Fresh off the back of a great display in Helsingborg the Blues entertained the Norrtälje Dockers at the JCG for this SAFF League Round 4 match. You would be forgiven for thinking some of the boys got lost in Helsingborg and hadn’t made it back given the relatively low turnout for the men from Söder!
Not letting this nor the thunderous clouds gathering over head deter them though Södermalm were out of the traps quickly Gaelan Doolan and Matt Barton combining at the opposition 50 to set up Mick Larsson who slotted home the first of the day.
It was at this point that the heavens decided to open and unleash a steady stream of rain which would continue to persist for the afternoon.
(picture: Mick Larsson bagged 6 of Söder’s 7 goals!)
With the ball as slippery as a fish both teams put in a lot of work on the ground trying to get a hold of the pill and keep it moving in the right direction. The blues enigmatic Finn Kaj ‘magic hands’ Karlsson the pick of the bunch handballing to himself on several occasions before finding a willing runner in Dylan O’Keefe in the Söder engine room.
Throughout the game Söder continued to pressure the Dockers and often threatened but not always completing with the desired finish. The Dockers themselves pushed and harried around the ball all day looking for any opportunity to take advantage of a sloppy possession or a spilled ball, frequently counter attacking after Söder moves broke down. In the choppy condition though the Dockers suffered from the same inaccuracy in front of goal as their opponents, this coupled with an eager display from the Blues’ defense meant it was always going to be an uphill struggle.
At the end of the day Söder won out, however everyone will be hoping that the Swedish summer has more to offer than this rain sodden encounter.
It’s safe to say that all present at the JCG on Saturday were left thoroughly moist but for all the wrong reasons.
Söder’s next appearance is the Swedish Cup being played next Saturday 6th June in Gothenburg (Kvibergs Fotbollsplaner kl.12.00-17.00). Pop in and have a look at the boys in blue perform is you are near Gothenburg.
Good luck boys!