Florian Foils Leaders

Carthage FC extended their lead at the top of Division Three to four points following a 1-1 draw at Morley. The leaders looked for a fast start and Svante Jillhed powered in a long range shot which was only chalked off due to a rather doubtful offside decision. Morley then went on to have the better of the opening half and Florian Arnautu had the opportunity to put them 1-0 ahead but couldn’t direct his header well enough. Arnautu proved to be the danger again on 26 minutes as he hit a controlled side-footed shot on goal only to be denied by the post. With no further chances the sides would go in goalless at the break. The second-half proved to be a slow-burner with the first chance not arriving until the 70th minute; Ad Herbal couldn’t make the most of his header. Carthage would make the most of their next chance, though, as Amin Mansourian made light of a tight angle by striking home on 89 minutes with what looked like the winning goal. Morley showed great courage despite this setback and were awarded a penalty; Arnautu getting his reward for an enterprising display with a cool finish. Morley are five points behind the promotion spots but Town News was encouraged with what they described as ‘a well-deserved point’ and they will look forward to the rematch with confidence. Despite being four points clear Blakey was unhappy with what he called ‘dreadful away form’ and will be relieved to be back at Carthage City on Friday.

Dream Team leapfrogged The Champs with an impressive 3-1 triumph at Old Trafford. The visitors started in ideal fashion by scoring with their first chance; Adem Tumer finding his range from distance to beat Irving with a shot that had too much pace on it. DT were in confident mood and created another opening on 17 minutes but Rinaldo Lupatelli could only head at the ‘keeper when he might have done better. Irving was in action again just before the half-hour to stop an effort from Warren Dillin following a set-piece move. The Champs finally woke up on 31 minutes and amazingly were level; Robert Hammevik powering in a shot after a Bruce Collinge corner fell to him. DT looked a little frustrated by this setback and The Champs enjoyed more fortune as Rod Caunce escaped scoring an own goal after deflecting the ball dangerously. The home side started in a more positive fashion after the break but Seth Alker and Burt Chenery both missed chances after cleverly worked free-kicks. The visitors would eventually re-establish their rhythm and a powerful low shot by Lupatelli put them back in front before the hour. DT managed to exert some control on the game after this goal and they would go on and seal the victory with a super lobbed finish by Kenneth Caster. Lupatelli narrowly missed adding a fourth but they could be more than happy with their evening’s work. MrJames was happy that his side are ‘moving up in the world’ and saw this performance as the breaking of an ‘unnecessary streak.’ The Champs hierarchy might be concerned that Wylie has been absent for a little while now and it certainly translated in one of their worst performances of the season. The fans will be hoping their manager makes it back for Friday.

Arsenal put in a scintillating first-half performance to lay the foundations for a 4-1 victory over Chester. They had their fans on the edge of their seats from the get-go with a brilliant Andrey Arshavin free-kick forcing Isak Raberg into a fine save. The excitement continued moments later as a lob header by Robin van Persie beat Raberg only to come back off the angle. With Chester struggling to come to terms with the game Arshavin forced another save out of Raberg from a free-kick before van Persie fired wide as the pressure increased. The goal eventually came on 19 minutes as van Persie got his reward for a quick start with a clinical header placed beyond Raberg. This seemed to completely break the resolve of the visitors and Tomas Rosicky placed number two home a minute later to the delight of the home fans. To cap an awful three minutes for Chester they would concede a third goal when Sid Peyton headed home a Samir Nasri cross. Chester did briefly threaten but a header by Sonny Baron was palmed round the post by Velasques before Rosicky nearly made it 4-0 at the other end with another header. The second-half saw an improved showing from the visitors and a driving shot by Baron pulled a goal back on 67 minutes. Unfortunately for them this wouldn’t signal the start of a comeback and a lob by van Persie made it 4-1 and game, set and match on 84 minutes. Chester did bravely try to pull further goals back but Andres Iniesta fired wide from a free-kick before a Harold Hankers header was saved. DomBrown will be content with his side’s progress and the longer they stay in and around the top three the more tempted they will be by promotion. Jimbob will be disappointed with his side’s performance but they have the chance to put things right in the return fixture later in the week.

