Lymore Gardens 4 Stansted 1 - A second half brace from Dylan Roberts helped Lymore Gardens continue 100% start to their debut season in Senior Football as they netted four in victory over Stansted in their Thurlow Nunn South contest

Thurlow Nunn First Division South, Friday 8th August

My second competitive outing since I got back to the UK a few days ago saw me take in a first league matchup, and it came in the Thurlow Nunn South in what was a very intriguing looking contest between Senior Football newboys Lymore Gardens, and Stansted, who had been relegated from the Essex Senior League last season.

Lymore had won promotion from the Essex Alliance Senior Division last season to take their place in Step Six football and senior status for the very first time, and they were up against a Stansted side who themselves had suffered relegation heartache last season and had totally rebuilt their squad for this campaign, so it really was interesting to see how these two sides would match up against each other.

Lymore could not have asked for a better start to life in Senior football as well, two games played, both at Oakside, and two wins scoring nine goals in the process, a 5-1 thumping of Hoddesdon Town was followed by a 4-2 success over Brimsdown as they continued their brilliant attacking football from last season's promotion winning campaign, could they continue this free scoring game against a Stansted side who after netting a 4-2 at, you guessed it, Oakside, on the opening weekend against Newbury Forest, they had failed to win in the next two.

One of those games was a creditable 1-1 draw at May & Baker, but that was followed up by a late 2-1 loss at Burnham Ramblers, meaning they came into this game having experienced all emotions already in their three games thus far, could they repeat their opening day success at Oakside and get back to winning ways perhaps?

Well, it was the hosts who began on the front foot in this one, full of confidence after they two thumping wins already this campaign on the 3G at Oakside, and in the 11th minute they broke through to take the lead, a lovely flowing move down the right saw Yinka Akinlabi's ball find Munnir Saad who got past a rather naive attempt to win the ball from a defender who dived in, allowing Saad to go into the box and finish beyond the keeper at his near post, advantage Lymore.

However, once Stansted had weathered the hosts storm and settle into the contest themselves, they began to look dangerous and had a couple of decent openings to level, however it remained 1-0 to the hosts into the second half and it looking increasingly likely that the visitors would find a leveller and make their pressure count.

It was however Lymore who should have doubled their lead when they countered on their opponents but after rounding the keeper saw a goalbound effort blocked by two covering defenders, and minutes later Stansted were level, in the 58th minute another attack saw a loose ball go across goal to I think Thomas Lawrence (I could not make out who it actually was but it was in his position so guessed it may be him!!!) who swept home first time.

The game was now in the balance although you felt maybe the visitors could net again as their tails were well up by now, and a couple of minutes later they should have gone ahead when Dan Jones saw an effort well saved, and moments later guess what, Lymore punished them for this by going down the other end and restoring their lead, a lovely pass from Wisley Baltazar found Dylan Roberts who raced through to slot home.

No doubt the visitors would have been frustrated with this, they had finally got in level terms and were now having to chase the game again versus a very dangerous opponent, especially in transition, they could break on you at pace and really cause you issues, as they did, it remained in the balance though as Stansted tried to get back on level terms once again, but whatever they tried, Lymore could deal with.

And in the 84th minute, the game was all but sealed, Lymore mounted an attack which ended with a foul on the edge of the box, Thomas duly stepped up to fire a low free kick beyond the keeper into the bottom corner, he had a brace and five for the season already, and Lymore had three and breathing space heading into the final moments of the game.

A sizable chunk of stoppage time followed, and gave the hosts enough time to add a fourth to add gloss to the scoreline, Thomas turning provider this time to invade another naive challenge, square the ball across goal, finding Ryo Brown who took a touch before slamming home to cap a fine evening for the hosts and make it three wins from three having netted thirteen goals to top a very early league table.

A perfect start then to life in Step Six football for Lymore then, for Stansted it was another big lesson for their new side, especially the youngsters in it, they were in this game for large parts but ended up on the end of a 4-1 loss, the scoreline was harsh on them for sure, but it's back to back defeats now and no wins in three, still early days so no need to panic yet, they came up against a very good athletic Lymore side who play some decent football, and they will be a danger to all in this division for sure this season.

Full time Lymore Gardens 4 Stansted 1

  

Sporting Bengal United 2 Erith Town 4 - Isthmian One South East Erith Town respond from two early set backs to eventually see off Essex Senior League Sporting Bengal United & progress into the next round of the Emirates FA Cup

Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round Replay, Wednesday 6th August

Well, I had not even been back on UK soil for twenty four hours and I was already attending my first competitive game in the country as I made my way over to Mile End to see if Essex Senior side Sporting Bengal United could shock their Isthmian One South East opponents Erith Town in a replay at Mile End.

