Referat: Nora BK - Grythyttans IF

The GIF squad travelled to Nora on Saturday looking to build on their impressive first half of the season form in this mid-season friendly fixture.
With both teams looking to gain match sharpness ahead of the remaining league programme, the opening exchanges were quite frantic with chances at both ends.
The home side, two leagues above their local rivals had several good chances in the first half with their striker hitting the outside of the right hand post after good wing play. Lucas Campelo was forced into two smart saves low down to his left to deny the home side taking the lead.
GIF however looked just as potent on their attacks, with Dylan Willams, Omar Perez and Julian Stefano all going close with efforts after good attacking team play.
The visitors were seemingly frustrating their opponents with intelligent tactical play to contain the home side’s possession and were looking to break quickly to create chances in the final third with Stafford Chipungu Junior going close on two occasions before the break after smart build up play through the GIF midfield.
Nora nearly had the ball in the net moments before the break after a goal-line scramble but a combination of brave defending and last-ditch tackling kept the half-time score at 0-0.
It didn’t take long after the break for GIF to take the lead with Stafford converting a penalty low to the goalkeeper’s right after a careless foul in the box from the home defender and a sublime run and assist from debutant Antonio Araviakis.
Nora re-grouped and soon equalised after good work down the right to create a crossing opportunity and the ball was pulled back to the waiting centre forward who controlled the ball and lashed it into the net beyond debutant Nathan Steinwascher.
The goal seemed to galvanise GIF and they immediately took control again, winning the midfield battle and breaking forward at pace to create two further second half goals, excellently converted by Stafford Chipungu Jnr.
GIF managed the game out well with Abdi Ahmed replacing the injured Stefano for the final moments and as Nora pushed to get back into the game, more chances came and went for the Yellows with Dylan Williams unselfishly squaring a breakaway to Stafford who on this occasion couldn’t find the finish.
Head Coach Dean Sibson spoke after and was pleased with the team’s performance;
“I was quite pleased with what I saw today, we started back after the break on a positive note, we played with a lot of fluency in our attacks and defended solidly as a team. We created plenty of chances against a good Nora side who attacked with a lot of pace and it was a tough game that we were able to come through. It is now about ensuring our focus is at its highest point as we embark on our remaining nine league fixtures.”