetle Jondal stole the ball of a defender before passing to Aleksander Kjellmann, he then returned the ball to Jondal before he curled a lovely effort into the far corner despite home keeper Sverre Joa getting a hand to it.

However, that was as good as it was going to get for the visitors, it only took the hosts seven minutes to level proceedings as going behind seemed to wake them up somewhat, playmaker Rolf Hesby sent a threw ball into the path of Erik Helgevold and the latter sent the ball beyond visiting keeper Fabian Andersen who also got a touch on the way but was unable to stop it from finding the net.

And thereafter in the first forty five minutes Sola were the ones looking most likely to go in front, skipper Benjamin Munkvold fired a rocket of a free kick from miles out which glanced off the bar, and then late in the half the ball fell to Hesby who somehow struck his close range effort against the post, meaning the game was locked at 1-1 heading into the break.

The opening exchanges of the second period saw both sides trying to gain the upper hand, but you always felt Sola were going to get in front at some point, and midway through the half they finally managed to get their noses in front, Hesby giving the ball to Monkvold to fire an unstoppable effort from outside the box beyond the dive of Andersen into the bottom corner.

And with fifthteen minutes remaining Sola increased their lead and it was another crisp strike, this time from Edvin Paulsen, firing a rocket into the bottom corner, before they added a fourth goal in the 86th minute as a long ball from the back by centre half Dennis Zhilivoda was chested down by Hesby into the path of Endre Tendenes who fired home beyond Andersen.

A rampant hosts then added two more in stoppage time to cap off a fine evening, a lovely cross from Munkvold was perfect for Jonas Nordtun to head home at the back post, and with the final action of the half they made it six when Hesby, who was involved in everything positive for the home side, laid a ball off to Yousif Al-Mansoori before the substitute cut into his left foot and fired a powerful effort beyond Andersen and into the net.

A great way for Sola to bounce back from their opening day defeat then, and turning their goal difference from a small negative to a larger positive, as for Eiger though that's two losses in two and thirteen goals conceded, a very tough start for them for sure.

Full time Sola 6 Eiger 1

There were no other games in the division this evening, but let's take a quick look at the table after this evenings result in Sola:-

The result actually sees Sola go up to third in the standings after improving their goal difference as well as getting points on the board, whilst Eiger remain at the foot of the division due to their poor goal difference which got even worse after this evenings loss, early days though as said in all these Norwegian blogs thus far.

 

 

 

Lura 3 Rennesøy 1 - Ørjan Eikehaug stars with a brace and an assist to help Lura bounce back from their opening day defeat by seeing off a Rennesøy side who have zero points from their first two outings

Norwegian 6. divisjon avdeling 3, Tuesday 7th April

My next stage on my Norwegian football adventure in 2026 saw me dip into the seventh tier of Norwegian football and the sixth division section three as Lura hosted Rennesøy at the Lura Stadion on the outskirts of Sandnes.

Both these sides had lost their opening games, Lura were beaten 5-0 at Finnøy in their opening game of the league season, whereas Rennesøy netted five at home to Pol Tasta 2 but incredibly lost 8-5!!! In fact in the opening round of fixtures in this division there were 52 goals in the six games, that's an average of 8.67 goals a game, which is quite extraordinary!!!

The two games including these sides brought eighteen of those goals, Lura though were the only side not to have scored on the opening round of games, so not only did they want to try and bounce back from that opening day defeat, they also wanted to find the net too against a side who had shipped eight in their first game, goals then were almost guaranteed right?

Well, it didn't take long for the first goal to arrive as in the eighth minute the hosts grabbed their first goal of the campaign, Vetle Johansen Nilsen burst down the right hand side and sent a ball across the box to Ørjan Eikehaug who applied the finishing touch to send the ball into the net, and give Lura the perfect start.

Something that I quickly noticed before kick off was their were no linos or even club linos, just the man in the middle and no one else, so it appears at this level in Norway the man with the whistle does all the officiating, which can make offsides rather interesting, and the visitors had a great chance to level when no offside was given and saw Lars Raustein go clear on goal, but his effort was superbly tipped round the post by home keeper Jon Petter Berg.

Raustein was having quite an influence on everything the visitors did attacking wise, and it was he who levelled up proceedings four minutes before the break, Emil Follevåg played a wonderful reverse pass across the box to find Raustein free to fire home, however, they would only be level for three minutes, Eikehaug, who had struck the post prior to the visitors levelling, fired a ball across goal for Anders Øen to convert at the far post, meaning the hosts would go into the break ahead.

Both sides had created plenty in that opening forty five minutes, however, the second half did not see quite as many openings as both teams struggled to keep hold of the ball or find a way towards goal, Rennesøy then began to press more and more as they searched for a leveller as Lura sat deep to hold onto what they had, but in the 77th minute the hosts caught the visitors on the counter attack, Ole André Wigestrand bursting clear down the right before squaring to Eikehaug who converted his second of the game and a third for Lura who now had breathing space with just over ten minutes to go.

Rennesøy had it all to do now to prevent two defeats from two to start the season, and their matters were not helped when shortly after conceding that goal and after visiting keeper Henri Kluge and denied them a fourth, Daniel Skibenes was sin binned by the referee meaning the visitors were down to ten men for most of the remainder of the game.

And the visitors could not prevent losing the game as Lura managed to bounce back from their opening day loss, meaning it's two defeats and eleven goals conceded already this season, whilst for the hosts they will be relieved at finding the net in this one and grabbing all the points to get their points tally up and running.

