It took a fight and a couple of good goals before FC Helsingør on Sunday afternoon could emerge victorious from the clash with Skive IK, who fought well for it, in the cool autumn weather at Helsingør Stadium.
FC Helsingør could hardly have got off to a better start, as not more than three minutes had been played before the goal to 1-0 came. Anders Holst delivered a perfect corner to the near post, where Jonas Henriksen rose above everyone else and headed the ball unstoppably in behind Skive goalkeeper Marcus Bobjerg. A classic set-piece goal, perfectly executed.
1-0 FC Helsingør
Skive pushed the pressure higher up the pitch over the next ten minutes, but FC Helsingør defended well and were constantly looking to send Jeppe Kjær off on a counterattack.
After 13 minutes it came close. Teddy Bergqvist and David Boysen played a fine 1-2 on the left wing, which ended with Boysen being able to send a dangerous cross into Skive's box, where it was very close to Jeppe Kjær getting on the end of it, but Bobjerg was alert and managed to gather the ball a second before Jeppe reached it.
In the 18th minute, Oliver Kjærgaard came close to getting on the scoresheet. He received the ball a few meters outside the box, made a burst forward, and struck at the ball. The shot was deflected in the box, but Bobjerg still managed to dive the right way and punch the ball clear with a fantastic save. From the resulting corner, Jeppe Kjær got a touch on the ball at the near post, but inside the box Bobjerg again managed to claim it just ahead of a couple of FCH players.
FCH played it more patiently in this phase, and Skive were drawn deeper and deeper towards their own box. After 27 minutes it was close to paying off, as good play through the lines eventually led to Bay being able to receive a long ball in a free position on the left wing. Bay laid the ball across low, and on the edge of the box David Boysen was centimeters away from being able to fire a shot on goal. Only in the very last second did a Skive defender close down Boysen's shooting chance.
Neither team really created much of note for the rest of the half. There was a bit of grumbling in the stands when Teddy Bergqvist went down in the box in a challenge, but it was probably fair enough that the referee's whistle remained silent. FCH therefore had to settle for a narrow 1-0 lead at halftime.
FC Helsingør came best out of the dressing room for the 2. half, and the home side put together good pressure against Skive's goal. However, the visitors from Jutland defended bravely, and it was only after seven minutes that FCH created their first really big chance. Jeppe Kjær ran onto a long ball out toward the right wing, where he brought it down and kept it under control, with his marker on his heels. Kjær laid the ball across to Frederik Juul, who first-time passed it on to David Boysen, who struck first time. His shot, however, went a good meter over the goal.
After 58 minutes Skive had had a couple of minutes of possession. A Skive player laid the ball across, but Frederik Juul was quick and intercepted the pass. That resulted in him and Jeppe Kjær being in a two-on-two. Juul played the ball to Kjær, who drove into the box and shot. But unfortunately his shot was well over the crossbar. Fine counterplay from FCH, though.
After 65 minutes, Skive got their biggest chance so far. A corner was cleared out of the box by Kevin Stuhr, who came out well and punched at it. Skive won the second ball, and played it to a man on the edge of the box. He struck toward the far corner, but the ball didn't dip quite enough and hit the crossbar.
After 67 minutes of play FC Helsingør should probably have had a penalty. David Boysen received a fine ball at his feet and found Jeppe Kjær in the box. Kjær got past his man, who just managed to poke the ball ahead of Jeppe, but inside the box Bobjerg came flying into Jeppe Kjær's feet before the FCH striker could reach it again. Kjær was brought down, but the referee waved away something incomprehensible, despite it looking very obvious.
The next ten minutes were messy from both teams, who were beginning to look a bit tired. Both teams made substitutions, and Callum McCowatt came on for his debut in the FCH shirt in place of Teddy Bergqvist, and Carl Lange replaced Boysen.
Skive launched long balls up toward the FCH box, and the play from both teams became messy. But FCH still managed to get it in again near the end. After 82 minutes, Jeppe Kjær got the ball at his feet, took it under control, held off his marker and laid it off to Callum McCowatt, who drove centrally and played it out to Carl Lange. Lange laid it centrally to Kjær, who was alert, and instead of shooting himself he played it on to a completely free Elijah Just, who calmly finished it in by the post.
2-0 FC Helsingør
But Skive pulled one back shortly after. Thomas Santos got away on the right wing and delivered a cross straight to Oliver Haurits, who from very close range managed to bundle the ball past Kevin Stuhr, who flailed helplessly.
2-1 Skive IK
Skive then mostly tried half-hearted long balls forward, which did not lead to much and, despite the late reduction, seemed physically spent. FCH looked for the counterattack and came close once. Callum McCowatt played Jeppe Kjær, who laid it back to Callum and Lucas Haren at just the right moment. Haren finished, but Bobjerg was in position with yet another big save.
Nothing else happened, and FC Helsingør could continue the good start in 1. Division with three warm points on a chilly afternoon.
The next assignment is an away match against Fremad Amager, and that is already on Wednesday the 21th at 18.30.
FCH: K. Ellegaard, F. Bay (62’ HC Bonnesen), P. Rejnhold, J. Henriksen, A. Holst, D. Boysen (69’ C. Lange), O. Kjærgaard (62’ D. Norouzi), F. Juul Christensen, E. Just (85’ L. Haren), T. Bergqvist (’69 C. McCowatt), J. Kjær
Photo: Claus Birch, clausbirch.dk
