Big K Strikes Out Alsancak

Big K’s first match in charge of Wiltshire Warriors proved ultimately successful as his side edged out Alsancak F.C 1-0 in an interesting encounter at Mosquito Alley. Alsancak made the more progressive start as they looked to further strengthen their position in the top three. However, they misfired with their finishing and also found Mark Moore in good form as the Warriors got to grips with the game. Indeed, but for the woodwork they would have gone in 1-0 up as they turned the screw on their hosts. The Warriors did take the lead with the first chance of the second-half as Craig Elliott looped a header into the goal. This stunned the hosts into action but, once again, Moore was to foil their good work with some fine saves in goal. It was his eight-bar performance which ultimately clinched the win as Big K got off to the perfect start. The win sees the side move onto 21 points and Big K was clearly delighted although he did warn his players against complacency by saying ‘you’re only as good as your next result.’ The defeat sees Alsancak drop to third but they still enjoy a two-point lead over fourth and will be hopeful of getting back to winning ways against Here For The Beer FC on Tuesday.

Wandsworth FC moved to within a point of the Division Three title as they won 4-2 at Glasgow City. On first glance it appears a comfortable win but on further analysis Wandsworth were indebted to some wayward finishing from the hosts who enjoyed 10 chances to their opponents 5. Wandsworth’s master-class of finishing began on two minutes when Freddy Kennedy stunned the home crowd with a corker from range. City were looking dangerous, though, and after a couple of near misses did manage an equaliser as Denny Kallgren expertly finished off a breakaway move which cut Wandsworth apart. Glasgow also went on to strike the woodwork in a tale of what could have been during an end-to-end first-half. It was the champions-elect, though, who would illustrate just why they are top of the league by taking full advantage of the missed opportunities at the other end by scoring two themselves. Ryan Prisk was the man to do the damage as he punished the home side from distance before finishing stylishly in the penalty area on 41 minutes to put the visitors 3-1 up at the break. City were to storm back after the interval despite being two behind. Creating numerous chances they did manage to pull one back through the right boot of Jonny Accrington on 56 minutes but, try as they might, they couldn’t find the elusive equaliser. Wandsworth, meanwhile, carried on their incredible finishing by netting their only chance of the half through Rick Tuttle, who had no problem poking a corner home to give them a 4-2 win. Wandsworth now look for the final point to cap a stunning first season while Glasgow City’s own promotion hopes took a dent. However, Moonboy will have been boosted by a positive performance which, with more clinical finishing, could have ended in a point if not all three.

These Charming Men continued their march to promotion with a routine 5-0 win at Northwich Victoria. The match was never really a contest as the visitors enjoyed the majority of the ball and turned their possession into ten chances over the course of the game. They made the initial breakthrough on 21 minutes when Linus Streicher headed in from a well-delivered Juan-Jose Galiano cross. Five minutes later and it was 2-0 as Northwich allowed themselves to get pinned back for long periods. Jordi Rodri netted his eighth of the season by nodding in a corner. While they couldn’t find any more goals during the first-half, These Charming Men added three more in a thoroughly one-sided second-half. Galiano was to get on the score-sheet himself as he finished crisply in the area on 50 minutes and it was 4-0 courtesy of a Stuart Cooksey header on 61 minutes as Victoria simply couldn’t cope with the quality of delivery from These Charming Men. The scoring was complete on 74 minutes when Chano Delgado followed the pattern of the match by heading in a Rodri centre to notch a well-deserved fifth. The win sees the promotion-hopefuls four points clear of the chasing pack with RDCM urging his troops to ‘keep working hard’ and make it ‘3 out of 3’ against the Glory Hornets. The defeat continues a worrying pattern for Northwich which has seen the side win just once in their last twelve games.

The chasing pack continues to be led by wortley afc who impressed in coming from behind to defeat the Glory Hornets 3-1 at Yellow Brick Road. In a game where defences didn’t cover themselves in glory, it was the Hornets who would take an early lead. It came from a corner as Toma Popadic headed in after just two minutes. Despite being behind, wortley managed to create seven chances in an open half of football which, surprisingly, only yielded two goals. The second goal of the game went to the visitors in the same fashion as the first went to the Hornets. A corner wasn’t defended properly and Brandon Hiller headed home to bring parity back to the game. The second-half saw wortley increase their efforts to take the three points and they were rewarded on the hour-mark. A breakaway involving the impressive Walter Willock culminated with Spencer Knight defeating Rosbotham in goal. Indeed, if it wasn’t for Robotham the score might have started to get away from the home side as they were giving up chances at an alarming rate. Despite his heroics it eventually became 3-1 on 78 minutes as Quincy Bowey struck from distance to confirm the three points for wortley. The points see wortley just two points off a much sought after place in the top three and Thegreatlordbags will be surely be hopeful of pushing into them with more performances like this one. Glory Hornets, meanwhile, have slipped five points off the pace and will have to go on an impressive run to force their way into the shake-up.

The Champs sit three points behind Alsancak following a 2-0 home victory over Grey Area. In a tight first-half both sides were hit by injuries as Marko Ekbladh for the hosts and Velibor Klasnic for Area forced the managers into reshuffles. The Champs opened the game up slightly in the second-half although it took a slice of fortune for them to gain the lead. It was to come as Allan Bound found himself in unfamiliar territory facing his own goal and it cost his side as he put past Kerrigan in goal. On 76 minutes it was 2-0 and, effectively, game over as Cal Butters combined with Leigh Ellefson to put a free-kick into the net and send the three points the way of the home side. The Champs are doing what their manager, Wylie, wants by keeping ‘the pressure on the leading pack’ and they will hope to be have their reward with a top three spot come the season’s end. Carfin, meanwhile, was disappointed after seeing his ‘high standards’ not matched by his side. He also explained that the remaining games will focus on ‘experience’ and ‘teamwork’ values as they prepare for next season.

Dream Team won the battle at the bottom of the table with a 5-0 success over Here For The Beer FC. The game was won during an expansive first-half performance which saw MrJames’ side create seven chances and take three while Here For The Beer remain a work in progress. Adem Tumer began the rout with a fine finish from a breakaway move with Jack Lightbody soon making it 2-0 with a clinical strike in the penalty area. It took until the 37th minute for number three to arrive but Milorad Gavrancic made no mistake with a header from a good Barrowcliff cross. The second-half was all about Lightbody as he added two more goals to complete his hat-trick and his team's win. His first was a routine finish from a super Lupatelli pass, which split the away defence, while his second was a more difficult chance which he made look simple as he defeated Mendoza for 5-0. MrJames will be pleased with how his players have responded since he has taken on the job and will be optimistic for the new season. Howemiester will be hopeful of a similar impact once the change report and silly season are out of the way as he wasn’t given much of a level playing field upon taking over Here For The Beer FC.