Blakey Gets Better of Brown

Carthage won the battle at the top of Division Two with a 4-1 success at Arsenal. Carthage opened well but Eric Fray’s chip was punched away by Almunia. They would be stung just after the half-hour with Tomas Rosicky heading Arsenal into a one-goal advantage. Carthage, though, would continue to impress and Fray headed them level before the break. The second-half saw Caleb Spencer shoot Carthage into an early 2-1 advantage while Eduardo da Silva rattled the bar with a lob at the other end. It would be Carthage who would take control of the game still further as Amin Mansourian smacked in a superb 52nd minute goal to give them a 3-1 lead. Quincy Lansbury hit a post with a fine header while Arsenal looked to hit back but Andrey Arshavin hit a free-kick too close to Aurelius while Abou Diaby headed wide. Carthage would then seal the win as Lansbury placed the ball beyond Almunia to clinch a 4-1 victory. Carthage News reported that they ‘were clearly the better team’ and they will look to stretch their lead at Juventus on Friday. Despite the defeat DomBrown looked on the positive side saying that they ‘are still only 1 point off 1st and (they) will bounce back.’

Futsal remained unbeaten and moved into third as they defeated Reggae Reggae Sauce 3-1 at Sauce Bottle Arena. It would be the home side who enjoyed the first chance but Tyrone Barratt’s header was easily saved. However, it would be his namesake who would strike first at the other end; Robin Barratt heading beyond Mullen for the opening goal of the game. Futsal would then double their lead as a flick header by Samson Heskey proved too good for Mullen on 21 minutes. However, a mishit shot by Alfredo D’Addadzio on 40 minutes gave the home side hope going into the half-time break. Ricky Routhledge put a chip over for Futsal at the start of the second-half as they looked to re-establish their advantage and Sauce might have equalised but Jurkovic held Christiano Torres’ header. This proved crucial as moments later Rowley Forrester curled in a free-kick to make it 3-1 to Futsal. Barratt headed wide for Sauce and Leroy Nugent saw a shot saved as they ran out of time and succumbed to another defeat. Jake has his side in great form as well as only two points off top as things look set for an exciting season. RRS sit in familiar territory in the bottom three and the hope of success for their long-suffering fans seems as distant as ever as the season progresses.

Splott Rovers look primed for a title challenge after another impressive performance saw them defeat Juventus 4-1 at Star Centre Arena. Winston Badger shot them into an early lead with a calm finish in the area and a free-kick by Reed Fantastic might have made it two but it was too close to Fuentes in goal. Eddie Venom smashed an effort into the crossbar before they did make it 2-0 with Frank Punisher converting a penalty on 20 minutes. A free-kick at the other end saw Mairthin Foley go close but it was Splott on top again before the interval with Badger striking in the area again for his second goal of the game. An early free-kick at the start of the second-half saw Fantastic brush a post but it would be Juve who would strike first with Obadele Eliakwu despatching a penalty to make it 3-1. Foley brushed a post as Juve looked to stage a remarkable recovery but a free-kick by Fantastic needed saving at the other end. Splott would seal the game on 79 minutes with Matt Daredevil finishing a breakaway with some aplomb to cap a fine performance by the hosts. Carbonmonoxide got his wish of a ‘hat-trick of wins’ against Juve and will now look for his side to push on against The Lone Wanderers on Friday. Juve continue to struggle and things don’t get any easier as they play the league leaders next up as they search for all-important points.

These Charming Men edged an exciting game against The Lone Wanderers by the odd goal in five at Irregulars Arena. There were to be plenty of chances in an open game and William MacAvish went close for the visitors on six minutes with a lob which went just over. TCM responded with the opening goal as Loran Rajabi rounded Peyton expertly before slotting home. Maurice Capdevila couldn’t make it 2-0 as his chip went over before Jordi Rodri skimmed the bar with a half-volley. Arsim Kule tried to respond for the visitors but his header was saved while Leroux Calabuig also had a shot saved by Derksen. TCM would retain their goal advantage going into the second-half and it would be swiftly doubled after the break; Capdevila rounding Peyton for a carbon-copy of the opening goal. Rodri went on to have another shot saved before the Wanderers responded by pulling a goal back via a Brad Kavanaugh header. Kule tried to make it 2-2 but put his header too close to Derksen while Peyton was alert at the other end to deny Rajabi. MacAvish did manage to level for the visitors with a powerful strike from distance and Stephen Julius might have put them in front but his mishit shot struck a post. This proved costly as Rajabi managed to curl in a beautiful strike on 87 minutes to put TCM back in front. Once more the Wanderers responded but Kavanaugh had a goal chalked off for offside. A late chance for Linus Streicher was saved before Rajabi missed the goal as TCM tried to add further goals. Indeed, Peyton needed to save from Stuart Cooksey to deny TCM again but this didn’t stop the visitors falling to a one-goal defeat. RDCM will be pleased with his side’s start although has admitted that they ‘have a long hard season ahead of (them).’ HH, meanwhile, will be hoping results improve as he ‘prepares to regain control over the club.’

Belly Tubbies enjoyed a much-needed three points following a 4-1 thumping of Kroklund. Beach Ball went close early on before Graeme Sharp placed a header beyond Kangashaka for the opening goal. Peter Reid was then denied by the cat from a header before Kangashaka also saved from a chip by the midfielder. Kroklund responded with a shot by Bosse Bong but Fitzsimmons made the save comfortably. Tubbies ended the half on a high as Sharp shot home cleverly in the area for a 2-0 half-time lead. The second-half saw Aatu Vuokki give the visitors hope with a fine strike from distance but once Sharp had completed his hat-trick from range the result was never in doubt. Paul Bracewell quickly added a fourth with a diving header to give the home fans something to cheer. Kevin Sheedy demanded a fine stop from the ‘keeper before Sharp hit a post with a placed effort. Sharp still had time to have another effort on goal but Kangashaka was the equal to it. Fitzy was delighted that his side had ‘bloody well scored’ and after getting that particular monkey off their back they will now look to kick on. Bossebong will look for his side to respond to this poor performance as they take on Arsenal on Friday but they will need to be much tighter at the back to get anything from the contest.

Los Samgeles Kings eased to a 3-0 home win over St Omer in the other game of the division. An early header by Alexander Frolov gave them the ideal start and they remained in control throughout. Luc Robitaille powered in the second from distance on eight minutes and although Bruno Vasa had an effort at the other end it was easily saved and the Kings went in with a two-goal cushion. The second-half brought more chances for the hosts with Rain saving well from Derek Armstrong’s shot before catching a header by Dustin Brown. Vasa thought he had scored for the visitors but it was cruelly disallowed for offside before Michal Handzus added insult to injury with a lob header to make it 3-0. The Kings might have added a fourth but Sam Harding put his shot wide and they had to settle for a 3-0 win. It will come as a welcome triumph for Stripy’s side and after moving up to mid-table they will look to take more points from a home encounter with Reggae Reggae Sauce. Omer remain pointless and goalless and will continue to blank everything out as they progress with their programme of youth development.