Ham-Kam held Vålerenga to a goalless draw at the national football arena Ullevål, Sunday night. The relegation thriller continues.

Day 27: Tippeligaen, Sunday 1. October 2006

Vålerenga - Hamarkameratene 0-0 (0-0)

Booked: Morten Bertolt (Ham-Kam).

Vålerenga (4-4-2):
Arni Gautur Arason - Jarl Andre Storbæk, Tom Henning Hovi, Ronny Johnsen, Allan Jepsen - Freddy dos Santos, Christian Grindheim, Thomas Holm (Mohammed Fellah from 77.), Morten Berre - Jan Derek Sørensen, Daniel Fredheim Holm (Rune Lange from 77.).

HamKam (4-4-2):
Ivar Rønningen - Steve Cooreman, Juha Pasoja, Joachim Sørum, Ramiro Corrales - Marius Gullerud, Morten Bertolt, Jan Michaelsen, Tommy Øren (Rune Buer Johansen from 71.) - Markus Ringberg (Roman Kienast from 81.), Espen Olsen (Oluwasegun Abiodun from 46.).

One point for Kamma was very important, as they  still keep their competitors for continued access to Tippeligaen, behind them. A good goal difference might end up meaning everything for the boys in geen and white.

Ullevål has not been a good arena for Ham-Kam lately, with a 1-1 draw against Lyn as their best result. Sunday, about 1500 fans from Hamar filled the away teams´ stand. Ham-Kam will certainly not be relegated as a result of lacking support! (Kamma will not go down anyway, of course...)

There were two changes from the team that started against Lyn; Ivar Rønningen was back at the goal-line, replacing Haagenrud, and Espen Olsen threw Roman Kienast out of competion.

The match opened with both teams struggling to create much in front of the opponents goal. This proved to be symptomatic for the match.

After around 30 mins, Ham-Kam had their first chance, as Espen Olsen got loose, and served Marius Gullerud, who shot from 17-18 metres. Goalkeeper, the Icelandic international Ari Gautur Arason, had to prove his very best to keep the sheets clean. The following corner could have resulted in a goal, had Joachim Sørum had a couple of hairs more on his head. The header went just outside the post, leaving a chanceless Arason with a maximum pulse.

For Vålerenga, Jan Derek Sørensen and Morten Berre were active, but a good Ham-Kam defence including an outstanding Joachim Sørum, fought well and helped Rønningen hindering a Vålerenga goal.

In the break, Frode Grodås replaced Espen Olsen with Olawasegun Abiodun. The Ham-Kam supporters, Briskebybanden, had already been singing for Roman Kienast throughout the match.

The second half was to be similar to the first one, with Vålerenga getting closest to a goal that probably would have been decisive. However, Steve Cooreman stopped the ball on the goal-line, saving the boys in green and white.

Ham-Kam were in command the last ten minutes of the match, when Frode Grodås finally heard the supporters´ prayers, and gave Roman Kienast a chance. With Kienast on the pitch, and with a good team-effort, Ham-Kam managed to put pressure on Vålerenga, and with a little luck have closed the game.

Nevertheless, the match ended with either of the teams being able to score, and a draw was a fair result. Jan Michaelsen and morten Bertolt once again played well in the midfield, and Ramiro Corrales was as usual one of Ham-Kam´s best from his full-back position. Joachim Sørum played his best match in a year.

Next opponent for Ham-Kam is Rosenborg on Monday 16th October. A victory for Kamma will be very important in both end of the league table. In beaing Rosenborg, the Ham-Kam players will not only help themselves, but also ex-Ham-Kam Petter Vaagan Moen and Thorstein Helstad in fighting for the trophy.