The gladiators lose 2: 5. Passau and coach John Samanski are now waiting in the playoffs.
Erding - The Höchstadter EC on Sunday evening was one size too big for the Erding Gladiators. The Alligators won 5: 2 (2: 0, 3: 1, 0: 1) and finished the Oberliga gear round in third place. The Gladiators are fifth and now have to play Passau in the playoffs.
Both teams were relatively easy to get into the game, as they were already qualified for the playoffs. So it was all about placement. While the Alligators were almost completely there, the Gladiators had almost more players on the dropout list than on the match report. In addition to the two goalkeepers Gerlspeck and Mende, the defenders Cramer, Schmelcher and Schwarz as well as the strikers Dürr, Gantschnig, Magg and Michl were missing due to illness or injury. But Spindler was back in the squad after a long injury break, plus three youngsters with Bergmeister, Knallinger and Modlmayr.
The game started quickly, with slight advantages for the top division from Franconia. There were hardly any interruptions in the fair game, the first penalty against the HEC was given by the safe chief referee Michael Fischer in the 13th minute. However, it was already 1-0 for Höchstadt, a twice deflected pass fell Anton Seewald in front of the racket, who had no trouble. It only took a few seconds for the first penalty against Erding, then Milan Kostourek lowered the puck to 2-0 in the corner (17th).
The guests got off to a better start in the middle section, after 99 seconds Jari Neugebauer increased to 3: 0. But Erding continued to fight unabated, and Daniel Krzizok outnumbered the opening goal to 1: 3 (31st). A little later, the gladiators were again outnumbered, but ran into a counterattack, which Jiri Mikesz was lucky to finish 4: 1 (33.). As a result, gaps repeatedly appeared in the Erdinger defensive, which the guests used to counterattack. One of these counterattacks brought the 5: 1 through Juris Upitis (39.). That was the preliminary decision.
It was not that the hosts had no chances, especially in the majority there were the best opportunities, but HEC goalkeeper Benjamin Dirksen was outstanding.
In the final section, too, it was an entertaining game with goal scenes on both sides. The gladiators didn't let themselves down, fought to the end and were rewarded with the 2-5 by Oliver Wawrotzki. WOLFGANG KRZIZOK
statistics
Goals / Assists: 0: 1 (10.) Seewald (Kostourek), 0: 2 (17.) Kostourek (Mikesz / 5-4), 0: 3 (22.) Neugebauer (Dolezal), 1: 3 (31. ) Krzizok (Lachner, Krämmer / 5-4), 1: 4 (33.) Mikesz (4-5), 1: 5 (39.) Upitis (Neugebauer, Cejka), 2: 5 (57.) Wawrotzki (Krämmer , Krzizok) - HSR: Michael Fischer - Spectators: 750 - Penalty minutes: Erding 6, Höchstadt 14.