BDO Arena, DBU Jutland Series 2, 24/9/22
Me 247
Hjerting Idraetsforening
Founded – 1931
Nickname – HIF
Honours – Unknown but they have a full trophy cabinet
Random Fact – When the club founded the paid a farmer to use his field which they shared with his cows. They were charged 50DKK annually for the privilege.
The fitba gods have been frowning upon me over here with first the postponement of Esbjerg v Thisted on Friday night due to U21 call ups. Then finding out that although I could make it to SønderjyskE v Vendsyssel on Monday, it was impossible to get back due to public transport shutting down reasonably early over here. How to get football? The same way as I do most of the time when I am at home. Dipping into the lower leagues or in this case the DBU Jutland Series to be precise. Here I found myself 6 miles up the road from Esbjerg at the BDO Arena and top notch Hjertinghus a. 9th tier of the fitba pyramid and what a set up. Similar to many clubs in Denmark Hjerting have various sports clubs housed here, football being the most popular with wee kids through to adults over both genders. There are handball teams, table tennis, gymnastics, basketball, padel ball and even folk dancing. I am not sure how old the Hjertinghaus is but I am gathering it is new. Some professional clubs would be jealous of such a facility.
Would the fitba live up to the ground? Yes would be the answer. Five goals, hard tackling and pretty attacking throughout from both sides. After another pleasant taxi ride complete with more history from driver Abdul on this short ride I found myself at Hjertinghus. As I was early I took a walk about the grounds to see what there was. It covers a larger area and I have a feeling it isnt quite finished yet.
The game starting in a lively manner when Daniel Eliasen of the visitors missed a glorious early chance when he found himself clean through but the finish was not up to standard. Hjerting were the better team in the opening quarter of an hour and definitely were winning in the hairband stakes(six I counted). But against the run of play Eliasen made up for his earlier miss with the best goal I have seen this season when from thirty yards unleashed a vicious half volley which was placed perfectly over the Hjerting goalkeeper. 1 v 0 to the team entirely made up of of XI short back and sides. With the keeper only five yards off his line the striker didn’t have much room to squeeze it in but somehow he managed. The lead only lasted a few minutes, after a stunner at one end we were treated to a calamity at the other. Hjerting had a habit of long balls over the top and their strikers running in, this time Rene Holst Andersen was through, Tarp keeper Dannells was off his line but as he reached the ball he could do nothing but strike it off Andersen who was through leaving the striker with an open goal, think Neale Cooper at Hampden but instead the ball was rolled into an empty net rather than smashed from a yard. Andersen was unlucky not to double his tally when he went on a brilliant jungle run taking the ball past what seemed the whole Tarp side then doing it again. But his goal bound effort was kept out by some last ditch defending. It really deserved a goal. Hjerting went on to miss a few more chances but did finally take the lead right before half time when Arthur Frandsen skipped past his marker with ease cutting in and letting a rocket like effort off which fizzed past Dannels smashing the post on the way in
HT- 2 v 1
The second half opened with a another superb moment when Dannells managed to keep the ball out with a terrific low save, one in which he managed to claw the ball out from behind him, looked like he was beaten but incredibly the big keeper scooped the ball clear. He was soon beaten for the third time when Morten Vagne managed to get to the ball first on the goal line before two defenders. Hjerting celebrated but the ref went with the shouts and belatedly disallowed the goal claiming Vagne had kicked through the defender before the ball. Frandsen continued to terrorize the Tarp defence and was brilliant throughout and you could tell he would be the orchestrator of more action and he was creating chance after chance but none were taken. Final the ball was in the back of the net when an eye of a needle pass was threaded through by Niclas Munksgaard leaving either Vagne or Andersen to score with the former slotting past Dannels. At this point it looked as if there was only one winner and more chances came the hosts way inclusive of the bar being rattled twice then with two minutes left Tarp got themselves back in it with a cracking team goal. Some great work down the left saw a brilliant ball swung in where Poulsen rose to smash home a header leaving a tense finish where Tarp threw everything at Hjerting including themselves into challenges trying to grab a late equaliser but it wasn’t to be for the team from 5 miles away and the points were to stay in Northern Esbjerg and the brilliant Hjertinghus. A very good match to watch, full of action and all for free too. What’s not to like. Who needs the pro game when you can come to a place like Hjerting?
Entrance – Free
Attendance – 37 + 3 dogs
Pie – Could not buy as it was contactless only and my card has lost that ability.
Pint – N/A
FITBAWBAG 