Wiltshire also kept up with the pace-setters at the top of the table with a 2-1 home victory over Grey Area. The game had a fast start with Liran Chaim going close for the home side while Allan Bound brushed a post at the other end. The Warriors would make the next chance count as Bob Lake hit a beautiful free-kick into the goal on 18 minutes. Area were also looking threatening and Gregor Muller was unlucky with a half-volley which struck a post on 25 minutes. Area were being made to pay for missing chances and the Warriors doubled their lead on 35 minutes as Wesley Bird directed his shot beyond Kerrigan for a fine second. The second-half would see Area be the more dominant side. They survived an early Warriors effort as Robert Merson couldn’t head home on 47 minutes and Area would be boosted as Billy Hibbard was sent-off for a foul as the last defender. Diego Maradona almost immediately went close to halving the deficit but his lob struck the woodwork. They would get their goal on 56 minutes, though, as Allan Bound powered in a shot from inside the penalty area. To their credit the Warriors also tried to get forward despite being down to 10-men and Robert Merson found his luck out as his header hit a post. Area would press as the game reached its conclusion and Geoffrey Stiles would have chances to pinch a point. His first header would miss the target while another effort on 82 minutes struck the base of the post and you sensed their moment had passed. Indeed, this proved to be the case as Big K’s side held on for an important victory. The Warriors are three points from second and with Big K in charge the team will be well-aware of the opportunity this season presents them. Trecool will see this as a missed opportunity following their impressive second-half display but if they can pick up a victory on Friday they too could put themselves back into contention.

There was a brilliant attacking effort on display at Mosquito Alley as wortley ran out 5-2 winners against Alsancak. Ray Cooper missed an early chance for wortley as he couldn’t match his powerful strike with enough accuracy to get it on target. Alsancak would respond to this near-miss by taking the lead as Fraizer Campbell showed a clinical side to his play with a brilliant lob over Jenning. The lead looked like it would only last two minutes, though, as Cooper had the opportunity to equalise from the spot but he shot weakly at Cirkovic. Despite this they would keep their composure and finally find their goal on 15 minutes with Walter Willock heading home a corner. A minute later and it was 2-1 to the visitors as Cooper eventually took one of his chances by powering in a long range shot. The attacks were now coming thick and fast with Paulinho Santos the next to go close as his free-kick hit a post with Cirkovic beaten. The ‘keeper would be on hand to deny Jake Shiver, though, but he would be powerless to prevent an own-goal as Richard Stearman inadvertently put wortley 3-1 up. Alsancak started the second-half positively but Andrew Taylor couldn’t make a free-kick count and Santos made it 4-1 by smashing in a set-piece at the other end. The home side hit back quickly with a fine header by Danny Rose but a Quincy Bowey shot made it 5-2 and, you sensed, broke the home side’s resolve. Santos had further chances and hit the angle of post and bar with a brilliant header on 67 minutes and Cirkovic saved well from Willock but it didn’t alter the result. The three points will have been most welcome for Thegreatlordbags and with his side now six points from the promotion places it remains all to play for as the season turns round. Wienersnitzel will be realistic enough to know that his side may suffer results like this from time to time but it won’t weaken his resolve of seeing out his long-term project.

Spartans remain rooted to the foot of the table as they suffered a 3-1 reverse at Glory Hornets. Toma Popadic had already fired wide before giving the home side the lead on 13 minutes with a diving header. A penalty early in the second-half would settle home nerves as Eliott Malloy confidently slotted home. However, if they thought that had sealed the win they thought wrong as John Obi Mikel quickly chipped in a goal at the other end to halve the deficit. Spartans might have drawn level had Bojan Krkic not badly mishit his shot on 64 minutes and they would pay the price for this miss. Seth Eaves would be the Hornets’ hero as he headed home a Ballotta corner on 67 minutes to give them the comfort of a two-goal lead. Aiden McGeady and Malloy would miss a chance each for their respective sides but it would be the Hornets who would emerge much the happier of the two sides. GregPerkins now has his side in range of the top teams in what is proving to be a very tight section. Tomsayshii would undoubtedly swap positions but his aim will be more long-term as he looks to get the team competitive for future seasons.