The original tie has finished goalless in Kent at the weekend, which was a superb effort from the Essex Senior outfit away from home against a Step Four outfit, and with the winners of this tie having a home one against either Little Common or Southall, whoever got through would obviously fancy getting through that tie as well, so it was a big incentive for both.

Could Sporting build on that hard earned draw at the weekend and take advantage at home against a higher league opponent, well there was barely a minute on the clock when the hosts edged ahead, a long throw into the box wasn't dealt with by the visitors and saw Yousuf Hoque sweep home first time, with some of the 110 crowd inside Mile End yet to even settle down to watch the game, it happened that fast.

Erith though responded as you'd expect and levelled in the 11th minute, again it was a long throw into the box that wasn't dealt with, and after a scramble in the six yard box, Elliott Duncan managed to force the ball over the line, but, just four minutes later Sporting had regained the lead, not brilliant defending once again allowed a square ball find Andre Embalo whose scuffed left footed finish found the bottom corner, it had been some start to the contest!!!

Sporting managed to hold that lead till late on in the first half when Erith, who had seen three penalty shouts all turned down during the opening forty five minutes, grab a slice of luck you could say when a scuffed shot from what looked like an offside visiting player was deflected into the path of Mecca Maxime-Samuels who made no mistake in finding the bottom corner three minutes before half time to level the tie up once again.

And Erith managed to edge themselves ahead in first half stoppage time as a corner to the back post saw Aaron Jeffrey left totally unmarked to head home and send his side into the break ahead after they had been behind for most of it, Sporting now had to come from behind if they were to progress in this competition.

The second half saw less in terms of goal mouth action, Sporting were trying their hardest to find a leveller, Erith were keeping them at bay and looking very dangerous going forward especially on the counter as the hosts pushed more players forward, Erith had the chance to seal it with around ten minutes to go when they struck the post before the rebound was somehow sent wide, but with eight minutes to go the only real moment of quality did seal it.

Tom O'Connor was the man to do it, sending a lovely looping long range curling effort into the top corner of the hosts net, and the celebrations told you that they felt that was that in terms of the tie and it was job done as you say, and they were correct as Sporting had no answer to that and Erith had battled through to the Preliminary Round in mid August.

They will face fellow Isthmian League opponents, Southall, who are also Step Four and in the One South Central division, after they saw off Little Common 3-0 in their replay, Erith though will be confident having been drawn at home again, but they can at least celebrate this evening after winning through against a Sporting side who certainly pushed them all the way in the two ties.

Full time Sporting Bengal United 2 Erith Town 4

 

Norsk Tipping-ligean Avdeling.5 Round Up (Week 14 - Friday 1st/Saturday 2nd August) featuring league leaders Vidar's home game against Viking 2 as I made my very first trip to Stavanger Stadion, the former home of Viking FK

My final game of this trip to Norway to see my family and indeed my final weekend before I headed back to The UK saw me see league leaders Vidar for the second time in less than a week as they welcomed Viking 2 to The Stavanger Stadion, which was home to Viking Fotball until 2004 when they moved to their current Stadium, the Lyse Arena.

Much of the Stavanger Stadion seated stands and terrace cease to exist now as they were taken down after Viking moved out over twenty years ago, but it was still nice to finally visit this old athletics stadium, indeed this was the very ground Viking humbled Chelsea on in the UEFA Cup back in October 2002, I remember watching it on TV back then, so this ground does hold fond memories for the locals for sure, as that was certainly one of Viking's most famous wins in recent times, and ever arguably. They would end up knocking that Chelsea team out of Europe after a 5-4 aggregate win over the two legs, a big shock indeed.

So, it was ironic that my first visit to this ground would include a Viking side, which today was their second team, up against Vidar whose actual home ground, Lassa, was being renovated hence they had to move a mile or so down the road to play at this historic venue, and continue their charge to what they hoped was a championship winning season and promotion back to the third tier in Norway.

