Title Race Heats Up

Carthage dropped another two points as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Glory Hornets with the title race tightening up as a result. Carthage opened up with a Quincy Lansbury half-volley which went wide before Rhys Gregson unfortunately struck a post with a measured header. The Hornets would signal their arrival in the game as an attacking force as Toma Popadic’s powerful shot was saved. The visitors would then suffer an injury to Paul Glimsjo with the half-time whistle signalling deadlock at the break. The Hornets would have the first chance of the second-half but Aurelius was alert to turn round Popadic’s free-kick. Carthage would take advantage by hitting the front; Amin Mansourian powering in a long range strike which left Blacksmith well-beaten. The home side would have a response, however, and Lionel Monk showed great composure in finishing off a breakaway move only to be denied by the assistant referee. Kenneth MacKenna would go close to putting through his own goal as Carthage struggled to survive and they would ultimately be pegged back. Mansourian would first see red for stamping before Paolo Ballotta made them pay with an excellent strike from distance which delighted the home fans. Blakey’s side now sit just two points clear and five ahead of fourth place as the manager’s famous title declaration looks to bite back. Despite this point, Hornets fans will feel easier if GregPerkins was to return to the fold ahead of the new season which has a lot of promise if this performance is anything to go by.

Dream Team managed to close within two points as they edged out Alsancak 4-2 in an exciting game at the Stadium of Dreams. Adem Tumer would have a bicycle kick saved by Hart before Mark Noble chipped against the angle at the other end as the game enjoyed an open beginning. The hosts would take the lead on 26 minutes as Warren Dillin finished calmly after a breakaway and their lead would be doubled as Fabrice Muamba put through his own goal two minutes later. Alsancak remained in positive mood despite the two-goal deficit and Wayne Butters was unlucky not to get a goal back as his bicycle kick struck wood. With both sides creating chances the fans had full value for money. Giovanni Cambiel and two Dudley Barrowcliff free-kicks threatened to extend the home side’s lead but it remained 2-0 at the break. The visitors would get a goal back on 55 minutes as Butters struck a sweet volley into the roof of the net and the forward might even have levelled but his lob had a little too much on it. The home side saw Tumer smash an effort into a post as did Andrew Taylor at the other end as the game continued to fizz. Dream Team would re-establish their two-goal lead as Kenneth Caster slotted home a penalty and it was 4-1 as Luke Anderson curled in a special effort from outside the area. To their credit the visitors kept plugging away and Danny Rose produced a special effort to make the score 4-2. This would be the final score as the referee brought an end to a brilliant match. MrJames will realise the pressure is on the leaders and will be keen for his players to remain calm ahead of their crunch match against Arsenal on Friday. Wienersnitzel continues to have his side playing an exciting brand of football which will be enjoyed by fans at the club for seasons to come.

Arsenal warmed up for their clash with Dream Team with a routine 3-0 home win over Grey Area. An early free-kick by Andrey Arshavin went just over before Robin van Persie demanded an excellent reflex save from Kerrigan with a volley on goal. Area responded with a chance of their own but Diego Maradona’s curled effort was saved and they would find themselves behind as Arshavin headed home from a corner on 20 minutes. Arshavin smashed a free-kick into the crossbar just before the break but the home side would take a comfortable lead into the sheds. The hosts would get their second goal of the game as Abou Diaby toe-poked in on 56 minutes. Mikael Silvestre would hit an opportunity over before van Persie flicked home number three with his head on 70 minutes. Further chances followed but Samir Nasri hit the bar and Tomas Rosicky forced an excellent save from the ‘keeper as he shot on goal from a tight angle. Arsenal News continued to turn up the pressure on Carthage by claiming they had produced ‘a school boy error’ in declaring the title was theirs and with just three points separating the top three this battle looks set to run. Trecool will be hoping his side are in the thick of things this time next season as their campaign fizzles out.

Wiltshire Warriors put in a dominant performance to stay in touch with the leaders as they defeated Morley Town 4-0. The Warriors would take the lead on five minutes as Craig Elliott lobbed over Zubeldia to find the net. Zubeldia would make a better effort from the home side’s next chance as he turned round a powerful shot from Farshid Jalali. The half was plagued by injuries with both sides suffering but it would be the home side who would go in the happier at 1-0. Jalali quickly made it 2-0 at the beginning of the second-half with a clinical strike in the area and Bob Black was unlucky not to make it three as his header hit a post. Jalali would chip a chance over before Jack Balshaw headed home beautifully for 3-0 on 65 minutes. Dante de Matteo quickly made it 4-0 from distance and only the ‘keeper stopped him from making it 5-0 from a header minutes later. Black was also to be denied by the ‘keeper but Big K’s side were more than happy with their 4-0 win. They are still two points off third with Big K admitting the race ‘could go all the way to the wire.’ Leeg21 will be happy to see the back of a season which promised so much but has delivered much less. He is sure to be even more determined ahead of the new campaign.

Wortley also produced a solid 5-0 home win over Spartans to remain within six points of Arsenal. A powerful low shot by Walter Willock would give them a fourth minute lead and they would not look back. Willock went close to making it 2-0 with a diving header and although Klaas-Jan Huntelaar nearly shocked them at the other end with a header which struck the angle it would be the home side who would strike again. Nigel Krippner drilled in a long range effort on 21 minutes for 2-0 and Ezequiel Garay nearly made it 3-0 as he hit his own post moments later. Willock thumped in for 3-0 on 24 minutes and they would take this lead into the break. They would quickly add a fourth as Nigel Krippner headed in on 53 minutes and although they lost Willock to injury they would make it 5-0 as Brandon Hiller headed home on 76 minutes. John Obi Mikel missed a late chance for the visitors but in the end they were well-beaten. Thegreatlordbags will recognise that all his side can do is keep taking care of their own business and hope the teams above them slip-up. Tomsayshii will need to rectify his side’s lack of fire-power in the silly-season and everyone connected to the club will be happy to see the back of this campaign.

Tir Eoghain continued their upturn in fortunes with an easy 4-0 home win over The Champs. An early header by Kyle Lang gave them the perfect start and it might have been 2-0 but Sonny Baron’s strike missed by inches. Baron would then force Irving into a leg save before Jeffrey Balbi headed over as the home pressure continued. Timoteo Gemeos’s volley didn’t trouble Irving unduly and the score would remain 1-0 at the interval. Gemeos would make it 2-0 on 57 minutes, though, as he cheekily back-heeled past Irving. 3-0 followed soon after as Baron got the goal his play deserved as he headed home and Jim Hotte did likewise to complete a 4-0 triumph. Daley Higson did have a goal disallowed for offside for the visitors but Wylie will need to reappear before their fortunes change. Meanwhile, Tyroneabu said that the ‘boys are playing for their future’ as they aim to move in ‘a bright new direction.’