What are the Chances?

Norfolk picked up their first point of the season in a stunning 4-4 draw with Cressex. The chances began early with Dominik Brno’s chip being tipped over by home ‘keeper Olausson. Kendrick Osmond would then stun the visitors by putting the hosts ahead albeit with a mishit shot. Klyde Krippner missed a free-kick chance while Carasario Falcioni missed the chance to level at the other end as his header wasn’t accurate enough. In a breathtaking contest Krippner then had another free-kick saved by Clooney and Cressex would take full advantage as Cabbar Saatcioglu shot home inside the penalty area to level the game. The home side’s response was immediate with Andy Howe heading home and the visitors’ frustration grew as Saatcioglu had a goal disallowed at the other end. The forward would then strike a post with a strike before making the necessary adjustment to level from distance on 26 minutes. Dan Ruffer tried to put the hosts back in front but his shot was saved while Saatcioglu had a header saved at the other end. Howe would have the last chance of the half but couldn’t make his curled shot count as the teams went in at 2-2. The second-half started just as fast with Leopoldo Valadao putting a header over for the hosts before Zoli Denes hit a post with a toe-poke. Cressex fired back with Falcioni firing over while Tajo Juanjo hit the woodwork for Norfolk with a powerful header. Saatcioglu would have his moment on 62 minutes as he finished a breakaway for his hat-trick goal to have Cressex 3-2 up. The lead would last a mere three minutes, though, as Denes put an accurate header past Clooney to tie the game. Dan-Ake Rothflod soon had Cressex back in front with a stunning strike from distance and Clooney kept them in front by holding Kendrick Osmond’s header. However, the ‘keeper was powerless to stop Andy Howe’s volley which made it 4-4 on 85 minutes. Leopoldo Valadao missed a late chance to win the game for the hosts as he put too much on his chip but the point was enough to have the home fans celebrating at the final whistle. Howemiester will have forgotten how to celebrate a point but will no doubt be happy with his side’s attacking intent and if they can continue that on Tuesday they may go better. Villan_RAS will have been unimpressed with his side’s defending and a second-half of struggle awaits unless they can tighten up.

Wortley maintained their grip on first place with a 3-0 success at Rolling Thunder. Thunder opened with a Marcel Holub strike which brushed a post while they would be relieved moments later as Quincy Bowey’s header for wortley was disallowed for offside. Ludo Cappellacci shot over for the hosts and they would go in behind as Bowey found the target from distance. The second-half saw more openings with Thunder seeing Yiannis Koutsis put a half-volley over early in the piece. Walter Willock wasted a header for wortley while Brandon Hiller had a lob saved as the leaders stepped up the pressure. This pressure told as Bowey lobbed in his second of the day to double the visitors’ lead. Benjamin Unesson was unlucky not to bring Thunder back into the contest as his curled shot struck a post and the game was over when Hiller produced a superb diving header to make it 3-0 on 83 minutes. The game will have given Thegreatlordbags plenty of confidence going into the return match and they have to be pleased with their position going into the turn. Jimmy will be perplexed with his side’s current form and unless they can find a couple of wins a promotion place might just prove a little beyond them this term.

Dream Team are now the nearest challengers to wortley following a 4-0 win at Jammas AllStars. A lob by Mil Moody had the visitors in front on 12 minutes before the midfielder wasted his second chance by toe-poking straight at Frezzolini. The AllStars found a threat after the interval as Ruud Olfers struck the woodwork while Moody headed over at the other end. Sergio Coccioletti was denied by Delirious and Dream Team then doubled their lead as Dudley Dream finished well in the area. Margrott Ashdown shot over to sum up the AllStars’ day and Dream Team would finish strongly. Moody headed home his second of the day and Warren Wish would add a header of his own to make the final score 4-0 to the visitors. MrJames will not be satisfied until his side have hit first but they appear strong as the season enters its business stage. Not much will change during this term for Jamma but the future remains a bright one while he is developing the AllStars.

The Gooners are still the unbeatable side of the division following a 3-0 home stroll against EspAda. Their first chance came from a free-kick and Andres Iniesta didn’t disappoint with a stunning effort which struck the woodwork. Zhini Demiray would have a goal disallowed for the visitors while Teremun Odejayi saw a lob go over at the other end as the score remained goalless at the break. The visitors had the first chances after the break but Allan Bound couldn’t make good with a header while Lima saved well from Gregor Muller’s header. Gooners would capitalise courtesy of Broderick Shilton scoring from a breakaway and when Demiray put a lob over at the other end it would be all the hosts from this point on. Harold Hankers had a diving header saved by Kerrigan but Sonny Baron would make it 2-0 on 75 minutes with a fine header. Iniesta side-footed wide before flicking home a header to increase the lead still further on 75 minutes. Muller had a token effort for the visitors and was unlucky as his bicycle kick struck a post while the woodwork was tested at the other end when Shilton powered in an effort which had Kerrigan beaten. There was further excitement for home fans when FMRealism indicated they would be ‘adding to already one of the best midfields in Division Three.’ Malteseexpert will need to take a closer look at his side if they are not to have wasted the season completely and they won’t be confident going into the rematch.

Morley Town fell off the pace as they lost 2-1 at home to Alsancak. Morley started strongly with Art Boyle smashing a header off the bar before they forced a penalty on 11 minutes; unfortunately Dustin Wotton hit a tame effort which saw Cirkovic save. Wotton would then see Cirkovic save from his header while Rory Burston was denied at the other end after getting in a curled shot on target. Miles Beckett saw a lob punched away by Zubeldia and Morley took advantage by hitting the front on 19 minutes as Florian Arnautu headed in clinically. Vivian Kwekeu might have extended the lead but his volley hit the angle while Fraizer Campbell suffered similar misfortune at the other end as his chip hit the bar. The second-half saw Alsancak put in a perfectly controlled performance to take a hold of the game. Eoghan Millar lobbed against the angle before Beckett’s volley was saved by Zubeldia as they signalled their intent. They would get their equaliser on 70 minutes as Millar lobbed in perfectly and the turnaround was complete when Campbell also chipped the ‘keeper to leave Morley stunned. Leeg21 will want immediate revenge as his side seek to keep pace with the top three. Wienersnitzel is delighted that his side ‘continue to punch above (their) weight’ and urged other sides to show them more ‘respect.’

1863 Munich and Mighty Mojos fought out a 1-1 draw in the other contest which saw two of the leagues brightest new managers go head-to-head. The first chance didn’t come while late in the opening half with Ferdinand Quinn unable to side-foot home and Michel Montolio was also found wanting in front of goal as he put a free-kick over just before the break. The Mojos thought they had hit the front on 59 minutes but Quinn’s header was disallowed due to a dubious call. They would need a piece of fortune to finally make the breakthrough as Nelutu Cristea put through his own goal on 76 minutes. The home side’s response was quick but Elliott Malloy had nothing but bad luck as his lob was denied only by the woodwork. Phillip Williams would have a chance to seal the win for the visitors but his back heel went wide and they would pay the ultimate price as Malloy shot home deep into injury-time for the hosts. Joshy explained that he thought his side ‘deserved more than a draw’ and pointed to ‘poor decision making’ and the disallowed goal as to reasons why they didn’t come away with three points. Anderson admitted he would ‘take the draw from the game’ although was disappointed that Edwards would be ‘out for days.’