Anyway, more on that game later, as you know I have been covering this league in the three weeks I've been in Norway, so I thought I'd actually do a blog on the league featuring the game I was at for the final weekend I am here, so that was Round/Week 14 of the league season, there were two games on Friday night and then five more on Saturday, including my one, let's see what happened on Friday evening to start with:-

Friday 1st August

Djerv 1919 5 Sola 0

Hosts Djerv 1919 come from Haugesund and I had the pleasure of watching them last weekend when they battled hard to a 3-1 win at bottom side Sandnes Ulf 2 at the Oster Hus Arena, they had been in good form lately and they were fully expected to see off a Sola side who I had seen grab their first clean sheet last Friday against Torvestad in a game they should have been well beaten in after the visitors on that day missed a glut of chances, however Sola still dropped into the bottom three despite this point and were going to be in for another tough evening.

It turned out to be a very tough evening for them as well, going behind to a Mads Johannesen goal in the 22nd minute before they found themselves two behind by the half time break after Vebjorn Rullestad netted for the hosts right on half time to give Sola a mountain to climb. Djerv though were not to let up on their struggling opponents after the break, making it three in the 55th minute through Tom Undheim, and it was four to the hosts in the 69th minute when Johannesen netted his second of the game, and the scoring was completed seven minutes from time as Johannesen completed his hat-trick to help hand Djerv another impressive win, their sixth win in seven league games, for Sola that's five straight losses now as they remain in a precarious position down at the bottom.

 

Torvastad 0 Hinna 4

I'd seen Hinna twice during this period I'd been over here in Norway, going into the summer break they had won three games in a row, however, since their return they had lost twice without scoring a goal, so I hadn't exactly brought them any luck!!! It had seen them slip from fourth to ninth in the table as a result and they were up against a Torvastad side I'd seen become the first side not to score against Sola this season, and it was a wonder how after they missed a ton of chances in a goalless draw, although as said in that game blog they had only scored six goals in their last nine games, madness!!!

The hosts though did sit a point above their visiting opponents prior to kick off though, so this one could go either way you felt, well it turned out to be a landslide result in the end as Hinna put their opponents to the sword and bounce back from those defeats to Brodd and Vidar, the ironically named Johannes Hinna opened the scoring for, Hinna, in the 15th minute before Espen Ringlund doubled that lead just past the midway point of the first half, leaving the hosts a mountain to climb.

This mountain became even larger when Vegard Saetre was booked in eleven second half minutes to be sent off before the hour mark, and then saw Mats Valvatne net a 61st minute spot kick to extend Hinna's advantage before they added a fourth goal with just over twenty minutes remaining through Aryan Moghimi and bounce back from those losses in style and sending them up those standings, whereas for Torvastad that's now just one point in nine since the return from the summer break, not how they wanted to come back for sure!!!

Ok to Saturday now, starting with the game I attended at Stavanger Stadion:-

Saturday 2nd August

Vidar Vs Viking 2

I had seen league leaders Vidar net a 4-0 win at Hinna on Monday evening, and could see why they held a five point lead at the top of the division heading into Round 14 of the season, they are a very powerful all round side who have netted 53 goals in the thirteen league games thus far, and only conceded ten, winning eleven of their thirteen games too, they have only lost two games all season, one of those was against today's opponents, could lightning strike twice perhaps?

Viking 2 were having a mixed season but knew if they could notch a double over today's opponents would climb into the top six if results went there way, but it was going to be a tough ask against the leagues best side, and it soon became apparent that this result would not be repeated as Vidat opened up a three goal lead after just twenty minutes, opening the scoring on just three minutes when a cross from the right saw their number nine Simen Haughom, who had netted a brace in that 4-0 win at Hinna, glance home a deft header into the far corner.

And in the 11th minute Vidar had doubled their money, a ball floated into the box William Husebo saw visiting keeper Arn-Sebastian Escobar appear to misjudge the flight of it, so he came to far and saw the ball float over him to the back post where Kujtim Ismaili was on hand to nod home a simple goal, and then with twenty minutes on the clock Haughom had another brace when a ball played back into the box found him all alone and he duly composed himself before slotting beyond Escobar to pretty much end this one with barely a quarter of the game gone.

Vidar had chances to add to their tally too, Viking 2 did have one moment that caused the hosts alarm, but it was a fleeting moment in a game the hosts were very comfortable, and just before half time they did end the contest by adding a fourth, Haughom receiving the ball inside the box before firing beyond Escobar into the far corner with effortless pernach, and Vidar were on their way to another comfortable win, but how many could they win by?

