The women of Misker E&O seem ready for the decisive matches against relegation from the Premier League. On Saturday evening they narrowly lost 29-31 to Velo in Emmen.
The handball players from Emmen mainly blamed their defeat against Velo on their weak and sloppy play before half time. The women of coach Jan Gerald Mulder made it far too easy for their opponent from Wateringen. After an initially even start, the visitors were able to take an 11-19 lead at half time.
E&O’s umpteenth major defeat seemed to be in the making in the last game of the regular competition. That in itself could have been possible, because it was a match between the number last in the Premier League and Velo, which is fourth. But the people of Emmen showed, especially in the second half, that they can play excellent handball. Suddenly they were on their toes and came closer point by point with good play.
Top scorer Carmen Riepe with a red field
Romy Stadens now became dangerous shooting and scored eleven goals for E&O. Velo’s Carmen Riepe was top scorer throughout the match with twelve goals, but was sent off with a red card in the second half. Without the top scorer, the visitors found it increasingly difficult, but managed to pull off the victory 29-31.
The relegation group now starts for E&O, in which it must keep at least one other team below it to stay in the Premier League. Coach Mulder is confident: “We only have one goal and that is to score more points than at least another team. We have consciously focused on this since November and trained conditionally and handball. We have had a lot of injuries, but last Monday I was able to train almost completely. That saves a sip on a drink.”
‘We can win them all’
“We can lose every match in the play-offs,” the coach continued, “but we can also win them all. I’m convinced of that. We have been playing well in the last few matches and have always scored thirty goals. With a bit of luck we should have won this match too. So it’s in there. We are now complete and in the final phase of preparation. I have one hundred percent confidence in them, but it remains a young team that is sometimes difficult to manage. That sometimes makes me nervous myself. It is quite complicated at times.”