Hammer Eisbären secured a 4-3 victory away at Erfurt on Sunday in the Oberliga Nord, a result that keeps them firmly in the upper reaches of the table. The match finished with the visitors holding on despite a late push from the home side.
Erfurt have been struggling for consistency this season, sitting in 11th place after seven games. They've lost five of those matches and yet to find any form, including a 3-6 defeat against Füchse Duisburg just two days ago. To be fair, they did manage a 4-2 win over Hannover back in September, but that feels like a distant memory now.
By then, Hammer Eisbären had already shown they could compete. They sit fourth after seven matches with four wins, though their recent 1-4 loss to Herner suggests they're not entirely consistent either. The bookmakers were pricing a low-scoring game, but this one delivered plenty of end-to-end action.
We had given the away side a 48 per cent chance of victory, and that call proved accurate. The visitors showed more composure in the final stages, turning to the kids when it mattered and finding a way back into it after going behind. And here's the thing — it wasn't just about talent, it was about belief.
Hammer Eisbären are unbeaten in five matches overall, and this result extends that run on the road. They've won three of their last four away fixtures, including a 3-1 victory over Hannover earlier this month. The heat took the sting out of their earlier setbacks against Herner and Neuwied.
For Erfurt, the loss means they remain rooted to the bottom half of the table with no points to show for seven appearances. They'll need to turn things around quickly if they want to avoid a difficult season. The support of the fans could be called devoted, but that is an assessment, not a fact.