The second half wasn't really much to write home about sadly, with the game done in the first half it was pretty much a non event, and it appeared to be drifting to a 4-0 conclusion, however, their was some late action to write about, Vidar won a penalty with six minutes to go when hat-trick hero Haughom was brought down inside the box, and he got up to convert the spot kick for his fourth of the game and a fifth for Vidar, Viking then managed a goal of their own three minutes later when a effort from Ali Rahim was parried across goal by home keeper Petter Vassenden giving Sondre Tveiten the simplest task of converting from a yard out.  It was however a mere consolation in a game they were well beaten in.

So an easy win for the league leaders, and another five goals added to their ever increasing tally, they would have been slightly annoyed at conceding a goal at the end, but it's another three points that maintains their five point cushion at the top, Viking 2 were well beaten today and they stay down in eight spot and just outside the top half of the division. I was very pleased to finally get to see the historic Stavanger Stadion, with a decent crowd of 300 people there to watch as well, so all good, and it stayed dry!!! Even better.

Full time Vidar 5 Viking 2 1

Right, lets look at the other games in the division on Saturday:-

Brodd 1 Sandnes Ulf 2 0

The NSE-banen Midjord kunstgras, home of Brodd, was the first ground I visited on this trip, and on that occasion they defeated Hinna 1-0 in what was a scrappy encounter, however last time out they were surprisingly beaten 3-0 at relegation threatened Vag, and another relegation threatened side, Sandnes Ulf 2, were in town. The bottom side had lost for the seventh time in eight matches when I saw them last weekend, going down to a battling loss against Djerv 1919, could they upset the hosts here or what Brodd get back to winning ways?

Well, one goal was enough to decide this contest, and it went the way of Brodd after twenty minutes of this game, Martin Mossmann grabbing the goal for the hosts who have now netted two 1-0 home successes since the return from the summer break, helping them to be in the top six, whereas for Sandnes it's another defeat which means they remain rock bottom of the division with just seven points from fourteen games played.

Madla 3 Staal Jorpeland 2

I had visited the Madla Handelslag Stadion two weekends ago in Round 12 when the hosts saw off relegation threatened Sola 4-2 in a very entertaining game, and they were up against another side looking to avoid the drop in the shape of Staal Jorpeland who were involved in a bonkers encounter last time out when they led at home to Stord three times before eventually going onto lose 7-5 at home, madness!!! Madla knew they could go second with a win, whereas Jorpeland were trying to reduce the gap to the sides out of the relegation zone and also climb above Sola into third bottom, everything pointed to a home win though.

However, it was anything but straightforward for the hosts, they did take the lead in the 16th minute through Elias Kebede but then saw the visitors level through David Eie midway through the first half before Brage Woie then have Staal Jorpeland a surprise lead two minutes later, meaning the visitors took a lead into the half time break.  It remained that way until five miutes from time when a dramatic conclusion to this one saw Madla level through Mathias Dessingue before an own goal from visiting player Steffen Helgeland put the hosts in front in the 87th minute, Helgeland was then sent off in the 90th minute for a second booking to cap a miserable ending to the contest for him, and Madla managed to sneak out with all three points and break the visitors hearts in the process.

Stord 4 Vag 3

These two sides I haven't managed to see on my trip here, or at any time I have been to Norway, but Stord were involved in a barmy contest at Staal Jorpeland last time out, coming from behind three times to win 7-5, Vag managed to get themselves out of the relegation places last time out when they stunned Brodd 3-0, the hosts could climb to third with a win, but most likely fifth due to goal difference, whereas Vag will be looking to record another win to take them further away from the drop zone.

Well, this game turned out to be a cracker, Stord thought they were cruising to a comfortable win when they found themselves three goals up early in the second half, Roger Ekeland gave them an 18th minute lead from the spot before adding another twelve minutes before half time, and when Jonas Stoknes made it 3-0 five minutes into the second half, the game looked done, well, it was anything but, Felix Eriksen reduced the arrears three minutes later before Mateusz Radgowski made it 3-2 just past the hour mark, and when Brian Kjeldsberg netted in the 71st minute, it was 3-3 and everything to play for!!!

However, Stord were not to be denied all the spoils and saw Havard Handeland net a 90th minute winner to break Vag hearts and hand the hosts a dramatic win!!!

Vindbjart 3 Haugesund 2 0

These are also two teams I have not managed to see on this trip to Norway, I have watched them both on previous occasions away from home though, but have never been to there home grounds, Vindbjart were currently Vidar's closest rivals to top spot in the division although at kick off they were five points behind the leaders, Haugesund 2 however were hovering just above the relegation line although they were in it until a brilliant win at Torvastad two weekends ago, they were soundly beaten last time out at home to Madla and were up against a Vindbjart side who had won their last five league games netting nineteen goals in the process.

