Carfin Lift-Off

Grey Area recorded their first win of the season by edging a five-goal thriller with Southampton by the odd goal. The game gave indication of what was to follow by starting with goal action at either end. After a Frederik Smit header had gone close for Area they survived two scares at the other end with Kyle Lang beating Kerrigan but striking the post and a header by Timoteo Gemeos also hitting the woodwork. With Saints cursing their luck, Area went on to take full advantage by opening the scoring. A volley in the area by Garth Rossall proved too hot for Raberg to handle on 20 minutes. An injury to Vedin Sinanovic in the Area backline, however, allowed Southampton a route back in as Benos Hardinho took advantage of the reshuffle by poaching a goal in the penalty area. Hardinho then turned the game on its head with a touch of class from some distance. Picking the ball up from Hankers in a deep position he went on and produced a stunning lob which left Grey Area with some thinking to do during the half-time break. Southampton ran into injury trouble of their own at the beginning of the second-half with Hankers being helped off but they might have added to their lead without a fine save from Kerrigan denying Kyle Lang. Area did regroup, though, and produced a stunning few minutes to put themselves back in the box seat. Firstly, a powerful header from Allan Bound had them level before he saw a lobbed header turned over by the ‘keeper. The visitors did take the lead shortly afterwards with Smit also indicating a soft centre in the Saints rearguard with a header from a corner. Area seemed content to shut up shop after regaining the lead and although they withstood two late efforts by Gemeos and Royale they managed to see out a 3-2 triumph. Carfin was pleased with his side’s win after their perplexing result last time out, admitting that maybe ‘the team needs to be pushed to perform.’ NorthamSoul was left scratching his head after his side failed to take the most of their numerous chances, admitting, ‘I lost....now I need to work out how.’

Finding themselves at the top of the tree are wortley afc as they recorded a 2-0 home victory over Glory Hornets. The hosts had already missed a chance through Brandon Hiller before Jonathon Draper misdirected a harmless looking cross past his own ‘keeper to give them a 1-0 advantage. Eliott Malloy steered an effort over the bar as Hornets looked to bring themselves level. It was they who would force the pace towards the end of the half as Paolo Ballotta and Malloy might have done better with free-kick moves but they went in a goal behind. Spencer Knight nearly started the second-half as Draper did the first, by putting through his own goal. Fortunately for the wortley man, though, Jenning was alert to keep out the deflection and the hosts remained ahead. They then seemed to gain momentum from this moment and saw Jake Shiver hit a post and Quincy Bowey go near with a chip. The sides would then trade chances but neither Walter Willock nor Malloy could add to the solitary goal of the game and the contest entered its final stages with just a goal separating them. Willock saw his game end early due to an injury but wortley shrugged this off and sealed the win with a cool 90th minute strike by Jake Shiver. Thegreatlordbags will be encouraged by his side’s start to the season and will be keen to put his side in a challenging position for the latter stages. GregPerkins, meanwhile, will know there was not much in the game but will want to pick up his first win sooner rather than later.

Two unbeaten sides met at the Stadium of Dreams and both emerged unbeaten as Dream Team and Morley Town drew 1-1. It would be the hosts who started on the front foot and Kenneth Caster wasted little time in giving them a third minute lead with a super header from a Barrowcliff centre. Stan Chambers missed his cue at the other end by shooting straight at Williamson, albeit from a tight angle. The game continued to go from end-to-end as Warren Dillin forced Zubeldia into his first save in the Morley goal before Gwilym Cullip narrowly missed with a powerful low shot in an attempt to bring the visitors level. Morley did find the equaliser just after the half-hour as a brilliant diving header from Ionel Traian left the ‘keeper with no chance. Caster drove over the bar before half-time as Dream Team finished on top but the sides would go in deadlocked after an entertaining half. The sides exchanged efforts as the second-half progressed but Angres Kafka for Morley and Rinaldo Lupatelli for Dream Team missed the target. Christopher Love nearly snatched a win for Morley with a precise header which needed saving by Williamson. Kafka then missed another chance via a free-kick and the game ended 1-1. Both MrJames and Leeg21 will have been satisfied with the result as it keeps their team’s confidence up as the games continue to arrive.

