Carthage Eyes on the Prize

Carthage FC put in a strong second-half showing to defeat Futsal 3-1 at Carthage City. Rick Tuttle flicked a header too close to Cumbo before Rhys Gregson half-volleyed over at the other end as both sides pressed early. Futsal would take the lead on 39 minutes with Mirciulica Bardes firing in after being tapped the ball from a Forrester free-kick. Carthage were stronger after the break and a 54th minute strike by Svante Jillhed hit the angle as they pressed for the equaliser. Quincy Lansbury would level matters with a powerful low shot from distance and Gregson completed the turnaround with a precise header after 71 minutes. Futsal’s troubles worsened as Rick Tuttle was sent-off and Gregson had to be denied by Roberts as Carthage looked for more goals. Ad Herbal did add a third with a quality finish in the area and although Rowley Forrester hit a free-kick on target at the other end Cumbo saved and the home side emerged victorious. Blakey has his eyes on going unbeaten the longest and ‘expects 3 points against LSK’ next up. Jake saw his side slip to their first defeat of the season but they will remain in confident fashion and expect to bounce back against Kroklund on Tuesday.

Splott moved up into second with a routine 4-0 home success against Reggae Reggae Sauce. The home side’s start was explosive as Reed Fantastic thumped home a free-kick in the very first minute. It might have been 2-0 four minutes later but Eddie Venom’s chip hit the bar and Matt Daredevil’s shot was excellently saved by Shay Mullen. It soon would be 2-0, though, as a lob by Kurt Nightcrawler found the net from distance. Christiano Torres forced Ghostrider into a fine save at the other end before normal service resumed as Ted Tolley looped a header just over. Fantastic would have a header held by Mullen before Daredevil did add a third following a breakaway move. Venom back-heeled the fourth on 33 minutes and although Torres hit the bar at the other end Splott were in total control at the break. The second-half saw just two further chances and they both came for the visitors. Reed Fantastic had his ‘keeper to thank for stopping a dangerous back pass before Torres saw a driving shot miss narrowly. Carbonmonoxide will have been pleased his side ‘punished’ RRS as he had hoped and will now set his sights on topping the division in the near future. RRS lurch from one defeat to another and look destined to complete their journey from the top to the bottom at the end of the season.

These Charming Men suffered a defeat as Belly Tubbies put in a classic away performance to come away with a 1-0 win. Adrian Heath placed in a header for the visitors on 11 minutes and they were then in debt to Fitzsimmons in goal. He produced an excellent stop from a Tord Jakobson free-kick before a second set-piece from the defender went just over. Loran Rajabi toe-poked wide before the break as the score remained 1-0 to the visitors. Jakobson had another free-kick at the start of the second-half but Fitzsimmons turned it round the post expertly. Tubbies had a late chance to add another goal but Beach Ball missed the goal and they had to settle for a 1-0 victory. BT News called Fitzsimmons’ performance ‘brilliant’ and that the club ‘hope to be pushing for promotion soon.’ TCM News admitted the home side ‘struggled to get a grip on the game’ and hoped that they would ‘find their form again quickly.’

Kroklund Kings kept themselves in touch at the top with a 2-0 home success over Juventus. The home side scored in the second minute as Berti Behrends steered in the ball after a corner and they dominated from this point on. Gabriel Galtier brushed a post with a header before Aatu Vuokki had a lob turned over the bar by Fuentes as they continued to press. Bosse Bong would then see a header go over before Sjunne Wenna side-footed an effort over the bar. A breakaway saw Vuokki denied by alert work from Fuentes but Kroklund did add a second when Wenna headed home. Behrends saw Fuentes deny him after he toe-poked on target as Kroklund stayed on top until the break. The second-half saw a chance each. However, Juve would be reduced to ten-men first as Jacobo Chacros saw red with Galtier then nearly adding a third with a powerful shot which was punched away. Juve had a late effort from Mairthin Foley but it didn’t trouble the ‘keeper and they fell to a deserved defeat. Bossebong has his side two points off the top three and will lead his side into a crucial battle with Futsal full of confidence. Juve seem to be struggling but a match away to St Omer should see them get their first win of the season.

St Omer put in a creditable home performance against The Lone Wanderers but still slipped to a 1-0 home defeat. The visitors saw Mart Rosbottom open the scoring with a cool side-footed finish on 19 minutes. Omer would force a chance before the break but Marino Ulander’s shot was held by Peyton and they went in behind. The second-half opened with Roderick Jacobs heading straight at Peyton while Soren Prestomen also had a header saved by the ‘keeper as the home side pressed for an equaliser. It wouldn’t come, though, and they might have conceded more goals before the end. Rosbottom put a header off-target before Arsim Kule struck wood with a mishit shot. HH will have been relieved his side managed the three points against the bottom club but will expect more when they travel to meet RRS on Tuesday. CT explained his decision to ‘sell some of his better players’ was down to being able to train and the club fans continue to keep faith with their manager’s long-term plan.

Arsenal UK were the division’s other winners with a dominant 2-0 home success over Los Samgeles Kings. They had their first chance from a free-kick but Abou Diaby’s effort was saved by Ersberg. Samir Nasri headed wide of the target on 27 minutes but Arsenal would open the scoring 13 minutes later courtesy of a precise header from Sid Peyton. The second-half saw Arsenal continue to press and Robin van Persie was unlucky as his chip struck the bar. Peyton put a diving header well-wide before Carlos Vela thought he had made it 2-0 with a neat side-footer only for it to be chalked off. Tomas Rosicky would make it 2-0 with a fine header while Diaby saw a free-kick strike the bar. Peyton again failed to score with a header as Ersberg made the save but the home side had done enough for the three points. Arsenal News called it ‘an impressive victory’ before looking ahead to a ‘tough game against These Charming Men’ next. Los Samgeles Kings sit a place above the drop zone and face formidable opposition in Carthage as they look to get their season moving in the right direction again.