Topolčany secured a 3:0 win against Žiar nad Hronom in the 1. Liga on Tuesday evening. The hosts took all three points from what proved to be a straightforward affair at their home rink.
By then the league table told its own story — both sides sat on identical records of five wins and four defeats, yet Topolčany held second place while Žiar languished in sixth. The zero points on both columns suggests the standings were hinged on something finer than mere wins.
Topolčany's recent form has been characteristically unpredictable. They had just played five matches in quick succession, producing scores like 6:3 against Považská Bystrica and 6:2 over Dubnica, before a heavier defeat to Skalica on 18 September. Ground out the win against Žiar, and they extended their unbeaten run in the league.
Žiar's run had been more uneven. A commanding 5:1 victory over Skalica on 25 September stood alongside a frustrating 0:2 loss to Hamuliakovo just five days later. They had taken three points from Trnava on their last outing, but that was not enough to offset the inconsistency.
The 3:0 result means Topolčany tightened things up in their own right, while Žiar will make life awkward for themselves if they cannot find a rhythm. The gap between second and sixth may look small on paper, but results like this widen it in practice.