Alsancak’s young side produced a shock at Mosquito Alley as they defeated a strong Carthage side 2-0. Chances were at a premium throughout the game but the home side did manage to take an early lead. After winning a free-kick, Gabriel Baldwin stepped up to fire in and boost the team and fans alike. There was then a spate of yellow cards, mainly for the home side, as the game’s rhythm was broken up but Alsancak did manage an effort through Gabriel Agbonlahor which needed a good save from Cumbo. Carthage’s only chance came via the head of Rhys Gregson who found himself incredibly unfortunate to see it rebound to safety off the bar. The second-half saw more yellow cards before Frazier Campbell nearly doubled the lead but saw his diving header rebound off the post. Marcus Spillane then thought he’d equalised at the other end with a long range shot but a shirt pull saw the goal chalked off. With time running out Carthage left themselves exposed at the back and a super chip by Rory Burston gave Alsancak a two-goal lead and effectively won them the game. Wienersnitzel was happy with the win and claimed his young side are ‘showing glimpses of greatness.’ Blakey admitted to being somewhat baffled by the result but added that he ‘maybe should have played a full-strength team.’

Cullin Lava put in a dominant home performance to defeat Spartans 2-0. In a battle of the two newest sides to join the league Cullin put in an assured display to leave Spartans frustrated. Humberto Sobrinho hit an effort wide before a clinical strike in the penalty area by Lars Helesson gave Cullin a 25th minute lead. Cullin missed a chance to extend their first-half advantage as Nigel Huntley hit a post with a powerful header but they will have taken a lot of confidence into their half-time break. Helgesson was taken from the field early in the second-half as the game went through a quiet period before opening up in the final ten minutes. Hilario Tostao cracked a header off the bar as Cullin nearly doubled their lead before Spartan missed their only chance of the game with Ezequiel Garay missing the target from a free-kick. Cullin missed a late chance through Nigel Huntley but did add a second goal courtesy of a super Adriano Amorim header. Ivo Daniel wasted a chance to make it 3-0 but Cullin ran out worthy winners for their first points of the season. Kevll7 will pick up a lot of positives from their first win of the season and will know if they can add a finishing touch they will trouble a lot of sides this season. DaX reflected on his side’s defeat saying, ‘I don’t understand this game sometimes.’

Wiltshire Warriors and The Champs shared a four-goal thriller in a very open game at The Fortress. Craig Elliott and Jeff Speakman exchanged early chances as the crowd settled in for an entertaining evening. The Warriors then stole a march on their opponents to force two decent opportunities, however, both Ray Billinger and Elliott found Irving well-positioned in goal. Jeff Speakman responded by getting a header in on goal for The Champs but it didn’t really threaten although, after seeing Elliott waste another chance at the other end, they would take the lead shortly afterwards. A clever breakaway move saw Daley Higson produce a cool finish to put The Champs 1-0 ahead. Billinger wasted a further chance for the hosts and they would pay the price by going in a goal down. The Warriors began the second-half in equally attacking fashion and after going close with a Bob Black header they turned the game on its head. A flick header by Robert Merson brought them level before he completed a personal double moments later by striking home after a corner. Craig Elliott might have added to their 2-1 advantage but spurned two free-kick opportunities. The Champs eventually became an attacking force late on in the half with Anibal Felix finding just a post between him and levelling matters. They didn’t have to wait long before equalising, though, as Leigh Ellefson shot home from distance. Both sides wasted late opportunities to win the game but a draw was probably a fair result. The result leaves Big K’s Warriors with three draws from their opening three matches and he admitted that they ‘need to learn how to close the game down when leading.’ Wylie has also steered his side through the opening three games unbeaten and will want to see his side extend that against Spartans on Friday.