HC EUROFARM PELISTER – HC ALKALOID – 27 : 25 (13 : 12)

Sports venue: “Boro Churlevski” – Bitola. Referees: Viktor Andonov and Stojanche Jovanovski

HC E. Pelister: Lesjak, Ojleski 2, Kisum 5, Radovikj 3, Tankoski 5, Hosni 2, Kosteski 2, Vilson, Kukoski, Velkovski, Petar Atanasijevikj 2, Vasiljev 6, Heneberg, Pavle Atanasijevikj, Peshevski, Kizikj

Seven-metre throws: 1/1 Suspensions: 12 min.

HC Alkaloid: Trajkovski, Galevski, Djonov 3, Petrov 2, Markoski, Stojkov, Mladenovikj, Serafimov 5, Ilieski 5, Stojkovikj 2, Mitev, Gjorgiev 4, Ivanoski, Simonoski, Petkovski 3, Savrevski 1

Seven-metre throws: 4/6 Suspensions: 14 min.

HC Alkaloid failed to win points in the away derby in Bitola in the duel with HC Eurofarm Pelister. Our team was better in most of the first half, but the finish belonged to the Bitola team who took the advantage and continued in the same rhythm in the second 30 minutes. Then they managed to keep the lead in the match, although HC Alkaloid had real chances to turn the score around until the end. Our team had the lead for most of the first half (6 : 3, 8 : 6, 10 : 8), but the home team managed to make a turnaround, thus they went on break with a 13 : 12 score.

There was an even battle in the second half in which the home team had a two to three goal advantage, but our team was constantly close and threatened to turn it around. At the very end, HC Alkaloid reduced to minus one (24:25 and 25:26), but the last goal was scored by the home team and the match ended with a score of 27:25.

In the next round, HC Alkaloid will play at home for the first time in the playoff championship, and its opponent will be the team of HC Tinex Prolet.

CHC TIKVESH – HC ALKALOID 31-31 (16-16)

Sports venue: “Jasmin” in Kavadarci. Referees: Sasho Krkachev and Gjoko Kolevski. Delegate: Dushko Kamishevski

CHC Tikvesh: Braunovikj, Velkov, Petrovikj 2, Lazov, Postolov, Temelkoski 2, Sokolov, Anastasovski 3, Milkov, Okardov, Kondev 4, Simikj 9, Dimovski 5, Shuleski, Kocev 2, Hamzikj 4

Seven-metre throws: 5/8 Suspensions: 16 min.

Alkaloid: Trajkovski, Galevski, Petrov 1, Markoski 2, Mladenovikj, Serafimov 4, Stojkovikj 1, Ilieski 4, Djonov 6, M. Mitev 5, Gjorgiev 5, Ivanoski 3, Kofiloski, Petkovski, D. Mitev, Savrevski

Seven-metre throws: 3/3 Suspensions: 18 min.

HC Alkaloid and CHC Tikvesh shared the points from the derby match in the first round of the playoff championship that took place in Kavadarci.

The match was tight at times and tense, with sharp play and many time-outs, and the finish was dramatic.

The home team had a better start to the match and was in the lead during the first part, but at the end of the half, the game of HC Alkaloid came to the fore, thus they went on break with a draw (16-16).

In the second half, HC Alkaloid commanded the score. We led with 21-18 after ten minutes of play and were constantly in the lead, including a two-goal advantage, 31-29 in the last minute.

However, in the dramatic ending, the home team scored two goals and the match ended without a winner.

HC Alkaloid also completed the final stage of preparations for the playoff season. Last week, the team was in Serbia, where, in addition to physical preparation and training, they also prepared tactically, by playing control matches with teams from the championship of the Republic of Serbia.

HC Alkaloid played four control matches, in which they had four victories, and coach Kiril Lazarov had the opportunity to test all handball players and time their form for the upcoming challenges in the domestic championship.

In the first control match, HC Alkaloid was better than the fall vice-champion of Serbia, the team of HC Dinamo Panchevo (25 : 22); in the second game, they defeated the team of HC Lavovi (36:13); then they defeated HC Crvenka (39:23), and at the last control match they were better than the team of HC UB (35:27).

In fact, the entire phase of the preparations was completed with the last match, thus the team will continue to train in Skopje until the start of the playoffs.

The Macedonian playoff championship is scheduled to start on February 11, and in the first round, HC Alkaloid will be the visiting team against the CHC Tikvesh team in Kavadarci.

The elimination match against HC Butel Skopje is next for HC Alkaloid in the Cup of Macedonia. The
team that wins this duel will play against the winner of the match between the teams of HC Prilep and
HC Vardar Negotino for placement in the F4 tournament in the Cup of Macedonia.

16 teams in total made it to the group stage of the Cup of Macedonia and they were divided today by
draw into four groups with four teams. According to the elimination system, they will play each other
and the overall winner of each group will advance to the tournament semi-finals. The semi-finals will be
played according to the F4 system.

The teams were ranked according to the ranking of the previous season, and our club was placed in the
so-called third hat. The groups were then determined by draw, and HC Alkaloid will be playing in group 3
with the teams of HC Butel Skopje, HC Prilep and HC Vardar Negotino. The matches of this stage are
planned to take place in the March 18-19 period. The group organizer has not yet been determined, and
each team has the right to apply to host.

HC Alkaloid started the year with a victory. In its first match in 2023, our team defeated HC Dinamo
Panchevo with 25 : 22 (12 : 10) in the preparations in Stara Pazova.
The second-placed team in the Serbian championship, Dinamo Panchevo, which is in an advanced stage
of preparations, started the match better and led with 5 : 2 after thirteen minutes of play. HC Alkaloid
evened the score (5 : 5) in the seventeenth minute, and two minutes later took the lead (7 : 6). At
halftime, the same difference was maintained (12 : 10).

In the second half, our team entered with a series of 5 : 2 and reached a lead of 17 : 12 in the 42nd
minute. Dinamo Panchevo managed to get to a one goal difference ten minutes before the end, but our
players were composed and did not allow for the score to be evened or reversed. On the contrary, they
finished the match with a score of 21 : 20, after a series of 4 : 1.

HC Alkaloid is preparing in Serbia without the national team players Martin Serafimov, Igor Gjorgiev and
Nikola Markoski, who were spared after playing in the World Cup.