Full time Lura 3 Rennesøy 1

There were three other games this evening in the division, would we get another glut of goals, lets see what happened in those contests:-

Randeberg 2 2 (Gautason 17, Murugesh 62)

Suldal 0

Pol Tasta 2 4 (Tajet 14,26. Sorensen 45, Larsen 90)

Vardeneset 2 2 (Larsen 53, Erikstad 88)

Forus og Gausel 2 5 (Brovold 16,42, Gudmestad 57, Lima 58,63) (Hustvedt sent off 25) 

Tjensvoll 4 (Smavik 15, Bezucha 49, Karlsen 86, Nese 90)

 

So, another twenty one goals tonight to add to the 54 on opening weekend, Pol Tasta 2 & Forus og Gausel 2 have won their opening two games, whereas Rennesoy & Suldal have lost both their opening games thus far, but still, very early days.

And with 75 goals from the ten games played so far in the division this season, it proves to be quite an entertaining league this season if that level of goals carries on!!!

Vidar 1 Jerv 3 - Goals from Phillip Syvertsen, Daniel Hultqvist & Markus Syvertsen hand Jerv opening day win over newly promoted Vidar in their PostNord-ligaen avdeling 1 encounter in Stavanger

PostNord-ligaen avdeling 1, Monday 6th April

My first football for almost two weeks came from outside the UK and from South West Norway and Stavanger as Vidar hosted Jerv in the third tier in the country, the 2nd division section one, which in the native language is 2 divisjon avdeling 1, known as the PostNord-ligean.

Easter weekend for many was the opening round of games in the league season, only the Eliteserien in Norway had got going a few weeks prior to this one, so this weekend was when all the other divisions swung into action for the 2026 campaign, so for Vidar & Jerv, this was the beginning of their campaigns where there is always hope and optimism ahead of the months that lay ahead.

The third tier in Norway is split into two leagues of fourteen teams, and today's fixture came in the first section, Vidar had won promotion from the third division after winning their section by three points to achieve promotion back to the third tier for the first time since 2019, and they were hoping for a better campaign than that last one where they made a swift return to the fourth tier after just one season.

Jerv themselves were an Eliteserien club only four years ago after winning a shock promotion in the 2021 season, however they would to be relegated after just one season in the top flight before they were relegated again the following season into the second division, where they have remained since so they will be desperate to try and get back up into the OBOS ligean at the third time of asking this campaign.

The opening twenty five minutes saw Jerv have the better of the openings, the best one falling to Vetle Wenaas who swept a close range effort wide, Vidar did have their chances too with the best one seeing a close range effort at the far post well blocked, but just before the half hour mark Jerv did grab the lead, Samu Alanko intercepted a pass from the hosts to burst forward with pace and play a ball to skipper Phillip Syvertsen who took a touch before firing beyond hosts keeper Sondre Strand.

Jerv should have been further in front before the break too, their number nine Pascal Simba struck the bar before the follow up was blocked, Vidar were battling hard but finding it tough to contain their opponents, they did manage to get to half time only a goal behind, but early in the second half they were to fall further behind, a free kick from Sindre Osestad was headed back into the dangerzone for Daniel Hultqvist to ram home from close range, and the visitors had a comfortable two goal cushion.

They missed more chances to increase the lead but Vidar to their credit hung on in their and then had a wonderful chance to reduce the deficit when Henrik Jensen was pulled back by Theodor Agelin inside the box and a penalty was awarded, and Simen Haughom stepped up to dispatch the spot kick, and with just over twenty minutes to go the game was well and truly back on.

Vidar though could not breach a solid Jerv backline again, although it was a bit to close for comfort this game considering the amount of openings they had created throughout, but in the third minute of added on time they sealed a deserved three points when after they burst into the box, a square ball into the path of substitute Markus Syvertsen saw him convert, and it was job done for the visitors.

Vidar had a lot to be positive about though, they know they will be in for a tough season, but Jerv are probably going to be one of the better sides in the division this season, so as long as they put in that sort of workrate throughout the season, they should pick up some points you would think, Jerv though looked strong and this was the perfect start to what they hope will be a successful campaign.

Full time Vidar 1 Jerv 3

So, what else happened in the opening round of fixtures in the Division, let's find out:-

Sotra 2 (Falck 7, Foldnes 82) 

Lysekloster 2 (Tufta 41, Bolso 59)

Traeff 2 (Gussias 81, Phudithip 90)

Brattvag 0

Pors 0

Kvik Halden 1 (Sten 35)

Bjarg 3 (Hopsdal 7, Ahmer 43, Ahlander 57)

Sandviken 1 (Bruun-Hanssen 61)

FK Eik Tonsberg 871 0

Notodden 1 (Wenneberg 32)

Mjondalen 4 (Marthinussen 2, Bruusgaard 47, Arsbog 49, Bjornebye 63)

Arendal 1 (Dvergsdal 72) (Dvergsdal sent off 90)

Very early days of course as only one round of fixtures completed, Mjondalen, who were relegated from the OBOS-ligean last season, sit top after a thumping win over Arendal, Bjarg, Jerv, Traeff, Kvik Halden & Notodden all won their opening games as well, the only draw was between Lysekloster & Sotra meaning they have a point each.

And Eik Tonsberg, Pors, Sandviken, Vidar, Brattvag & Arendal will all be hoping they can grab their first points of the season next time out and get their seasons up and running.