LSK WOMEN STAY TOP OF LEAGUE WITH VICTORY OVER ARNA-BJORNAR  Photos Stig Mortensen      May 2nd 2010

We beat Arna Bjornar on Saturday by 3-0, which is another good win for us. It was not an easy game. Arna-Bjørnar has set themselves the same goal as us, which is to win a medal in the Toppserien this year. And they are quite clearly the best team we've met so far this season. The score is rather flattering towards us, as Arna-Bjornar played very well. To be honest, I felt that they were better than we were for long stretches of the game. The difference came down to the fact that we converted our chances in front of the net.

Of course, there is also our goalie who again made some big saves, and these saves really do change the momentum of the game completely.

We came out quite strongly and we produced some good chances early in the game. We created the chances, but we need to become better at making them count. In one instance our center forward Catherine did really well and made a good shot that hit the crossbar and bounced around a bit in the box. I, like the other forward and the mid-fielders, ddi not follow the shot in, a basic principle that you learn at age five. We blew an amazing chance to utterly dominate the game right from the start.

In the 24th minutes, we scored our first goal after I made a cross in from the right that Ida Elise managed to turn into the net. The goal came slightly against the run of play. We really needed the lift. Arne Bjornar were pressuring us and they were very good at finding the spaces we were leaving because of bad positioning. Algrøy broke through for Arna-Bjornar and was alone with the keeper, but her shot hit the side of the net. A few minutes later, Arna-Bjornar broke through again, but this time it was Ingrid, our goalkeeper, who made a big save. Our defenders came up big several times, after we, as a team, put them into difficult situations.

The second half started out badly for us. It seemed like only a matter of time before our opponents scored on us. Thankfully we managed to score our second goal at a very needy time. Arna-Bjornar had penned us back in our own wend for a while and we were struggling. Catherine Dekkerhus scored after a brilliant play by Ida Elise. Ida received the ball in our half and dribbled it down the left side of the field before cutting in on net and passing the ball square across the goalie. Catherine did well to get there, but it was a gift of a goal for Dekker who had a gaping net in front of her. It was a wonderfully selfless team goal and also a very important one.

Of course, all goals are important, but the timing of this one was game changing, Bjornar had been pressing hard to tie up the score, when all of a sudden we were 2 - 0 up. Brilliant.

Our third goal came from a pass through the Bjornar backline by Nasra to Catherine Dekkerhus again. Ida and I both made runs into the box, but she rifled a shot herself that tore into the back of the net. Beautiful.

In retrospect, this was not a great game by us. Against a good team, we played most of the match like a bunch of individuals. After the game, we played last weekend I was surprised that we did not come out playing a little more intensely. We need a more committed and desperate approach to our game. This obviously reflects my disappointment in our performance. I am utterly exhausted, because playing as individuals is exhausting. However, I am forced to recognize the reality of another amazing win and 3 points. Despite all my concerns we again found a way to win.

This LSK Women's team has such great potential that I think I expect so much from them and myself. At the start of the season, most of the soccer pundits here thought that we might manage a 7th place finish. We knew and know, that we are much much better than this. As usual though, the season is still young and there are many games to play. I know where we CAN end up at the end of the season, and this is at the top. That is why I am always looking for better.

In other, more mundane news, I thought I should mention the fact that my roommates and I celebrated a late Easter two weeks ago. Mari, Linn and I had been in Trondheim to play, while D stayed at home in Lillestrøm as she continues to recover. While we were gone, she decided to make a giant dinner. We had skipped Easter as a celebration, so D decided that it was high time to recognize the holiday with a giant roast beef meal. What a great meal and what a surprise.

D and I have also been busy lately painting the walls in our new team house in Lillestrøm and laying down new floors. I have obviously painted walls and ceilings before, but laying new hardwood floors is definitely a new thing for me. We had a brief 5 minute tutorial before we were left to our own devices with a giant saw and all the floor boards. I think we did pretty well. However, I would never ever going to be showing my work to anyone in the know. I am sure everyone appreciates my expanding repertoire of skills. Can I now introduce myself as a soccer player and handywoman - look out Mike Holmes.

I have also found myself advertising the Club in the local shopping mall. Fortunately, no one recognizes me! 

Women LSK - Arna-Bjørnar Attendance: 225 LSK (4-3-3):

Referee: Christina Pedersen

Yellow card: Madeleine Giske (AB), Nasr Abdullah (LSK)