Wandsworth look like The Champs

Wandsworth moved 14 points clear following their latest success, a 2-1 win at The Champs. In a competitive first-half, WFC managed to jump out to a 2-0 lead following two cracking headers. They opened the scoring on 13 minutes as Darcy Hording set the standard by meeting a Sterland corner magnificently to head past Irving. It was 2-0 just five minutes later when, following a run and cross by Barratt, Rowley Forrester was on hand to nod in and deliver some breathing space. The Champs were playing their part in a good opening 45 minutes despite the score and found some reward on 25 minutes. After picking up the ball from Hammevik, Bruce Collinge was successful with his effort from distance to halve the deficit and breathe new life into the home support. However, they couldn’t find the elusive equaliser and WFC shut up shop after the break. Controlling the game with their hard-working 4-3-3 system they managed to stop The Champs from getting in behind them and played out the game. This was even more impressive considering the sending off of Bardes which meant they had to play the final minutes with just 10-men. Promotion now appears a mere formality for Lothar’s boys and they deserve every compliment going after a stunning season. The Champs are only five points adrift of the top three and Wylie won’t have written off hopes of promotion just yet, though they will need to pick up some quick wins to build pressure on the clubs around them.

Alsancak won the big battle at the top as they knocked three past an out-of-sorts These Charming Men. With reporters converging on the ground speaking of what a titanic struggle the match was going to be the final outcome surprised everyone. AFC swarmed over a TCM side who struggled to string together a couple of passes all game. It came as no surprise when the home side opened the scoring on 19 minutes as Albert Scully swept the ball into the net after a fine breakaway move inspired by the outstanding Brad Kavanaugh. Three yellow cards signalled the away side’s frustration as they were unable to make any impact on the game. Two injuries to Gris and Castellano also didn’t help their mood as they found themselves pegged back for long periods. This is to take nothing away from AFC, though, who were in imperious form. After creating chance after chance they finally added the goals they deserved in the final ten minutes. Kavanaugh helped himself to a much deserved goal with a cracking long range shot and Duncan Lumsden added some realism to the score with a shot after a corner in injury-time. While Wienersnitzel will be delighted with his side’s win and their subsequent leapfrogging over their opponents, RDCM was at a loss to account for his team’s play. After explaining that they ‘didn’t even turn up’ he quickly excused himself to ‘have a nice little chat’ with them.

Glory Hornets propelled themselves to the fringes of the promotion area by putting in an impressive performance in seeing off Grey Area 2-0. GA looked in the mood to continue their recent run during a solid opening 45 minutes for the hosts. Despite being the more progressive side the first-half was to be remembered by two penalty misses. The Hornets had their chance to sting the hosts after 14 minutes but Eliott Malloy couldn’t take it and the score remained 0-0. Malloy would have been fearful that his miss would prove even more costly as Diego Maradona then had the very same chance at the other end. Malloy, however, was able to breathe a sigh of relief as the penalty jinx continued and, ultimately, it would be GH who would benefit the most. Producing a bristling second-half performance, the visitors were able to score two of their five chances while keeping Area comfortably out at the other end. Dale Lansbury broke the deadlock with a clinical strike in the area on 54 minutes and a half-hour later Malloy had his own redemption. Meeting a Close cross, he headed past Kerrigan to seal the three points and move Mucca’s side to within two of TCM in third. GA saw their own hopes of promotion take a nosedive with Carfin admitting that he had ‘no idea where that result and performance came from.’

The Hornets were able to move into fourth as Glasgow City suffered a 2-0 reverse at Northwich Victoria. In truth, it was a bad defeat to a NV side who still choose not to select substitutions. In a dull affair it seemed for a long time that the only talking point would be the six yellow cards dished out by referee Nixon. However, with time ebbing away, NV would make the crucial breakthrough. It came from a Neau cross which the visitors couldn’t deal with and ended when Odin Mikkelborg headed in from point-blank range. This gave NV the confidence to go on and seal the win with Neau himself hitting a stunning free-kick which had the home fans in raptures. The win will give the side hope for the next season if it doesn’t really affect this term. For City it is a blow to their hopes of promotion and they go into a crunch clash with the Hornets next knowing they cannot afford to lose.

Moving back into the equation are wortley who enjoyed a 4-0 win at Here For The Beer even though they had fewer chances than their hosts. The superior finishing would win the day for a wortley side with aspirations for playing Division Two football next season. Michael Keeler scored the opener after 18 minutes when he was first to react from a corner and fired past Mendoza. With HFTBFC missing seven chances in the game it was left to Walter Willock to show them how it should be done. A header just after the hour made it 2-0 and when he fired in a long range shot for their third it was game over. Jake Shiver headed in their fourth with time running out to complete a clinical day for wortley. They now sit four points out of the top three and will hope to narrow the gap further with a home match against Victoria next up. Howemiester continues to prepare his side for more competitive seasons to come and will need to grow a thick skin to deal with their continued results for the rest of the season.

Dream Team continued their fine work and illustrate what a bit of organisation with a fine manager can achieve. It was a thoroughly merited three points against a slack Pompey side who were, once more, hit by an injured player being unable to continue and, with no substitutes named, the team had to play for the remaining 72 minutes with 10-men. Dream team took full advantage and were in front just three minutes later; a header from Jack Lightbody giving Morgan no chance in the home goal. Dream Team continued to have the better of the game and got a deserved second goal when Giovanni Cambiel finished a breakaway to the delight of the visiting support. With the side in decent form and with three wins under their belt, next season could be a successful one at the Stadium of Dreams. As for Pompey and Lewis? Well, who knows what the future holds there as a talented manager continues to let his side slip down the table.