Jake Jolted by Late TCM Drama

These Charming Men produced a stunning finish to leave Futsal heart-broken as well as defeated. An early chance for the home side saw Gerard Caffrey attempt to round Roberts in goal but the ‘keeper was equal to it and gathered. Rick Tuttle would stun the home crowd on 22 minutes with an excellent diving header to put the visitors in front and it might have been even better for Futsal had Mirciulica Bardes managed to keep his header down moments later. Freddy Kennedy did have the ball in the net on 24 minutes but his breakaway goal was disallowed for an offside call which was 50/50 at best. This would be the last of the action in the first-half but TCM would be much-improved after the break. Chano Delgado went close with a powerful shot before putting a diving header wide as the chances began to arrive for the hosts. Delgado put another header over before Shaun McFadden had one saved by Roberts as TCM’s frustration in front of goal grew. However, they would get their reward in injury-time as first Mauricio Capdevila powered in a headed equaliser before Delgado guided in another header to complete the most stunning of finishes. RDCM had a massive smile on his face as he explained it was all part of ‘the joy of being an X11 manager’ and his side look well-placed for an exciting second-half to the season. Meanwhile, the joys of the game weren’t being felt by Jake as he said simply, ‘this game takes the piss sometimes.’

Carthage edged a tight home match against The Lone Wanderers to open up a three point gap at the head of the table. Rhys Gregson would head wide early on for the hosts but he would do much better later in the half; meeting a Caleb Spencer corner Gregson managed to head the ball past Peyton for the opening goal on 23 minutes. The Wanderers did come into the contest more after the goal and Albert Scully went close to levelling the game with a shot which struck a post. Indeed, the visitors would have the only chances after the break with Brad Kavanaugh being denied by Aurelius before Stephen Julius put a free-kick well over the bar as they suffered frustration. Carthage News reported that ‘Blakey0500 is confident his team will march on’ in the rematch and that they remain ‘favourites for promotion.’ HH explained that he thought his side ‘were unlucky’ but did admit that ‘in this league we must work hard and finish off our chances.’

Splott Rovers bounced back from their last game defeat with a 3-0 home victory over Kroklund Kings. A quiet first-half saw only one chance; Paul-Phillip Ravage heading home well from a Ted Tolley cross to give Splott a half-time lead. The game was more expansive after the break and Ravage had the hosts 2-0 ahead with another fine header on 59 minutes. A penalty five minutes later gave Splott the chance to finish the game but Tolvanen produced a fine stop to turn Frank Punisher’s spot-kick over. Ravage was unlucky not to complete a hat-trick of headers as his next effort struck the woodwork. Splott would put any lingering doubts to bed on 85 minutes as Reed Fantastic lived up to his name to thump home a free-kick and put the hosts 3-0 up. Bosse Bong did skim an effort over the bar at the other end while Fantastic went close with a further free-kick for the hosts who had already done more than enough to secure the three points. Carbonmonoxide has his side back in second and was heard recently defending his ‘galacticos’ and added that ‘when they are lifting the trophy at the end of the day no-one will be dissing them.’ Bossebong’s Kroklund remain in touch with the top three but will need to improve their away form if they are to put together a concerted push for promotion.

Belly Tubbies dropped out of the top three as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a much-improved Reggae Reggae Sauce effort. Paul Bracewell looked to have settled any nerves for the visitors when he headed home on 14 minutes but they were soon to be thankful for Fitzsimmons as he made a fine leg save from a Todd Osborn shot. Mark Higgins tried to double the away side’s lead but struck the angle with a well-placed header and they continued to suffer in the luck department as Kevin Ratcliffe saw a looping header bounce clear off the bar. Peter Reid would miss a good chance when he side-footed wide while Leroy Nugent fired a warning at the other end as his curled shot struck the woodwork. Gary Stevens wasted another chance for the Tubbies and they would pay the price as Franciszek Kamiski volleyed in the equaliser on 40 minutes. This turned out to be the last chance in the game as the second-half proved a stalemate as both sides’ tightened up although Christiano Torres would put the ball in the net in injury-time despite being flagged yards offside. It is hoped this point along with a couple of high-profile recent signings will give Xpertelevener a boost going into the second-half of a troubled campaign. Fitzy will undoubtedly see this as two points dropped and they will look to win the return on Tuesday to push themselves back into the top three.

Arsenal UK put together an attacking display of real intent to leave St Omer beaten 7-1 at The Emirates. Sid Peyton had them in front as early as the second minute with a powerful header and the chances would keep on coming. Robin van Persie would head wide before Peyton placed home the second with a well-directed effort on 12 minutes. Eduardo da Silva missed the target with a header while Hamshaw had to save from Abou Diaby in another aerial attack. Tomas Rosicky was the next to try his luck but his diving header was also stopped by Hamshaw while the midfielder would put another header wide minutes later. Rosicky would continue his assault on 24 minutes but would find joy as his long range shot found the net for 3-0. It would quickly be 4-0 as van Persie headed in and the home side would take this lead into the half-time break. Eduardo da Silva would put the first shot wide after the break and Omer would pull a goal back from their first chance; Norbert Rauscher shooting home following a corner. Diaby responded by heading too close to Hamshaw before he then missed the target with a further effort. Hamshaw would save well from da Silva as Omer’s defence continued to be stretched and van Persie finally made it 5-1 on 71 minutes with a precise header. Samir Nasri followed suit with a further headed which had too much power on it for the ‘keeper and da Silva completed the rout with a powerful strike in the area just before time. Arsenal News didn’t get too carried away with the result and predicted that the young Omer would have ‘learned more than we did from this game.’ CT will be pleased to see the turn of the season and will be more keen than ever to keep his side in form ahead of the all-important change report.

Juventus continue to be one of the form sides of the division as they saw off Los Samgeles Kings 1-0 at the Staples Center. Juve struck early as Kristoffer Lindfors produced a stunning diving header on two minutes. Jacobo Chacros was denied by the ‘keeper as he tried an audacious lob while Ersberg would also save from another Chacros effort; this time a free-kick. Dustin Brown enjoyed the home side’s first chance but Fuentes saved well from his header and Obadele Eliakwu might have doubled the lead but headed too close to Ersberg. Los Samgeles started better after the break but Luc Robitaille’s shot struck a post from a tight angle. Ersberg would then be called into action to keep his side in the game as he denied another Chacros free-kick. Chacros would continue to be frustrated as he toe-poked wide while Evgeni Malkin headed wide at the other end. Joaquin Messi would miss the target for the visitors while a late Alexander Frolov shot threatened to level matters but instead bounced clear off the woodwork. The win has SuperJuve’s side five points clear of their vanquished foes and he will now look to take advantage of Stripy's shock departure in the return match on Tuesday.