Wonderful Wandsworth Whack Four

Wandsworth were the most impressive winners as a host of new teams got under way in Division Three of the RM Invitational . Hosting Chelsea, Wandsworth were at it right from the start as they put the visitors under intense pressure. A goal after only a minute from Freddy Kennedy gave them the perfect platform from which to build and the performance was to get better and better. An injury to Sebastiano Munoz didn’t help the Chelsea cause and when Rick Tuttle added a second from distance before half-time the writing was on the wall for the visitors. While they did manage a couple of attempts in the second-half in what was a slight attacking improvement on the first it was the hosts who always held superiority. A Rowley Forrester free-kick made it three before Tuttle added his second of the game and his team’s fourth to complete the rout. Jamma had warned before the season that they would be the ‘lowest scoring team this season’ while he builds his youths and his prophecy could well become reality. LotharIstvan will undoubtedly be delighted with his teams start and will hope to continue their form when they host Alsancak next.

Alsancak themselves warmed up nicely for that clash with a hard-fought victory over The Champs. Despite conceding the majority of chances Alsancak would score the all important goal after 36 minutes when Samuel del Valle struck inside the area. The defeat appeared harsh on The Champs who competed hard and, but for a cutting edge, could have scored on a number of occasions. Wienersnitzel was happy with the victory and emphasised that it was important his side was starting to ‘gel together’ to attain their target of a ‘mid-table position’ at the end of the season. The Champs remain one of the stronger sides in the division and if they can turn their chances into goals then they will surely cause a lot of damage in the coming season.

LewisHopes’ much billed return to the league opened up in disappointing fashion as wortley afc proved too strong in a 4-1 victory. Benefitting from more experience in the league wortley always looked the more assured side. Michael Keeler had scored early for the home side but Portsmouth did manage to hit back as midfielder Bob Black headed in. From this moment onwards it was to be all wortley as Michael Keeler scored his second before half-time and then completed a superb hat-trick with a stunning strike from distance. Jake Shiver rounded off the win late on with a clinical header to leave home fans dreaming of a successful season after last term’s struggles. Lewis has more long-term ambitions and his hope is to be up with the likes of ‘Marseille and Totaalvoetbal within the next five seasons.’

Josef’s London Gunners took to life in the RM Invitational like a duck to water with a handsome 3-1 victory over These Charming Men. In truth the game was more even than the score reflected but the hosts' more accomplished finishing won the day. TCM took the lead on 20 minutes when Lientur Rial fired in from a corner although the lead wasn’t to last long. Paolo Kask restored parity for the hosts with a neat finish as the sides went in locked at the break. The Gunners came out much tighter after the interval and were to give up no further chances while taking the two they created themselves. Isak Bergendorff headed in to give them their first lead of the game before Kask headed in his second to give the hosts a 3-1 win which will have surely pleased Josef.

The other winners in the division on opening day were Pretty in pink after they overcame The Posh 1-0 in a war of attrition. In a game where both sides created a chance each it was Allan Bound who would be the hero by finishing his in fine fashion for the visitors. The defeat will have been hard to take for The Posh as they have put together one of the strongest sides in the division and will hope they win a far greater percentage of matches this time around. Pretty in pink will be pleased with the start but will be aware of a need to maintain their focus to remain successful.

Northwich Victoria manager MadMagpie was awarded manager of the round for his efforts and so will have been left a little disappointed by a 2-2 draw away at Glory Hornets. The first-half was a tight affair and ended up all-square following a couple of early goals. Tom-Stian Anthonsen headed in after a minute for the visitors but Eustace North finished off a classic breakaway goal to ensure parity for the hosts. Eliott Malloy was to complete the turnaround with another breakaway just before the hour but this only served to inspire the visitors. Creating six chances in a one-sided half Victoria left it late to seal a point as Albert Hildre headed in four minutes into stoppages. It was nothing less than they deserved but with a point each both sides will look to build on this in the coming weeks.