Seventh Heaven for TCM

These Charming Men put in a dazzling display to overcome a transitional Here For The Beer FC. Three goals in the first six minutes set the tone for the evening as the hosts played some gold standard football. Juan-Jose Galiano started the scoring with a crisp penalty area finish after two minutes and the writing was on the wall when the lead was doubled just two minutes later following a precise Chano Delgado header which beat Mendoza in goal. A Stuart Cooksey shot after a corner made it 3-0 on six minutes and any score seemed possible. The hosts remained on top but had to wait until 24 minutes to add number four but it was worth the wait. A Jordi Rodri free-kick special crashed into the net and ensured the half-time cup of tea would taste infinitely sweeter in the home dressing room. HFTBFC did create a couple of openings in the first-half but appeared too shell-shocked to take them and were completely becalmed after the break. TCM maintained some impressive passing moves but wouldn’t find any further openings until the final minutes of the game when three goals in a four-minute spell capped the win. Mauricio Capdevilla headed in number five on 79 minutes and Delgado followed suit on 82 to make it 6-0. A super breakaway, converted by Juan-Maria Urzaiz, finished the scoring with the home side going off to a standing ovation. RDCM was happy his side ‘outlined (their) promotion credentials’ and now sees his side sit four points clear of fourth and in control of their own destiny. Howemiester continues his thankless task between now and the end of the season when he will then be able to make the squad his own in preparation for next season.

Alsancak maintained their grip on second-place but had to work hard against a resolute Dream Team. The first-half saw the home side enjoy the better opportunities but neither side were able to make the breakthrough and they were to go in 0-0 at the interval with Dream Team the happier of the two sides. Alsancak became more expansive after the break and went on to create six opportunities to their opponent’s solitary chance. Niall Hedges eventually made the breakthrough with a clinical strike in the penalty area after 68 minutes. It was no less than they deserved for their forward-thinking style of football. They got the crucial second goal on 81 minutes as some poor marking from a corner allowed Eliott Burbank the opportunity to head past Williamson from close range. This was to prove all-important as the away side managed to pull one back in the dying moments with a long range shot from Giovanni Cambiel. Wienersnitzel now has his side five points clear of the chasing pack and with matches running out he will be confident of a place in Division Two for next season. Dream Team are maintaining their decent form in the hope of a positive change, the club will be excited to see the best of MrJames next season on a level playing field with the rest.

Wandsworth continued their serene progress with a 2-0 home victory over Grey Area which confirmed their promotion. Overcoming an early injury to Stewart Sterland, Wandsworth managed to control much of the game due to their ball retention. An early goal sent them on their way against an experimental Area side and they never appeared threatened. The goal came courtesy of Darcy Hording who found the back of the net from some distance after being teed up by Stevan Mudi. Wandsworth did waste a further opportunity in the half but managed to double their lead in the early stages of the second. Hording continued to have a major say on the outcome as he threaded a ball to Samson Heskey who, in turn, had no difficulty in finding the back of the net. It was another three points for Wandsworth who celebrated the promotion with their fans at the end of the game and now set their sights on securing a title in their first season. Carfin will be undoubtedly making a mental note of which players are worthy of a shirt for next season as their campaign draws to a close.

A comprehensive 3-0 win allowed wortley afc to keep up their promotion challenge. A powerful first-half was enough to see off the challenge of Northwich Victoria who, once more, disappointed. Walter Willock did the early damage with a super free-kick after only three minutes to give the home side the confidence they needed to play fluently. Willock doubled the dose with another free-kick after 36 minutes to leave Northwich with an uphill struggle. This soon became a mountain as Brandon Hiller converted number three from some 30-yards out, punishing a lack of midfield presence from the away side. While the hosts maintained their superiority on the game the second-half lacked the intensity of the first and was played out with no further goals. The home side can only hope they can push on and capitalise on any slips from the teams above them with six games remaining. Northwich remain in need of some leadership as their first season threatens to end with barely a whimper.

Glory Hornets sit level with wortley on 27 points as they were held at home by a determined Glasgow City. The home side had the better of the opening 45 minutes but only went in level as two early goals cancelled each other out. Eliott Malloy netted his 13th goal of the season with an accomplished header after only ten minutes but could only watch as Morgan Ellis headed in at the other end only two minutes later. The Hornets missed three opportunities as they looked the likelier to net again but couldn’t apply the finishing touch. City were stronger after the break and edged the scoring chances 3-2 but, as with the home side, there was no composure in front of goal when it was needed the most and the outcome was a point for either side. The sides remain just a point apart in the standings and both will still entertain top three hopes, although they will need to find a killer touch in the remaining matches.

Portsmouth played their last match under that guise as The Champs kept up their hopes for a successful end to the season with a 2-0 away win. With Portsmouth setting up with players in random positions the win was there for the taking and the visitors weren’t to disappoint. They had to endure a disappointing opening 45 minutes, though, as they struggled to find a way through the Pompey rearguard. The second-half proved more fruitful for The Champs and the viewing public as both sides created chances. Bruce Collinge broke the deadlock with a fine shot in the penalty area on 49 minutes and Pompey were struggling when Jason Greenfield made a hash of a golden opportunity from the penalty spot. Matthew Boyce confirmed the three points would be going back with them when he shot home from range to the delight of Wylie909. While The Champs will move onto a tough encounter with Grey Area in the hope of another three points in their quest for promotion, Portsmouth underwent change after the game. With Lewis gone, the board made no secret of their desire to bring in Big K and were delighted when he accepted the challenge. After renaming the side Wiltshire Warriors he admitted to having ‘his work cut out’ but looked to meet the challenge head on and save the ailing club.