7am kick off so I gave it a watch, Helsingør were totally dominant the whole game, Fredericia scored from a good counter-attack off a Helsingør set piece inside 3 minutes then basically said ‘come break us down’. They essentially parked the bus and let Helsingør have all the ball, which seems to happen a lot even in these top-of-the-table games, and almost got them to half time.
4 tidy goals, McCowatt’s assist was a ball from the top left corner of the box across the 18 yard to Christensen to side-footed first time, and Just’s was on a break where he slipped in Adamsen who cut inside and had his shot deflect past the keeper. Fredericia basically didn’t get in Helsingør’s half until the 70th minute when they were 4-1 down, so it was all one way really.
Just also picked up a yellow for giving a guy a shove during some handbags after a Helsingør defender flew into a tackle.
It's never easy to break into a top of the table side.
Helsingor had 25 yr old (5 years experience in the Danish 2nd tier) and 28 yr old (had 5 years in the Danish Superliga) starting CBs against Fredericia. The 34 yr replacement CB who came on has over 6 years experience in this league.
Really good interview with John Gardner, co-owner of Helsingør FC, who was discussing some of the more disappointing aspects of Helsingør Stadion. Top of the list being the fact that if Helsingør were to be promoted to the Danish Superliga, they would have to relocate to play their home matches some 30 odd km's away at 'Right to Dream Park in Farum (amongst others).
They will not have dispensation to play at 'home' as their ground will not meet Superliga criteria in terms of facilities and capacity.
I found it a very interesting 5/6 minute interview. Gardner comes across quite well and very involved across most aspects of the club, but you can sense his disappointment/frustration at some of the strange circumstances they find themselves dealing with.
Finishes 4-1 to Helsingør (1st) away at bottom side Fremad Amager. Just off at 68 mins, with Liam Jordan. Score 4-0 when they came off.
Helsingør go 4 points clear of Hvidovre (2nd). They play Stamenic's HB Koge next, 2nd last game before winter break. Danny Hay may have been at this game.
Be interesting to see what happens to Pijnaker over the Danish winter break. Do Rio Ave recall him to Portugal, and maybe try another loan deal elsewhere? Looks like he's going to struggle to break into Helsingør's promotion chasing match day squad.
Hay and Kane Wintersgill (one of his assistants) came into their training today to have a yarn with coach Morten Eskensen and see how things are done, and of course get a photo with Callum and Elijah, though no Pijnaker. Hay might’ve also caught up with Liam Jordan, as he would have come up against him while Jordan was at Mt Albert Grammar and Hay was at Sacred Heart.
Wonder if parent club Rio Ave will recall Pijnaker to Portugal?
Danish 2nd tier goes into long winter break (starts again 27th February 2022) from next weekend, and he ain't getting any game time at Helsingor.
Who knows all the ex Ole boys (Wilkins, Stamenic, Just & McCowatt) may head down to the Iberian Peninsula to train and keep warm, before hopefully AWs games in January. Hardly worth trying to head back to NZ, for 2 weeks in a hotel room, and no gtee when you will get a room.
Starting final game of the year alongside Liam Jordan, before the long winter break. Away to Hobro (11th).
McCowatt on the bench. No Pijnaker, who may have already returned to Portugal, his loan deal from memory finishing 31st Dec.
Helsingør 2nd likely need to win, to go into the season break in top spot. A draw would take them top on GD from Hvidovre (1st), who have already played their final game of 2021.
But Lyngby 3rd only a point currently behind Helsingør, travel to Stamenic’s HB Køge (7th) tomorrow.
McCwatt was subbed on at HT for Liam Jordan with score 1-1. Just subbed off at 77 mins, with Helsingør 2-1 up.
The 2 Kiwis haven't been scoring goals so regularly themselves lately, but the most important thing is they and their team are in with a real shot of promotion to Danish Superliga. Another season in the 2nd tier wouldn't be great.
To date Just 6 goals & McCowatt 4 goals. That's enough to be 3rd & 4th best scorers. Two Danish guys with 9 & 8 each. Liam Jordan 1.
Well worth the three points, but there will be bigger fish to fry when the league splits after three more rounds. Cal got the ‘pre-assist’ for the second goal, nicely slipping in Lyng who squared it for a tap in when two-on-one with the keeper.
McCowatt (80 mins) & Just (66 mins) credited with an assist each as Helsingør (1st) win big, 4-0 at one of their promotion rivals Hvidovre (3rd). Both Kiwis off with the score 3-0. McCowatt replaced by Liam Jordan.
Helsingør now 8 pts clear in top spot. Looking good for promotion. Final round next week before top 6/bottom 6 split with Helsingør to play bottom team Jammerbugt. So all looking good for the moment.
Stamenic's HB Køge (8th) need to win tomorrow, and hope other results go their way in the next week to make the top 6.
All 3 Kiwis will play for their clubs 18th March, but should be good to go for the 2nd AWs pool game verus Fiji 21st March, if required.
Edit - Full game Just & McCowatt off at 72 mins (score 1-2). Jordan an 84th min sub.
