Wandsworth Walk on Air

Wandsworth brought their Division Three championship winning form into the second division with a 4-0 thumping of Norfolk N Chance at Hoppitop Ground. It was to be the away side’s finishing which would be the most remarkable aspect of the evening as they took four out of the five chances they created to leave Norfolk with a lot of hard work to do before their next match. Ryan Prisk set the tone for his, and his team’s, game with a clinical header on five minutes. Norfolk’s bad start to the season continued as they lost Furgil Bhagirath to an injury just after the half-hour and when Prisk shot home his second on 41 minutes the writing was on the wall. A header from Stewart Sterland made it 3-0 early in the second-half before Prisk reclaimed the spotlight. A fine corner by Mirciulica Bardes was met by the head of Prisk and he ensured three points for his team and the match ball for himself. LotharIstvan’s success story continues and it will be interesting to see whether he can lead his side past some strong teams as the season progresses. Howemiester will be keen to get his side into form as he sets about rebuilding a side which hasn’t had any continuity in recent seasons.

With bossebong claiming he would settle for his side not to be relegated he would have been pleasantly surprised with a 2-1 victory over Los Samgeles Kings on opening day. Kroklund always looked to have the edge on LSK and were to create the better chances. Twice in the opening 45 minutes Kroklund were to be denied by the woodwork as Aatu Vuokki and Bosse Bong were cruelly inches short of giving their side the lead. LSK had chances themselves but failed to make them count with some wayward finishing. The home side did manage to take the lead on 55 minutes as Gabriel Galtier steered an Elliott pass beyond Ersberg and into the net. Zwonko Fuckala headed home a corner on 81 minutes to continue Kroklund’s dominance and not even a fine header by Ladislav Nagy could deny them their opening day victory. While bossebong might be satisfied with mere survival more performances of this ilk could have him changing his mind. Stripy8 will look for an improved showing as the season gathers pace over the coming weeks.

Charlottenburg made a good start to the season with an uncompromising 2-1 home win over Real Madrid. The hosts enjoyed the more progressive start and had gone close through Scholes and Keown before Matthew Upson thundered in a free-kick on 29 minutes. The second-half was marred by serious injuries to Upson and Willie Rhodes in a tough contest. Madrid had threatened the equaliser when Rhodes had earlier hit the bar before Kevin Gabriele netted a penalty to level. This only seemed to make Charlottenburg more determined, though, and a well-placed shot by Alan Thompson served notice of what was to come. Teddy Sheringham was the next to fire a warning before a Thompson cross was headed in by Scholes in injury-time to deliver three points and leave Madrid frustrated. Both sides competed hard last season and will be looking to take their progress one step further and win promotion this term. It is Charlottenburg, however, who have stolen an early march.

These Charming Men continued their success from last season with a 2-1 home victory over Cressex to start the season. Tord Jakobson thrashed in a free-kick on four minutes to give them the ideal start and when Jordi Rodri made no mistake from the spot on 19 minutes things looked bleak for the renamed Cressex. They did manage to weather the storm for the rest of the half, though, and despite an injury to Charlie Willysson went into the break just 2-0 behind. The second-half saw them surge back into the contest and Tomas Tiribocchi put the game back in the melting pot with a header on 52 minutes. However, despite an injury to Rodri, TCM managed to reassert themselves briefly with Jakobson hitting a free-kick off the post. This favour was returned at the other end as Poggi found himself next in line to be disappointed by the wood before they also had a goal chalked off in injury-time thanks to some shirt pulling to complete their frustration. While RDCM will be satisfied with his opening day win he will know his side will have to be tighter to maintain their good form while Villan_RAS will have seen plenty of positives despite their defeat.

Internazionale started their season brightly with a 2-0 victory over White Hawk FC. Both sides would create seven chances each in a game which always had an open feel to it. What proved to be the difference was the slightly better finishing off the hosts. Both teams seemed intent on hitting their efforts straight to the opposing ‘keeper before Mortimer Wainman struck from inside the penalty area. The chances continued to be created and missed at either end before Wainman produced another bit of magic; picking up the ball some distance from goal he left Dankoi with no chance in goal. Hawk’s frustration grew as they failed to find any sort of excellence in front of goal and were left to rue what might have been as Travis Tee blew the final whistle. Inter news described the game as ‘a one-sided affair’ which might have been somewhat tongue-in-cheek but JMc described himself as ‘pleased’ with the start. Hooraymee will be keen to get his side onto the training ground to practice shooting but if they rectify that they could be in for an exciting season.

Juventus and The Lone Wanderers played out a 1-1 draw in the division’s other game of the day at the Delle Alpi. The Wanderers appeared the more progressive of the two sides and enjoyed the better of the opening 45 minutes. William MacAvish made one of his side’s three chances count on 11 minutes as he combined with Stephen Julius to send a free-kick past Fuentes. Injuries to Morgan Hanney and Alberto Morante didn’t help the home side’s cause and they went in at the break with the weight of the world on their shoulders. The second-half saw the injury-jinx strike the visitors with MacAvish being carried off before Mairthin Foley hit home a penalty to make it 1-1. The Wanderers remained the side which looked the more likely to win the game but they couldn’t take advantage of a sending-off to Jorn Fruh and the spoils were shared. The task for the managers now will be to get their injured stars into training before their season’s get hit without properly starting.