Morley Magic for Lee

Morley Town F.C. made it two wins out of two with a 2-1 home success over Alsancak F.C. They were made to work hard, though, by an in-form youthful visiting side. Alsancak received a boost in the tenth minute when they scored with their very first effort. After forcing a corner, Gabriel Baldwin produced a centre which was swept home by Rory Burston. Gabriel Agbonlahor was unlucky not to make it 2-0 when he controlled with his hand and from that moment Morley fought back. It wouldn’t take them long to make their superiority count as, after Ionel Traian had gone close with a lob, some fine attacking play resulted in a penalty being awarded by Constance Paine; Adolf Munzberg making no mistake from the spot. Angres Kafka had a free-kick saved before the break before Baldwin did likewise at the other end deep into the second-half. The pattern of set-pieces continued when Kafka crashed an effort off the post and he was unfortunate once more when he hit a shot which also found the wood too much to conquer. Despite his misfortune, Kafka wasn’t to be denied and had his moment of glory on 84 minutes. Given another free-kick opportunity he made no mistake when curling an effort beyond Cirkovic and into the goal. Alsancak missed a late chance to draw level and the points were the home sides after an entertaining game. Leeg will welcome the ‘very encouraging start to the season’ and will want even more once his new buys have settled in. Wienersnitzel, meanwhile, can be optimistic that his young side have the potential to go far after a spirited display.

Carthage FC also kept up their 100% start to the season as they saw off the challenge of Cullin Lava by a 2-0 margin. The first-half turned out to be a tale of two chances. However, while Carthage would net theirs, Cullin Lava were to be found wanting. Quincy Lansbury was the hero for the hosts as he drilled in from long range on 25 minutes. Nigel Huntley missed with an effort to draw the visitors level before they went into the dressing room looking fatigued; mainly through the amount of possession they had given up during the opening half. Carthage began the second-half on the front foot but couldn’t add a second through a Lansbury header. Chances started to become more frequent as the game entered the last quarter with Spillane going closest when striking a post. Cullin were still more than playing their part, however, but some wayward finishing cost them any chance they might have had of taking something away from the game. The game was finally put to bed in injury-time as Marcus Spillane headed a cross to deliver three well-earned points. Blakey’s belief that his side are destined for the Division Three title will only have been further strengthened by their start and they look a side destined for greater things. Cullin Lava will take a lot of positives out of the game and if they can find a finishing touch to go with their approach play they could take a number of scalps along the way.

The Champs moved up with the early season pace-setters after a 3-0 victory over Glory Hornets. On the face of it you might have been forgiven for thinking that The Champs had dominated the chances but it was a much tighter match on further inspection. The first-half saw the Hornets edge chances but while Neo Rivers and Eliott Malloy wasted good openings for the visitors Rod Caunce made them pay at the other end. A corner delivered by Bruce Collinge was finished clinically by the defender who showed a striker’s instinct. The Champs began the second-half in confident fashion and after Daley Higson had fired a warning to the Hornets, Leigh Ellefson showed his class by finishing a stunning breakaway just after the hour to double their advantage. The Hornets had a chance to bring themselves back into the contest but Neo Rivers found Irving in great form in goal before the hosts finished the game. A free-kick straight from the training ground saw Collinge finish expertly to leave the home fans buzzing. Wylie909 will have been delighted with the finishing on show and will take his team in confident mood to The Fortress to take on the Warriors. GregPerkins will be looking for his side to develop a cutting edge of their own whilst also tightening up defensively after admitting ‘things didn’t go our way in either penalty area.’

Grey Area found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-1 score at Doon The Park as wortley left them stunned. The visitors started in fast fashion and after Walter Willock spurned a chance, Curt Pryor was to convert from the spot after some less than impressive defending from Area. Disappointingly for wortley, they allowed Area a route straight back with Geoffrey Stiles finishing with some panache in the penalty area. Both sides found a further chance each in the remainder of the half but there was to be no more goals and they went in level. It was to be Area’s indiscipline which would start to cause them problems during the second 45 minutes as they gave Paulinho Santos countless looks at goal. He would finally make them pay on 70 minutes as he lashed an effort into the net and, with Area rocking, Hiller might have made it 3-1 but the post came to the home side’s rescue. The third goal did arrive late on as Jake Shiver finished well in the penalty area to end home hopes. Carfin was left bemused by Area’s performance after ‘fully preparing’ his side. However, they were to come up against a very offensive minded visiting side on a day when Area’s defence failed to show. Thegreatlordbags will be delighted with the points and keen to see his side keep their entertaining football going if it continues to yield results.

Dream Team picked up their first victory of the season as they defeated Southampton 3-1. The home team would hit Southampton early as Jack Lightbody found enough space in the area to convert a corner on 15 minutes. They had further chances in front of goal as Southampton continued to struggle; Siligardi and Caster the players who might think they should have done better. The Saints did come to life as the half neared its end but Sonny Baron misfired with a free-kick and a powerful low shot while Niko Tervola found the ‘keeper well-placed to deal with his effort. The visitors managed to keep this momentum going into the second-half as Andreas Iniesta and Baron tried to bring them level. They couldn’t, though, and the game then saw a spate of cards as both sides lost their discipline. The culmination of this period was a red card to Baron which reduced Southampton’s chances further. Indeed, Rinaldo Lupatelli further emphasised the task facing them by heading in a cross from Gavrancic to double the home team’s advantage. However, the game would have further twists as Kenneth Caster missed a penalty for the hosts before Iniesta placed his shot past Williamson to halve the deficit. Despite this rally, Dream Team would have the final say with Warren Dillin shooting home in the penalty area. MrJames will be satisfied with his side’s start to the season after seeing them unbeaten through their first two games. NorthamSoul, meanwhile, will want his side to show no negative reaction from this game in the coming matches.

Spartans picked up their first point as an RM Invitational team as their game finished 1-1 with Wiltshire Warriors. An open first-half saw chances at both ends with Ezequiel Garay setting the tone with a super free-kick for the home team which thundered against the bar. As a basketball type match ensued, Liran Chaim did likewise at the other end by striking the post with a powerful effort. The match continued to see-saw with chances at both ends before Bob Black was the next to join the wood club with a cheeky toe-kick on goal. Spartans had a moment of misfortune as the half drew to a close; Reine Blomgren heading home only to be denied by a dubious offside call. To make matters worse for DaX’s side, Ray Billinger produced a precise header at the other end to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead. The second-half would tighten up somewhat and saw the Warriors lose new signing Chaim to an injury. They then might have doubled their lead but Craig Elliott couldn’t make a free-kick count and also saw a header saved. These misses were to prove costly as Aiden McGeady finished a breakaway in the 93rd minute by poking through Moore’s legs to ensure the sides would go home with a point each. Big K was in rueful mood after serious injuries to two players in the opening week with Warriors news reporting that things are ‘looking bleak.’ DaX will be relieved to get off the mark and can now set about the task of making his side gel over the coming matches.