It was to be another routine afternoon for the second placed team as it turned out, Sander Svela handing the hosts a 12th minute lead, they had to wait until the 61st minute before doubling their lead and giving themselves some breathing space when Mustapha Fofana netted, and the game was sealed when Fofana added another at the end of the contest to keep Vindbjart five points behind the leaders. Haugesund remain just above the bottom three. 

This is how the table looks after the latest round of games:-

Well, it's been fun watching this division over the past few weeks, below are all my blogs I have written on the games in this division so go and have a look at those if you so wish:-

Saturday 19th July - Brodd 1 Hinna 0

https://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2025/07/brodd-1-hinna-0-early-second-half-goal.html

Monday 21st July - Madla 4 Sola 2

https://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2025/07/madla-4-sola-2-dana-peroti-brace-plus.html

Friday 25th July - Sola 0 Torvastad 0

https://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2025/07/sola-0-torvastad-0-struggling-sola-pick.html

Saturday 26th July - Sandnes Ulf 2 1 Djerv 1919 3

https://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2025/07/sandnes-ulf-2-1-djerv-1919-3-two-eric.html

Monday 28th July - Hinna 0 Vidar 4

https://pedroslocalfootiefix.blogspot.com/2025/07/hinna-0-vidar-4-norsk-tipping-ligean.html

Well, that's it for this edition of football in Norway, it's been fun, so until next time, bye for now!!!

Hinna 0 Vidar 4 - Norsk Tipping-ligean avd.5 league leaders Vidar made it six league wins in a row to go five clear at top after netting four against Hinna who have now suffered back to back defeats without scoring

Norsk Tipping-ligean Avd.5, Monday 28th July

My penultimate game on this trip to Norway saw me go from seeing the bottom side in the division to the league leaders as Vidar travelled the short distance to Hinna Stadion to take on Hinna, a team I had seen in my first game of this current trip to the Nordics, they had lost that one narrowly at Brodd, could they bounce back from that one against the stand out side in the division this term.

It was going to be a tough ask if they were going to, Vidar have only lost two of their league games all season and won the other nine, including a current five match winning run, had banged in 49 goals in those twelve games and only conceded ten in that same period of games, Hinna had been on a three match winning run until that was halted at Brodd last weekend, so they did have some form heading into the summer break before they all got going again last weekend.

Now I have seen Hinna before but not since they had built their new ground which I think was on the same site as the old one, they have a very neat seated stand on one side of the pitch and also a big building attached to it as well, they did serve some refreshments at the back of the stand on the concourse too, although I didn't bother this time to try and obtain anything!!!

I chose to stand next to the seated stand and lean on the barrier which was the perfect hight to lean on, you could only watch the game from one side of the ground anyway but the views across to the mountains peaking out above the typical wooden homes in Norway wasn't a bad view, I did watch some of the action on the pitch I promise!!!

Hinna themselves begin the evening down in 9th, but only three points off third placed Madla, it is that tight in that part of the table as said in previous blogs I've written whilst watching this division over the last couple of weeks, so yea a win in this one would have taken them third, but it was always going to be hard against the best team in the division arguably.

And Vidar should have been in front early on but somehow struck the bar from close range and then in another attack forced a brilliant save from hosts keeper Sondre Fossa, who brilliantly tipped over a powerful effort, Hinna did have a couple of chances themselves, one where a free kick whipped in someone missed two players coming in on the cross, but apart from this it was Vidar doing most of the running, however it looked as if the game would remain goalless heading into the break.

That was until the 44th minute when Vidar won a spot kick after attacker Maxmillian Haestad was flatted inside the box by a robust challenge, and Simen Haughom emphatically dispatched the penalty right in the top corner, and it meant Vidar had what was probably a deserved lead, and Hinna knew they would have to start the second half well if they were to respond in this one.

That didn't happen though for the home side, who soon found themselves two goals down early in the second half, Kevin Pereira sent in a teasing cross that Haughom managed to rise above keeper Fossa and nod the ball into the net for his and Vidar's second goal of the contest, and Hinna now really had a mountain to climb as the league leaders were taking complete control.

Just past the hour mark Vidar all but sealed the contest too, Pereira turning goalscorer this time to glance a header into the Hinna goal and make it three for the visitors, and you feared that this could get nasty for the hosts as Vidar fancied more goals you thought, but fair play to the home side they did keep going and nearly got a goal back on more than one occasion, one such chance seeing visiting keeper Elias Orn make a superb stop to deny them.