Helsingør (1st, 51 pts) lose 1-2. They are in trouble. 4th loss in a row. A month ago they were 8 pts clear in first spot, and had just beaten this same team Hvidovre (3rd, 50 pts) 4-0 away from home. It's all unravelled since.
Lyngby (2nd by GD) are also on 50 pts. If Horsens (4th, 47 pts) win tomorrow that will be 3 teams all now only 1 point behind Helsingør. They need to turn things around fast. Top 2 teams only get promoted.
Crunch game you feel for Helsingør at home. Absolute must win, to turn it around, otherwise morale will be completely shot. Lost at Fredericia 4-0 a few weeks ago. Every other loss in this bad run has only been by a goal. Hopefully this is the game to stop the rot.
Helsingor win 2-1 and jump back into the promotion spot. Vital win today - Eli with the winner! Great improvised shot!
Helsingor largely dominated the game but their keeper was having a blinder. Held on last 5 or so minutes for an important win - 4 games left to go to gain promotion
Good stuff. Promotion dream stays alive. McCowatt off at 67 mins (right after Just's goal) and Just at 84 mins.
Helsingor yes go 2nd, as Lyngby (now 3rd) lost to Horsens (1st).
Next week for Helsingor a trip to Horsens in virtual promotion 6 pointer. Though in reality top 4 teams are only separated by 6 points (and 4th placed Hvidovre have a game in hand) - so is going to be very tight race until season end.
Is Helsingor's field one of those spongy artificial turfs? Bobbling ball seemed to an issue throughout the game. Obviously warmer spring still to arrive yet in Denmark.
From Flying Kiwis. In video below, be aware the commentary is out of sync, about 3-5 seconds ahead of the action.
It was an unchanged XI for FCH from the team that began the defeat to Lyngby. Holding tight with the main lads despite the awful run of results. That confidence seemed to help them against Fredericia as Helsingør produced one of their best attacking performances in months, getting out on the front foot early and keeping up that danger for pretty much the whole way. Eli Just had an early crack at goal blocked. McCowatt tried one from distance on the half-volley but it was straight at the keeper. Fredericia’s pace on the counter kept up a threat but two can play at that game and a turnover in midfield allowed McCowatt to dash forward in a move that ended with a Just shot deflected over the top.
FCH finally took the lead in the 44th minute. Captain Daniel Norouzi with the banging finish after a mistake at the back had allowed the ball to sneak through to him in the area with space to pick his spot. Fortunate as it happened, but a well-taken strike and a deserved lead going into the break. A lead, however, that didn’t last as long as they’d have liked. 52’ and Oliver Olsen found some space of his own on the right side of the penalty area for Fredericia and smashed one low towards goal which snuck under the goalie. Good strike, should still have saved it. The move had come about from a broken bit of play as the Helsingør defence wasn’t able to lock things down.
To their credit, FCH wrangled things back in their favour straight away. A bicycle kick from Mikkel Knudsen was quite brilliantly saved. The same Fredericia keeper was at it minutes later when Just fed McCowatt in the box and his curler was palmed away at full stretch. Then another top save from a header off a free kick delivery. But right as it was starting to feel like another cursed afternoon... Eli Just came to the rescue.
2-1 and that was the way it ended. Same as how that five-game losing streak has now ended. Three massive points to get the FC Helsingør promotion train back on the tracks and they got a huge boost there as, half an hour before the end of their game, the final whistle blew on Horsens beating Lyngby 2-1 which puts FCH back up to second on the ladder for the second promotion spot. They play Horsens next week and a win will send them first again. Right back where they started the championship phase.
Just was subbed off with six mins to go, McCowatt was subbed straight after the winning goal. That makes it 7 goals and 4 assists from 25 appearances for Just this season while McCowatt has 6 goals and 6 assists from 24 games. And they’re not done yet.
Just on the bench, with Liam Jordan. McCowatt not in match day squad at all! Hopefully not injured.
Read that Hay will be at this game - so he'll be disappointed by the above.
Stamenic's HB Koge play tomorrow in Denmark.
Edit - Just & Jordan both on at 64 mins (score 1-1). Unfortunately Lyngby score again a few mins later, and is currently 1-2.
Edit 2 - finishes as a 1-2 loss and sadly a likely mortal blow to Helsingør's (3rd) promotion dreams. They go 4 points behind Lyngby (2nd), and 5 pt behind Horsens (1st) who won today.
Helsingør next travel to Hvidore (4th) who are still a very slim mathematical chance of promotion, whilst Lyngby and Horsens travel to teams 5th & 6th who both have nothing to play for. Lyngby and Horsens both win this weekend, or Helsingør fail to win, and Lyngby and Horsens both promoted with a game to spare.
That is a terrible choke and will likely cut very deeply in the off season. They're an ambitious club, who at the split would've been odds on favourites to get promoted. Disappointing would be an understatement.
Wonder if Just or McCowatt might have some interest shown in them from further up the chain? Both are very ambitious, and they'll both be wanting to be playing at a higher level before too long.
Wow, great move for him if true, and very well deserved at that.
Denmark continuing to be a very good development pathway for young Kiwi's, it's so pleasing to see so many young lads coming into top tier teams too. Something that hasn't always been abundant in the footballers we produce.