Warriors Whack Carthage Hopes

Wiltshire Warriors threw a spanner in the works of Carthage’s title hopes with a 3-1 away win at Carthage City. The Warriors would take the lead with their first chance as Farshid Jalali chipped home inside the penalty area on nine minutes. A half-volley by Rhys Gregson threatened to bring the home side level but some alert ‘keeping by Martin Hogg turned the ball round. The Warriors tried to extend their advantage with a flick header by Craig Elliott but it was well-saved by Cumbo while Gregson was denied by Hogg at the other end. The Warriors would double their advantage with a superb free-kick by Bob Lake which gave Cumbo no chance. Quincy Lansbury was unfortunate not to halve the deficit before the break but his header hit the bar and his team went in 2-0 down. Carthage had already seen Amin Mansourian head wide at the start of the second-half before they did get a goal back; Ad Herbal heading in well on 56 minutes. However, they could force no further openings and Robert Merson sealed the win with a header from a corner on 89 minutes for the visitors. The win takes the Warriors within seven of the beaten opponents and while it may be too late to mount a title charge they have certainly laid down a marker. Blakey’s Carthage will look to respond like champions in their next match as the chasing pack continue to hunt them down.

Dream Team secured a 1-0 win away to Spartans to narrow the gap at the top to just four points. A free-kick presented the visitors with their first chance of the game but Rinaldo Lupatelli’s effort was saved by Neuer. Warren Dillin then curled an effort well-wide before a breakaway ended with the same player hitting an effort over the bar. Spartans had an opportunity of their own and looked to have taken the lead through Aiden McGeady but he timed his run poorly and was well-offside. The home side began the second-half on the front foot but a side-footed shot by Bojan Krkic went wide as the sides continued to struggle in front of goal. Dream Team would finish the stronger of the two sides with a powerful effort by Luke Anderson going wide before they did take the lead. It would arrive courtesy of Dillin who placed a header beyond Neuer for the crucial goal of the game. MrJames declared that the day ‘couldn’t have gone better’ as a win for his side was coupled with a loss for Carthage which put the title back in the melting pot. Tomsayshii will be hoping to improve his side's fortunes ahead of his first full season in charge.

Arsenal also capitalised on Carthage’s defeat with a comprehensive 3-0 away win at Glory Hornets. An early header by Eduardo da Silva needed saving before the same player would give Arsenal the lead with a driving shot on goal. He was now on fire and came within inches of making it 2-0 with an excellent lob. Tomas Rosicky demanded an excellent stop from Blacksmith as he produced a diving header out of the top drawer. The second goal nearly arrived before half-time but da Silva hit the post from a tight angle and they had to be satisfied with a 1-0 half-time lead. The second-half began in familiar fashion and Sid Peyton made it 2-0 with a well-placed header. Rosicky forced Blacksmith into a fine stop before Popadic finally had a response for the home side but his steered effort was stopped by Velasques. Rosicky had a header easily saved before Peyton put another headed attempt onto the angle as Arsenal searched for more goals. William Gallas saw red for wasting time and the Hornets tried to capitalise but saw Paolo Ballotta put his shot wide when well-placed. Arsenal still finished the stronger and Samir Nasri put a chip over before Abou Diaby powerfully headed in to seal a 3-0 win. The win leaves DomBrown’s side five points behind Carthage and they will be hopeful of another win at home to Grey Area on Tuesday. The Hornets will be happy to see the season end now as they sit in mid-table mediocrity without much hope of making an impact before the season finishes.

Wortley afc kept their promotion hopes alive but were made to work hard by a much-improved Tir Eoghain side. Wortley would strike the first blow as Paulinho Santos hit a free-kick in on nine minutes. Santos tried to make it 2-0 but his volley was saved. Eoghain would respond with a free-kick of their own but Sonny Baron hit it over. Baron would make much more of his next effort, though, as he rounded Jenning to slot home the equaliser. The home side would respond to this setback but Jake Shiver would narrowly miss with a low shot. However, they would regain the lead quickly as Walter Willock looped a header in on 24 minutes. This lead might have been doubled but Brandon Hiller’s shot hit a post while Harold Hankers fired wide at the other end. Hiller would eventually make it 3-1 with a clinical strike from a corner and with Hankers missing another chance at the other end wortley would go in with this two-goal lead intact at half-time. The second-half saw the hosts have a Rai Kike header hit a post before Willock thought he had made it 4-1 only to see it chalked off for an iffy offside call. Shiver would then head wide and Eoghain would launch a late fightback. Andres Iniesta had a header beat Jenning to set up a tense finale but it would count for nothing as the home side took the points. Thegreatlordbags kept his side within six points of the top three and they will look to maintain their run with a home match against Spartans on Tuesday. Eoghain can look to a much brighter future with their new boss declaring they have ‘a lot of promise’ before adding with a touch of realism that they have ‘a lot of hard work ahead.’

Morley Town F.C. returned to winning ways with a 3-0 home success over The Champs. They would have the perfect tonic as Florian Arnautu shot home from a tight angle on 10 minutes. Zacharias Ashe doubled the pleasure for the home side with a clinical strike on 25 minutes and the fans would be happy with this 2-0 lead at half-time. The Champs saw a Leigh Ellefson header crash into the crossbar as they looked to get back into the contest at the start of the second-half. Despite this attempt they still looked second best and Vivian Kwekeu hit a powerful shot straight at the ‘keeper as Morley went back on the offensive. Ellefson would make the visitors’ task more difficult as he was sent-off for brutal play and Angres Kafka forced Irving into a save from the resultant free-kick. Arnautu would make it 3-0 with a cheeky back-heel and although they missed late chances through Kafka and Ashe, who struck the angle with a header, they would emerge comfortable victors. While they remain a distant nine points behind the top three, Leeg21’s side will want to finish on a high so they can take momentum into the start of next season. TheChamps are badly missing Wylie’s steadying impact and until he returns their immediate prospects look bleak.

Grey Area and Alsancak shared a 0-0 draw in the division’s other game as both sides had to settle for a point apiece. The visitors would have the first chance but Andrew Taylor’s free-kick was warded off by Kerrigan. The ‘keeper would deny Taylor from a second free-kick on 21 minutes before a Sheldon Skiverton flick header was saved by Hart at the other end. Rory Burston headed over for the visitors on 35 minutes and Wayne Butters volleyed wide as the sides went in deadlocked. The second-half saw the hosts start the stronger but Diego Maradona failed to hit the target with a header. A Gabriel Agbonlahor header at the other end caused no trouble for Kerrigan as the sides struggled for a cutting edge. The rest of the game would render no further chances but it did see Geoffrey Stiles red carded for dangerous play as the hosts ended the contest with 10-men. Nevertheless, Trecool’s side emerged with a point which keeps them in ninth spot as the season reaches its final weeks. Wienersnitzel’s young side continue to pick up encouraging points ahead of the silly season and the future remains a bright one for Alsancak.