Slovenj Gradec secured a 37-27 victory away to RIBNICA in the NLB First League on Wednesday evening. The result keeps the visitors on course in their push for a higher standing, while the hosts remain rooted near the bottom of the table. by then it was clear enough how the evening would unfold, even if the opening exchanges suggested something tighter.
The away side took control early and never looked back, pulling away with a series of quick goals that left the home defence scrambling. and here's the thing — the margin grew steadily rather than in sudden bursts, which told you everything about who wanted the game more. The visitors camped in the final third for long spells, and the scoreboard reflected that dominance without any drama.
What matters most right now is where both sides sit after seven rounds. RIBNICA occupy tenth place with three points from one win, five draws and a loss — a record that shows they struggle to close out results. Slovenj Gradec sit sixth with eight points, three wins and two defeats, and they have one foot in the next round of whatever promotion race they are chasing.
We had called for the visitors to win, with 57 per cent confidence before the match. to be fair the margin was wider than we expected, but the direction was right — the away team showed more quality and more urgency from the first whistle. The result ends a run of draws for RIBNICA, though it does little to change their position.
The gap between the two sides remains eight points, and the hosts now face a difficult stretch if they want to climb out of the lower half. Slovenj Gradec will hope this confidence carries through to their next fixture, where they can extend their unbeaten run further. The table does not lie, and right now it says the visitors are the ones moving forward.
