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Promotion to the second Bundesliga unfortunately not successful

After a great season and full effort in the promotion round, the Frankfurter HC women's handball team unfortunately had to say goodbye to their promotion dream

After five victories in a row, the FHC women's handball team suffered an expected opening defeat (19:26 (8:12)) at the hands of league leader HC-Rödertal on 1 May. Coach Wolfgang Dahlmann defended his team, saying that despite considerable personnel problems, they had performed well over long stretches and that the result did not reflect the course of the game. In the first half, the team defended well and conceded only 12 goals, but they were a bit unlucky up front, hitting the post or crossbar six times. The second half also went well at first. The FHC even came within one goal in the 44th minute (16:17). After that, however, they ran out of energy. Coach Dahlmann: "We normally can't win against Rödertal, for me they clearly belong in the Second Division and I would be surprised if they don't finish first in the group". 
 

Unfortunately, FHC could not win the second game on 7 May at home against SG Main-Bretzenheim and, after a good start with a 7:5 lead in the first four minutes, lost 21:26 (9:12). After the visitors had turned the game around, FHC started to catch up in the 36th minute and came back to within 15:17 in the 41st minute. The Oderstadt team was able to maintain the two- to three-goal deficit until the 52nd minute, but was unable to reduce it. The SG was able to use the final phase to their advantage and won the game. 

Frankfurt team

In the third match of the promotion round at home on 14.5. against SG 09 Kirchhof, the FHC suffered another setback in the fight for promotion: they lost narrowly 23:24 (12:14). In an error-ridden initial phase of both teams, the FHC was able to get in front again and again despite being behind at the beginning until 7:6 (14th), among other things through the efforts of circle runner Jessica Koconrek. However, despite a thin squad of only nine players, Kirchhof seemed more awake and lively and was able to turn the game around with fast combination and attacking play to 7:10 (20th). This trend continued after the break: In the 41st minute, the score was 14:19 and nobody believed that the Oderstadt team would get back into the game. However, they fought their way back to 20:21 (53rd), but then could not equalise despite several opportunities. 

Wolfgang Dahlmann behind the bench of the FHC
Michéle Dürrwald
Valeryia Kurliandchyk

After the home match on 21 May against HC Rödertal, the FHC women had to say goodbye to the fight for promotion to the second Bundesliga. With a determined and combative performance, the women from the Oderstadt offered the big favourites a balanced duel for a long time, but in the end lost 25:28 (13:14). 
After a seemingly decisive lead of the guests until the 16th minute (10:4), the duel took a turn: Ashley Busse made several saves in goal and the Frankfurt team scored seven goals in a row to turn the game around and take an 11:10 lead (24th minute). At the break, however, the HC managed to regain the lead after 9 scoreless minutes. After the changeover, the women from the Oderstadt were able to take control of the game again (15:14, 34th), but then they had wasted their energy. The guests took advantage of all the mistakes and increased the lead to 23:17 by the 45th minute. The FHC then managed to reduce the score again (20:23, 51st and 24:26, 56th), but it was no longer enough. 

Wolfgang Dahlmann (Coach Frankfurter HC):
"I can't blame the team for their fighting spirit. They tried everything, but in the end they made too many mistakes. That takes revenge, especially against a team like Rödertal. At the end of the day, it was a conciliatory conclusion in front of our own fans."

FHC vs. HC Rödertal
FHC vs. HC Rödertal
FHC vs. HC Rödertal
Monika Odrowska
FHC vs. HC Rödertal
FHC vs. HC Rödertal

In the match at SG Mainz-Bretzenheim on 26 May, the Frankfurt HC women's handball team suffered a 24:33 (16:16) defeat, after having been a strong opponent until the second half. Due to injuries and the quarter-final second leg of the B-youth, which took place on the same day, the squad was severely thinned out. 
After the match day, the decisions in Group 1 were made: as expected, HC Rödertal made direct promotion to the 2nd League, SG Mainz-Bretzenheim secured second place in the relegation. 
 

The team won the last match of the promotion round at SG Kirchhof 09 on 28 May with a clear and unchallenged 33:20 (16:8). The Frankfurt women surprised the northern Hessians and took a 6:0 lead after only 7 minutes, which they extended to 9:1 (16th) and maintained until the break. After the change of the sides, they took their first ten-goal lead (21:11, 36.). The hosts were able to score a few more goals, but could no longer reach the FHC in their victory run, so that the game ended with a score of 20:33. 
 

We congratulate the FHC on a successful season, even if it was unfortunately not quite enough in the end, and we are excited to see what the next season has in store.