Carthage Champions?

Carthage extended their lead at the head of Division Three with a 3-1 win at The Champs. Guido Eliseo made the most of a chance from a corner on 19 minutes but had his goal disallowed somewhat dubiously for offside. A volley by Eric Fray went over for the visitors before Leigh Ellefson missed a chance at the other end. The first goal did arrive as Marcus Spillane struck in the penalty area. Fray would miss a headed chance before the break and there would only be a goal in it as they went into the sheds. Fray would enjoy the first chance of the second-half and he headed home precisely to double their lead. A powerful low shot by Ellefson did halve the deficit within moments but you sensed Carthage were always in control. Eliseo had a header saved and Spillane fired a free-kick wide as the pressure intensified. The third goal did arrive as Amin Mansourian flicked a header home on 89 minutes to seal the win. Blakey can start planning for life in Division Two and even marked the date ‘Trophy Day’ in his calendar as his side’s superb form continues. The Champs’ hopes are fading and they will need to find form soon to arrest their slide down the table.

Dream Team are now their nearest challengers as they saw off Grey Area 3-0 at the Stadium of Dreams. Rinaldo Lupatelli set them off on the right foot with a clever toe-poked goal on five minutes and it might have been 2-0 just three minutes later but a Gianmarco Siligardi chip struck the bar. Lupatelli made Kerrigan make a save on 12 minutes with another lob and the pressure continued to build on the visitors. Milorad Gavrancic had a header saved by Kerrigan before the break but the second-half would bring more of the same. Adem Tumer made it 2-0 on 48 minutes with a fine driving shot to put the game out of reach for the uncompetitive visitors. They did see Sheldon Skiverton head over but a Warren Dillin strike made their evening more uncomfortable as they fell 3-0 behind. Lupatelli was thwarted by the ‘keeper once more before volleying wide. He would have one final chance in injury-time but again would find his shooting boots had deserted him, however his side still eased to a comfortable victory. The victory will have been a relief for MrJames who had explained that they would be in ‘a lot of doo doo’ if they had lost again. As it is they are three points clear of fourth and will be hopeful of securing a promotion place. Grey Area continue with their season of mediocrity with the fans hoping Trecool will bring happier days next season.

Wiltshire Warriors picked up an important three points as they defeated rivals Arsenal at The Fortress. The match was as tight as everyone had anticipated with chances few and far between. Robin van Persie did think he had given Arsenal the lead but he had failed to time his run properly and was well offside. The forward would then go off injured to disrupt Arsenal’s plans and a well-placed header by Farshid Jalali dented their ambitions still further with the opening goal for the home side. Arsenal then suffered a further injury as Theo Walcott hobbled off. They did have the only chance of the second-half but a Sid Peyton strike was well-saved by Hogg and the points belong to the home side. The Warriors now sit just two points behind their vanquished opponents and they are perfectly placed if one of the sides above them should slip-up in the run-in. Indeed, Big K is predicting a tough run-in even for ‘champions elect’ Carthage who he hopes to give a ‘banana skin’ to on Friday. DomBrown explained the manner of the defeat ‘was hard to take’ and they will be looking to get their injured players fit as soon as possible.

Another side keeping their outside promotion hopes alive were wortley afc who defeated Morley 2-1 at the western. An early header by Brandon Hiller failed to go close for the hosts while Zacharias Ashe hit an effort at Jenning as the game had an open beginning. Gwilym Cullip hit a free-kick at the ‘keeper for the visitors while Walter Willock couldn’t make a header count as the sides continued to trade chances. Brandon Hiller would then have the next couple of chances and after putting a header over he drilled in from distance to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Walter Willock might have made it 2-0 but his header struck the post and Morley tried to respond. Reno Robredo hit a shot well-wide, though, as he couldn’t overcome a tight angle but Florian Arnautu did strike from inside the penalty area as the sides would go in level at the break. Morley would have the first effort of the second-half but Daniel Sa Pinto saw his header brush a post and they would find themselves behind as Hiller netted with a diving header. Rai Kike shot at Zubeldia as the home side tried to add a third while Ashe shot wide with a half-volley at the other end. Arnautu would also go close for the visitors while Hiller wasted a golden opportunity for wortley by hitting a penalty against the bar. Morley had one final chance to try and pinch a point but Cullip couldn’t make a free-kick count and they would go home empty handed. Thegreatlordbags has his side six points off the pace but they have everything to play for as the season enters its final stretch. Leeg21, meanwhile, will probably be concentrating on a good change report now as promotion looks out of their reach.

Alsancak and Glory Hornets took a point apiece away from a 2-2 draw in an entertaining clash at Mosquito Alley. It would be the Hornets who would looked like taking an early lead but Toma Popadic’s strike was ruled out for a doubtful offside decision. Gabriel Agbonlahor saw Blacksmith punch away his effort as the home side had their first chance on 25 minutes but they would find themselves behind four minutes later as Popadic hit home brilliantly from a free-kick. This lead wouldn’t last long, though, as Rory Burston shot home in the penalty area on 34 minutes. Mark Noble would complete the turnaround as he found the net from distance to give the home side a 2-1 half-time advantage. The second-half wouldn’t see much action in the penalty area until the latter stages when Lionel Monk toe-poked home the equaliser for the Hornets. The home side had late chances but Andrew Taylor was denied by Blacksmith while a header by Rory Burston missed the target. It was another encouraging performance by Wienersnitzel’s side and on another day they might have had the full three points. GregPerkins has his side tucked into mid-table and with a good change report big things will be expected of them next season.

Spartans defeated Chester United 4-0 in Jimbob’s last match in charge of the away side. An early lob by Aiden McGeady made it 1-0 on seven minutes for the hosts. A penalty on 35 minutes would then make it 2-0 as Ezequiel Garay made no mistake from the spot. Chester saw Alan Shearer hit the angle of post and bar in a rare foray forward while Xavi Hernandez missed a chance at the other end. Sonny Baron had an effort saved by Neuer before the home side took control once again. Wesley Sneijder made it 3-0 with a smart finish from a breakaway move. Bojan Krkic hit the post with a smart effort on 57 minutes before finding his goal seven minutes later with a well-placed shot which left Raberg with no chance. In truth both clubs have insecure futures as Tomsayshii hasn’t been seen at the club for a little while and Jimbob never really enjoyed the challenge before resigning.