Relegation: Schardenberg lit an offensive firework for the ascent

“This success is an enormous relief.” Schardenberg’s section head and sporting director Stefan Moser tells OÖN what all the players, officials and fans of Union Schardenberg were thinking at the final whistle last Sunday in the relegation second leg against ATSV Laab. After the 7-2 thrashing in the first leg, the Schardenbergers didn’t let anything burn in front of their own audience and celebrated their return to the 1st class with another shooting match (7-0).
After the bitter relegation in the 2019 relegation, the Schardenbergers were already well on the way back twice. However, the corona pandemic slowed down the then sovereign leaders of the 2nd class west north just as often. In the past 2021/22 season, with third place, you just missed the knockout duels for promotion and relegation. Now the Schardenberger managed with trainer Andreas Wimmeder but the long-awaited resurgence. “The joy is great. Even after the clear win in the first leg, you could tell how much weight had been lifted from our shoulders at the club,” says Moser.

Honor at the tent festival

Above all, the offensive around playmaker Christoph Glas was in a class of its own in both games against Laab. Glas himself scored a total of seven times in both games and thus played a key role in the success. “Christoph is exactly the type for such games. What he did was sensational,” Moser is full of praise for the former national league kicker. The Schardenbergers celebrated their third promotion in the club’s history until the wee hours of the morning and turned night into day in the clubhouse.
This will probably also be the case at the traditional tent festival that the association is organizing again from June 30th to July 2nd. “In addition to our promotion heroes, our reserve team, which has become champions this year, is also duly honored there,” says the section head.

For the coming season in the 1st class Northwest, Moser wishes one thing above all after the past turbulent seasons: peace. “Even if we are of course aware that this league is extremely balanced and everyone can win against everyone else.” In order to be prepared for the upcoming tasks, Schardenberg has also used a future league competitor. Both striker and Schardenberg home-grown Sebastian Mayr as well as defensive man Dominik Machtlinger come from FC Münzkirchen. “We don’t want to have anything to do with relegation as soon as possible,” says Moser, setting the direction for his team.

Look forward

What the Schardenberger want to prevent in the coming season has become bitter reality for ATSV Laab due to the relegation bankruptcy. “Of course we’re disappointed,” says coach Gerald Hainzl. “But unfortunately it wasn’t enough against this strong squad.” Despite the clear defeat, it is now important to put a check on what happened and to look positively at the new season in the 2nd class. “The majority of the team stays together. We want to put together a powerful squad so that we can play up front again next year.”
A goal that the third Innviertel “relegation club”, the Union Hochburg-Ach, will set itself. Just like Laab, you have to go to the 2nd class. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, they lost 4-1 in the return match against SV Roitham.