HC Erlangen extends its lead

HC Erlangen has also won its 16th home game of the season. The team of Head Coach Robert Andersson defeated TuS Ferndorf 27:25 (15:13) to stretch its lead in the table further.

HC Erlangen faced three away games in a row last month and so the players, officials and fans of the German league side from Franconia were more than happy to have a game again at home in the Nürnberger Versicherung Arena. Robert Andersson made changes in four positions compared with the game on the road in Saarlouis, giving Kevin Herbst, Oliver Heß, Christopher Bissel and Jonas Link the chance to start the game. The game was evenly poised to begin with, although the league leaders from Erlangen had their nose ahead from the sixth minute onward. The HCE did not relinquish that lead at any stage and even managed to open up a four-goal gap shortly before the break. Andersson’s players failed to seal the game at that point. Backed by a Mario Huhnstock in outstanding form, they had the chance to pull away by six goals. Instead, the league newcomers from Ferndorf, who produced a plucky performance, closed the deficit to two by half-time.

The picture was the same after the break. HC Erlangen kept on moving ahead, but Ferndorf did not allow the commanding leaders in the Second Division to run away with it. Once again it was Martin Stranovsky who led his team through the occasional tough spell in the game with his usual composure and put his side on the road to victory with a perfect haul from the penalty spot. Nicolai Theilinger and Mario Huhnstock then decided the game in favor of HC Erlangen in a thrilling finish. The left-hander scored twice with two dauntless solo actions and at the back the 29-year-old goalkeeper stopped two good chances by the visitors.

There are no games in both German leagues this weekend and so HC Erlangen will not be back in action until Sunday, April 18. It then faces the fourth Franconian derby of the season in the s.Oliver Arena in Würzburg away against Rimpar Wolves (throw-off: 6 p.m.).