Hibee Happy Again

The Lone Wanderers responded for their manager HH by defeating Futsal 2-1 in a competitive match-up. Futsal would take the lead on four minutes as Ryan Prisk slid the ball past Ibehre for the opening goal of the contest. The rest of the half would be a tight encounter with a flick header from Nana Adella and a well-placed shot from Mieczyslaw Kostur at either end proving no problem for the respective ‘keepers. The Wanderers would start the second-half on the front foot as Stephen Julius forced Heckingbottom into a leg save before finding an equaliser courtesy of a clinical header from Deano Elmes. Futsal responded by trying to regain the lead but a diving header from Haynes proved no problem for Ibehre. Instead it would be the home team who would grab the initiative as Albert Scully produced a delicate lob from inside the penalty area. Rick Tuttle would miss an opportunity before Samson Heskey looked like he had netted the equaliser for Futsal but was denied by a doubtful offside decision. The Wanderers would have further chances from Adella and Tomlinson, who hit a post, and in between Futsal would suffer the disappointment of seeing Kostur sent-off to effectively end their hopes. Despite bemoaning his side’s injuries, HH thought his side ‘played well enough to deserve a victory.’ Jake, meanwhile, will want his side to return to winning ways soon to keep in touch with the top half of the table.

Charlottenburg FC were in fine attacking form as they dismantled Juventus 5-0 at The SCOTUS Arena. Michael Owen nearly got them off to the perfect start but missed the goal by inches while Mairthin Foley missed with a free-kick at the other end. The hosts would take the lead on six minutes as Rob Lee hit a great volley from distance which had too much on it for Fuentes. The teams would both go close through Matthew Upson and Jacobo Chacros respectively as the game continued apace. The second arrived for the home side did arrive on 21 minutes as Owen got his goal by heading home from an Anderton cross. It would quickly be 3-0 as Alan Thompson smashed home after being teed up by Upson from a free-kick. Thompson missed a further chance before Owen thumped in number four from some distance. This would be the end of the first-half goal action but Charlottenburg’s superiority would continue into the second-half. Juve were hit by an injury to Foley before Owen miscued an effort. Owen continued to search out his hat-trick goal but would miss again before eventually finding it. The goal came following a corner from Sol Campbell as Owen got himself into a poacher’s position before poking the ball home. Paul Scholes had a late goal disallowed but it wasn’t to matter as the hosts ended comfortable winners. They remain unbeaten and in free-scoring form and they look the team to beat after the opening five games. SuperJuve will be disappointed with his side’s performance and will look for them to produce better on Friday against Kroklund.

Kroklund moved up to second with a solid, if unspectacular, win over Cressex at Dont know yet. Sjunne Wenna forced Ikhala into an early save as Kroklund looked to take the initiative from the start. Despite this, the game had an end-to-end feel about it in the early stages and Tomas Tiribocchi might have done better for Cressex but hit his shot wide. Kroklund would take the lead with their next chance as Aatu Vuokki side-footed home following a dangerous corner, delivered by Curt Elliott. Tero Perotie had the chance to add a further goal but couldn’t make the most of his opportunity but, despite giving up the majority of possession for the remainder of the half, Kroklund managed to take a lead into the half. The second-half proved to be a tight and cagey affair with just a chance at either end. Kroklund might have put the game to bed but Vuokki’s header hit a post and Cressex would live to breathe again. Their chance to take something out of the game came on 87 minutes but Lauro Poggi’s free-kick was hit straight at Kangashaka. The win was more impressive due to the young age of the Kroklund side but the excellent form bossebong has them in bodes well for the coming matches. Cressex will look for more offense next time out and they will hope to address that in training this week.

These Charming Men pinched a point at White Hawk FC with a resilient display. They would be given something to hold onto on six minutes as Stuart Cooksey finished a breakaway move clinically following some excellent work from Mauricio Capdevila. White Hawk would recover from this start swiftly and, from their first chance, Anthony Bokland shot home in the penalty area. Both sides were suffering in the injury department but it was the Hawks who would have the only other chance of the half but Cianan Cathan couldn’t get the necessary accuracy and power onto his effort. The second-half saw TCM put in a defensive rearguard which would ultimately yield a point. Hawk had chances through Clarence Ong A Fat and Ryan Dharmsingh but they never really threatened their second goal which would have given them the three points. RDCM declared himself ‘happy’ with the point as he had thought of the game ‘as a bit of a banana skin.’ Hooraymee has his side comfortably set in mid-table but will be looking for a more ruthless streak to add to their good football.

Los Samgeles Kings were the latest side to put five past Norfolk N Chance FC as they enjoyed a successful away day. They signalled their intentions early on as Luc Robitaille hit a post with a powerful low shot on nine minutes. They would then suffer some misfortune as Torben Kummel headed home accurately only to be denied by a dubious offside call. Despite this they would be rewarded for their impressive start as Robitaille hit in from distance to relieve any tension in the side. A minute later and Alexander Frolov smashed the ball home from inside the area and, within a further four minutes, Derek Armstrong hit a powerful low shot past a hapless Olausson to put the Kings 3-0 up. Dustin Brown attempted to make it 4-0 with another powerfully hit strike but he failed narrowly before Anze Kopitar hit home accurately inside the area after a good breakaway. Norfolk did emerge from their defensive duties to produce a shot from Nigel Grady but it was a poor effort and within moments they were on the back foot again. Anze Kopitar netted goal number five as he defied a narrow angle to beat the ‘keeper and end a super first-half for the Kings. The second-half saw no further goal action but did see injuries to Blake for the Kings and Olausson for the hosts to add a sombre note to the game. The win sees Stripy’s side move out of the relegation places and if they can take confidence from this game they could be looking up the table rather than over their shoulder. Howemiester knows what the season holds for his troops but he will continue to look to the future.

Real Madrid FC picked up an excellent away point at Internazionale as both sides maintained their strong starts to the season. Madrid would find themselves up against it as Inter took an early lead through a long range shot by Elton Hills. Inter might have made things worse for the visitors but a Mortimer Wainman free-kick missed and Madrid started to find their rhythm. Kevin Gabriele stunned the home fans with an exquisite finish on 16 minutes to leave Hawke with no hope in goal. Edip Bayrak fired over the bar and Henrik Larsson hit the crossbar with a chip as Inter looked to regain the lead. However, they would have to settle for going into the interval level pegging with the visitors. A further effort from Larsson began the second-half but it would go way over and Madrid would look the likelier from this point. Both Mao Wannasathit and Artin Bedirian came very close to pinching a winner but in the end the sides had to be happy with a point each. FredRizzo knows that if his side can continue to pick up good points on the road they should be able to make a good home record count in their favour. JMc might view this as two points dropped as, in a very tight section, making your home ground a fortress will be key to maintaining a promotion challenge.