Hinna though could not grab a goal back which they probably deserved, and in fact it was Vidar who were to net the fourth and final goal of the contest with nine minutes remaining, a corner in from the left saw centre half Andreas Sebulonsen glance home Vidar's third header of the second period and make it four, and it meant they recorded a sixth straight win in the division and increased the lead back to five at the top.

Hinna remain in ninth and suffer back to back defeats now without scoring, however they are only three points off fourth still, so if they can get back to winning ways soon, things will start looking much better for them again, but they just came up against a side this evening who are ruthless and looking very likely to win the division and get back to the next tier for next season.

Full time Hinna 0 Vidar 4

  

Sandnes Ulf 2 1 Djerv 1919 3 - Two Eric Ndayisenga free kicks plus a wonder volley from Wilson Niyonzima help Djerv to a hard fought win over a spirited Sandnes in their Norsk Tipping-ligaen Avd.5 matchup

Norsk Tipping-ligean Avd.5, Saturday 26th July

Today's Fourth Tier matchup from the 3rd Division Avd.5 saw me take the 45 minute bus ride from Tananger to Sandnes to see if bottom side Sandnes Ulf 2 could win for the first time in several weeks and upset a Djerv 1919 side who were in good form themselves and on a five match unbeaten run in the league, and three wins on the spin too.

Sandnes Ulf 2, basically there reserves, themselves were bottom with only seven points from twelve games, and had lost nine of those too and hadn't win since early May, that's a seven match winless run where they have only picked up one point in that time, and find themselves in a heap of trouble down at the foot of the division as a result.

They do at least have a wonderful arena to play in, the Oster Hus Arena was built a few years ago when the first team were in the Eliteserien, however, things have gone south for them as well as they now play in the Post Nord-ligean Avd.1, which is the third tier, so only one level above their second team, however they do seem to be on course to be promoted back to the second tier at the first time of asking, but it's not been a good two or three years for the club.

As said the second team who I was watching today could easily be three levels below their first XI side next season if things don't improve, Djerv themselves were looking to jump up a number of places in the division if they could continue their good form of late, they were eighth at kick off but could rise to as high as third with a win, such is the tight nature of the table between 3rd place and 9th place, which was just three points.

The game certainly seemed to be going to form as well in the early exchanges as Djerv were doing most of the attacking, they thought they had taken the lead inside five minutes when a shot from Mads Johannesen struck the inside of the post was followed in by Havard Hovland but the flag had gone up for offside, but in the 19th minute they were to break the deadlock.

They won a free kick just outside the box on the right hand side, and Eric Ndayisenga duly curled a lovely free kick around the wall and in at the near post, giving hosts keeper Eivind Hagen no chance, and the visitors had a deserved lead and you felt they may go on and win this one comfortably.

Fair play to Sandnes though they fought back well after being outplayed for a good twenty five minutes or so, and as the half went on they grew more and more into the contest, and with six minutes of the half to go they found a leveller when a ball in from Harun Barise found Daniel Helle in the box, and he did eventually managed to fire home from close range and send the teams into the break all square.

The game was certainly in the balance in the early exchanges of the second period, but just beyond the hour mark came a moment of magic from visiting substitute and full back Wilson Niyonzima, a ball sent in from the right found it's way into his path, and from an acute angle he sent a wonderful looping volley back across goal and into the far corner, the celebrations told you everything, at how good a goal it was and also how important it was for the visitors who knew they were in a game and had worked hard to get their noses in front again.

Could Sandnes respond again, well they tried their hardest but were unable to, and with seven minutes left Djerv won a free kick just outside the box on the right hand side again, Ndayisenga territory (he had seen one earlier in half brilliantly saved by Hagen) and this time he repeated the trick of curling it around the wall and in at the near post, two out of three isn't bad going, and an identical goal to his first too.

Ndayisenga had been the standout player of the game for sure, he could have had more had it not been for keeper Hagen, but he was involved with pretty much everything the visitors came up with, he was for sure my MOTM and no doubt others too who were at the game, it had been hard fought but Djerv took the points against a spirited hosts, sending them up to fourth in the standings.

For Sandnes it's another defeat although they could take plenty of positives from this performance, they certainly made the visitors work hard for their win but it leaves them five points from safety albeit with plenty of games to go, but they will have to turn their fortunes around very soon if they are to get themselves out of trouble.  Another good watch though for the spectators who witnessed this contest.

Full time Sandnes Ulf 2 1 Djerv 1919 3