Jakob Cracker Leads TCM

These Charming Men were the only side left with a 100% record after a 2-1 success at Juventus. In a tight encounter, the foundations for the victory were laid during a solid first-half performance from TCM. Overcoming an injury to Ion Avellino, TCM scored on 20 minutes when Linus Streicher steered a Gerard Caffrey pass superbly to beat Fuentes in goal. Juventus’ only chance of the half saw Mairthin Foley hit a free-kick wide and their troubles would worsen before the break. Tord Jackobson was their tormentor in chief as he stunned the home crowd with a beautiful free-kick. The second-half saw TCM happy to negotiate a battle for possession with Juventus, the result being a somewhat uneventful opening half-hour or so. Maurio Aiardi suffered a nasty looking injury for the hosts and Mauricio Capdevila might have completed their misery with a diving header. As it was, it would be Juventus who would cause a few tremors by netting a 90th minute penalty courtesy of Alberto Morante. However, it wasn’t to be enough to stop the points going home with TCM. RDCM was obviously pleased with his victory but warned that he would be ‘giving the kids a good run out’ so they would ‘have to wait and see whether the good form lasts.’ SuperJuve will be keen to complete the set after seeing his side open with a draw and defeat from their first two matches.

The big winners on the day were White Hawk FC who dismantled Norfolk N Chance FC 4-0. Fielding a young side and lacking in form, Norfolk always looked a little underdone compared to their opponents. A Ryan Dharmsingh header would give an indication of what was to come as he opened the scoring in the second minute. White Hawk would go on to create all eight chances in the match with Matts Perman and Byron Somaroe having efforts from free-kick moves. Rowley Kinsella had gone off for the visitors before a long range shot from Dharmsingh would make it 2-0 on 24 minutes. The second-half would be more of the same with Dharmsingh having a fine day personally. He scored his hat-trick goal on 52 minutes when he placed the ball past Olausson in goal following a neat counter. A minute later and the forward was celebrating again after producing a stunning diving header to convert an Adan Donahue corner. Further chances came for Perman and Dharmsingh but it was to remain 4-0 and a solid day at the office for Hawk. With their first points on the board, Hooraymee will now want his side to progress in a division where they had some difficulties last term. For Norfolk it remains a tough ask as Howemiester continues his rebuilding job at Hoppitop.

Villan_RAS picked up his first win as Cressex manager with an impressive triumph over Wandsworth. The sides traded early chances with Robin Barratt firing on goal from distance for the visitors before a flick header went by from Tomas Tiribocchi for Cressex. Wandsworth would lose Shane Briscoe to injury but from the resultant free-kick they took the lead. Rowley Forrester was, once more, on hand to demonstrate his set-piece class. However, the lead would be short-lived as Lauro Poggi speculated to accumulate from distance to stun Heckinbottom in the Wandsworth goal. Ryan Prisk tried an ambitious lob for the visitors in an attempt to re-establish their lead before half-time but it had too much on it. Rowley Forrester followed his team-mate in putting an effort over the bar as the second-half began with Wandsworth pushing. It would be Cressex, though, who would take control from this point on, stopping the visitors from creating any further chances. While remaining tight defensively, Cressex also managed to assert themselves going forward. A penalty was won on 59 minutes and Ignacio Castellini had no hesitation in stepping forward and firing home to give them a 2-1 advantage. It was a lead they would never look like relinquishing and they might have added a third but Lauro Poggi could only hit his effort wide in the dying stages. The result leaves both teams on three points and looking very competitive in a tight section.

The Lone Wanderers continued to impress under new management with a dominant 2-0 home win over Los Samgeles Kings. They didn’t get off to the best of starts as Niall Hedges went off injured and they could have been behind had Anze Kopitar got more power behind a 24th minute header. However, they grew into the game and, after going close through Eliott Burbank, saw Kenny Acton give them a 40th minute lead with a fine header. The Wanderers got the perfect start to the second-half as a header by Nana Adella doubled the lead on 47 minutes. This seemed to make the confidence flow right through the team as they then set about the stunned visitors. Brad Kavanaugh, Stephen Julius, Deano Elmes and Burbank all had further efforts with the latter crashing a half-volley against the frame as the Wanderers looked like scoring with every attack. Evgeni Malkin did threaten with a volley for the visitors but they had met their match on this particular day as the home team deservedly took the spoils. HappyHibee1991 warned that ‘the fans shouldn’t get carried away’ with his start in the league but will be hopeful of posing a realistic threat to the 100% TCM on Tuesday. Stripy will be keen to get his Kings side onto home turf after starting out on the road for the opening two games which have yielded no points.

Charlottenburg FC edged Internazionale in both possession and chances but only came away with a point after a 1-1 draw at The SCOTUS Arena. The sides exchanged free-kick opportunities in the first seven minutes but neither Alan Thompson nor Stephen Lorimer could net with their respective efforts. Charlottenburg then seized the initiative as Teddy Sheringham showed a deft touch in heading home a Rob Lee cross on 13 minutes. A lob from David Beckham nearly made it 2-0 but Inter would have the final say before half-time. Yashotaka Karahira made a decisive break from the back to cross for the exciting Henrik Larsson to head home. Inter began the second-half with the momentum but Eliot Hills couldn’t capitalise from a free-kick to allow the hosts back in. Beckham and Sheringham were both to have opportunities for Charlottenburg but couldn’t find the necessary composure which would have resulted in the three points going their way. As it was, both had to be satisfied with a point each in an absorbing contest. The result leaves both Potsdamerplatz’s Charlottenburg and JMc’s Internazionale well-placed on four points after the opening week’s matches and in good form to test any team the division has to offer.

The other game in Division Two also resulted in a 1-1 draw as Real Madrid and Kroklund Kings met at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid would make the running in the opening 45 minutes and saw Kevin Gabriele go close with an early free-kick. Kroklund were disrupted by an injury to Gabriel Galtier and saw their hopes nosedive with a super Mao Wannasathit shot giving Madrid a 44th minute lead. Kroklund did come out after the interval with more purpose and immediately saw a lob header from Bosse Bong go just over. However, Madrid were still carrying a threat and Davit Ohanesian hit the angle of post and bar before having two further efforts warn the Kings. The Kings are a resilient bunch, though, and Tapani Visavuori showed a fine piece of individual skill with a long range shot which flew into the goal to level the scores. Neither side would be able to force any openings in their search for a deciding goal. Kroklund have taken a more than respectable four points from their first two games and bossebong will be keen to milk this good run for all its worth. FredRizzo, in turn, will be keen for his side to pick up their first victory of the season after enduring a stuttering start to the campaign.