TCM & Alsancak Up

These Charming Men were able to celebrate promotion to Division Two with a 2-1 victory at Grey Area. Knowing a point would be enough things didn’t start well for TCM as they conceded a goal and suffered an injury in a turbulent opening 45 minutes. Area stunned their visitors in the second minute as Roger Stride ran onto an Allan Bound pass to beat Challis in goal. The visitors enjoyed a lot of possession from there on in but they missed the two chances they created and were to lose Jon Turnball to an injury on 20 minutes. The second-half was to bring more joy for RDCM’s side as they scored two quick goals which would, ultimately, seal promotion. Stuart Cooksey gave them the perfect boost at the beginning of the second 45 minutes as he shot home in the penalty area following a nice pass by Loran Rajabi. With Area still rocking the visitors quickly doubled their pain. Gregorio Jonay was the tormentor of the home defence out wide as he swung in a cross perfectly for Eliseu Henriques to head in. Chances came at both ends during an exciting end to the game but there was to be no further goals. There were wild scenes amongst the away support at the final whistle as they celebrated a superb season following RDCM’s arrival. RDCM was delighted with the outcome and proud of ‘the progress made in a short time.’ Meanwhile, Grey Area continue their quest to boost form and match experience before the, fast approaching, change report.

Alsancak F.C also won promotion on a dramatic day at Mosquito Alley. With the champions Wandsworth in town the task looked a difficult one for Alsancak as they looked to get three points which would take them into Division Two. They quickly created chances and were buoyed further by an injury to Wandsworth defender Stewart Sterland. The hosts would take the lead on 22 minutes after a corner, delivered by Brad Kavanaugh, was struck home by Eliott Burbank. With Wandsworth playing second fiddle to a positive home team the game looked to be heading in only one direction. This was further confirmed when, on 33 minutes, Kenny Acton headed home another Kavanaugh corner. Wandsworth’s first-half woe was complete when Danny Shorey also had to be replaced due to an injury and they trudged in at the break looking anything but champions. The second-half wasn’t to bring any improvement for the visitors as Alsancak clinched promotion in style. The instrumental Kavanaugh added a deserved goal on 58 minutes by striking home in the area following another corner on 58 minutes. The victory was then assured eleven minutes later as a Kavanaugh cross was headed home by Acton for his second of the game. A Rowley Forrester free-kick on 89 minutes proved scant consolation for Wandsworth but they will know they did their hard work earlier in the campaign. This day was all about Wienersnitzel and Alsancak as, after an impressive first season, they are now a Division Two football side.

The team missing out due to Alsancak and TCM’s promotions were wortley afc. Despite winning 2-1 at Glasgow City, results elsewhere meant their chance slipped by. It was to be a deserved win for the visitors as they kept their hosts chanceless in the first-half and went in 1-0 up. The goal came in the ninth minute as Nigel Krippner scored his second goal of the season with a cracking free-kick to further underline his potential. City’s troubled first 45 minutes ended on a low note as Hugo Weymouth limped off before the break to cause reserve ‘keeper Tejera to play up front for the remainder of the game. The second-half, however, saw a change of fortune in the game as City were to gain possession and also create the same number of chances as wortley. Both sides struggled in front of goal, though, as wortley held onto their one-goal advantage until late in the piece. An injury to Marry Heath didn’t help the visitors’ cause and City were to find themselves level on 90 minutes. A good through ball by Edward Stoneley found the composed figure of Isak Bergendorff who shot past Jenning. Thegreatlordbags’ side then showed the composure which has kept them fighting for promotion to the last as they went in front again straight from the kick-off. Some rapid passing ended when Quincy Bowey found Curt Pryor in the area. Pryor took one touch before finding the back of the net to win the game in dramatic fashion. However, it wasn’t to prove enough to propel wortley to promotion but they will fancy going one better next season after showing improvement season on season since their arrival. City, meanwhile, will also be looking to be up at the top end of the table following a season of consolidation this time round.

Another side looking to be pushing for promotion next season are Wiltshire Warriors. Taking on manager-less Northwich Victoria, the Warriors cut them open at will with the only surprise being that they only scored the three goals. Victoria’s season was summed up when Tom-Stian Anthonsen was injured in the 17th minute and, with no substitutes on the bench, they had to face playing the remainder of the game with 10-men. The Warriors went on to create five chances in the opening half and were to take the lead on 29 minutes. A corner was delivered by Clifford Cornish and, with the home defence in disarray, Craig Elliott shot home. The lead was doubled on 40 minutes through a Steven Milford strike in the penalty area following good work by Bob Black. As if Victoria’s task wasn’t hard enough they suffered further pain at the start of the second-half with Atgeirr Aspas joining the wounded in the treatment room to further reduce their men on the pitch. With only 9-men out there Victoria couldn’t stem the attacks from the Warriors and nine chances were created during the second 45 minutes. Some wayward finishing meant that they only added one further goal. It came late on as Elliott headed in his second goal from a pinpoint Black cross. Warriors news reported that ‘Big K would have expected a top three finish if in charge from the start’ and that will be music to the ears of their fans as they look forward to next season.

The Champs enjoyed an away victory at Dream Team thanks, in the main, to a superb performance from their forwards. There was no indication of what was to come as Dream Team put together a composed first-half performance to create five chances while keeping the visitors chanceless at the other end. However, the hosts would miss a lot of their chances, the worst culprit being Rinaldo Lupatelli who missed a fifth minute penalty. Lupatelli did, partially, make amends on the stroke of half-time when he shot home after a Giovanni Cambiel pass. The second-half took a different pattern from the start and The Champs would stun their hosts with two goals in the first three minutes. Leigh Ellefson shot home on 47 minutes before crossing for Seth Alker to head them into the lead just a minute later. With chances at both ends the fans were on the edge of their seats for the majority of the half. Lupatelli would drag Dream Team level on 63 minutes as he struck a sweet free-kick into the goal. However, The Champs three-pronged attack were causing the home defence all sorts of trouble and would win the game for them in the final stages. Alker added his second header of the game on 85 minutes to put them 3-2 up before sealing the win, and his hat-trick, in injury-time. Latching onto a pass from Luis Barros, Alker showed nerves of steel in beating Williamson to confirm a stunning victory. MrJames was in no doubt as to where his side lost the game as he said in disbelief, ‘his attack played to a 12!!’ However, he will know there is more to come from his side next season. The Champs news reported that it was ‘an unfortunate loss’ for Dream Team but that they were getting used to serving up ‘thrillers’ following last round’s tussle with TCM.

Glory Hornets and Here For The Beer FC enjoyed a rare old tussle to take a point each away from Yellow Brick Road. Here For The Beer, buoyed by their first win of the season, started well and had a goal lead on 12 minutes. A free-kick was deposited by Sheldon Gorst for the only goal of an opening half which saw six chances. Zach Hunt had to go off injured for the visitors but it wasn’t to affect them as they began the second-half in good fashion. They were to double their lead on 67 minutes. Bruce Spooner produced some fine wing play to cross for Terrance Maxfield to head in. This only served to inspire the hosts who finally found their finishing touch. Toma Popadic started the comeback on 71 minutes with a stunning free-kick and, although they lost Collin Smart to injury, they completed their revival on 81 minutes. An accurate through ball from Wallace Baker found Marshall Crashaw who beat Mendoza to level the game at 2-2. HFTBFC now have something tangible to show for their season following a win and a draw in their last two games while Glory Hornets will be glad to get the new campaign underway following a season in mid-table.