English: An unnecessary defeat

There are quite a few derbies in Swiss ballhockey, but none of them is like Belp-Grenchen. Both teams joined the Swiss league back in 1990. During the last 21 years Belp and Grenchen have alaways plaid in the highest dision, the national league A; with the exception of the season 1993/94, when Belp plaid for one year in the 2nd division. For this reason there are no other teams that have plaid each other so many times. Last Saturdays' game was the 53rd league game (including playoffs) between those two teams. During this 21 years some friendly rivalry grew, a rivalry between the team from the southern suburb on Bern and the team the rural region of the Limpachtal that turns those derbies in something very special. Therefore it was no surprise that over 250 spectators made their way to the rink in Belp on this nice but rather cold February evening.

Belp started with a lot of self-confidence into the game. Several excellent scoring opportunities were created and it was therefore no surprise that Belp achieved a two to nothing lead until the 11th minute of the game. Sandro Wittwer after a face off and Daniel Fahrni after a confusing situation in front of the Grenchen net did the scoring for Belp. Then Reber was fouled on a break-away, Belp was attributed a penalty shot. But Grenchens keeper David Fankhauser was able to stop the penalty shot from Reber. Only a few seconds later Grenchen was able to reduce the distance to one goal with a rather lucky distance-shot. With one second left in the period, Belp Nicola Fuchs re-established the two goals lead for Belp in power play.

The guest team came better into the game in the second period and started to teach Belp a les-son in efficiency. On the other hand, Belps defence wasn't working as consequent as in the opening period. Therefore it was hardly a surprise that Belp lost the central period with 3 to 5. Tylor Mc Fadden gave Belp in his first game a late 6 to 5 lead. But the 6 to 6 equalizer seconds before the end of the period was rather annoying for the home team and probably the turning point of the game. It gave Grenchen the confidence that they could win this days game.

With a levelled score both teams started into the closing period in which not less then four minor penalties were inflicted against the team of coach Mike Müller. Grenchen made profit of two of these penalties. Belp worked hard to come back into the game in the final minutes of the game, but was not able to turn the defeat away. Against Grenchen an excellent first period was not enough to achieve the planned victory. To win against such a team a concentrated and disci-plined performance during the whole game is absolutely necessary.