4 Points Separate Top 4

The title race heated up in Division Three following the latest round of matches. Two of the top four met at Scatcherd Park as Morley overcame wortley 2-1. The leaders began like a side befitting their position and a shot by Orlando Bhoendie nearly gave them the lead but unfortunately struck the woodwork with Gaughan beaten. Nevertheless they would take the lead on 18 minutes as Paulinho Santos placed in an accurate header following a pinpoint cross from Rai Kike. Morley would launch their first attack on 26 minutes and it culminated with Gareth saving well from a Florian Arnautu diving header. A diving header at the other end saw Walter Willock fail to test Gaughan while a lob by Dustin Wotton went over as the hosts looked for a way back in. Wortley might have felt they were good value for a two-goal lead at this stage and might have had it if Emmanuel Capwell had been more accurate with his powerful strike. They would then find themselves under pressure before the break as Helder Velez struck a powerful effort off-target before Gareth had to save well from Mitchell Pennock’s volley. Morley’s pressure would eventually tell on 44 minutes as Dick Tator awarded them a penalty which Reno Robredo gleefully struck home. The second-half would prove to be a much cagier affair with chances at a premium. Indeed, the one chance that would be created fell to the hosts in the form of a free-kick; Angres Kafka lifting the roof off the stadium with a fantastic strike to give the hosts a match-winning 2-1 lead. Morley News reported that the win keeps them ‘in the hunt for promotion’ and stressed the need to keep ‘focused in every game.’ The task doesn’t get any easier for Thegreatlordbags following this defeat as his table-topping side entertain Gooners who are their nearest challengers; defeat in that game would be unthinkable for the long-time leaders.

Gooners didn’t have the best preparation for that contest as they slipped to a 4-1 home defeat by Dream Team. Thierry Henry set the tone for a dull first-half by blasting wide in the first minute and nothing that followed could have prepared us for a quite dramatic second 45 minutes. Dudley Dream gave the visitors the lead from their very first attack as he shot home after a dangerous corner was delivered by Kris Krafty. A free-kick was aimed onto the head of Krafty minutes later but Seaman saved well. A crucial moment in the game followed on 59 minutes as Sol Campbell was sent-off for dangerous play leaving the home side with an even bigger uphill task. Garry Gain would make this task even greater on the hour when he headed past Seaman for 2-0 and it might have been worse still for the hosts moments later but the ‘keeper managed to save from Garry Gain’s powerful shot from distance. Mil Moody would also put a shot off-target for the dominant visitors and the game was back in the melting pot as Gooners pulled a goal back on 72 minutes; Iain Wright firing in a superb shot past a stunned Delirious. However, the visitors would make their numerical advantage count once more on 74 minutes to send Gain through and the forward finished competently as he rounded Seaman with ease to slot home. The home side showed great spirit to keep pressing but Kyle Lang could only hit his shot wide although Seaman did keep them in the contest as he saved from Moody’s blast. However, the game would be over on 87 minutes as Krafty shot home following a corner to give the visitors an unassailable three-goal lead. Gooners would see a late free-kick by Dennis Bergkamp excellently saved by Delirious before Seaman did likewise at the other end to stop Will Want’s set-piece effort. MrJames was in buoyant mood following the win and explained that ‘the other three (contenders) have a tougher run’ giving his side the inside track to glory. FMRealism hit back by guaranteeing DT ‘won’t win the league’ but he’ll now be focusing on the massive clash with wortley to see who will be in pole position with only a couple of weeks left.

1863 Munich continued to show promise of brighter things next season as they romped to a comprehensive 6-0 win at Norfolk. A flick header from Stephane Aoudou got the side off to the perfect start and they were always in control of this match-up. A breakaway on seven minutes saw Turlough Daly place his shot just wide before Aoudou also hit his shot wide a minute later. Clemens would make an excellent save on 11 minutes as he punched away a Daly shot to keep Norfolk clinging on by their fingernails. Their resistance was broken again on 15 minutes, though, as Daly flicked home a header and on 18 minutes it was 3-0 as the forward lobbed in a beautiful goal. Seth Eaves placed home number four on 21 minutes and they would take this 4-0 lead into the break. The second-half saw just two further chances for the visitors but they resulted in two more goals. Daly completed his hat-trick on 64 minutes with another sumptuous lob while Eaves shot home his second of the day from inside the area to complete the 6-0 rout. Anderson was already casting a longing eye onto the results at the top of the table before saying ‘roll on next season’ as his side figure to play a big part in proceedings. Howemiester will have less ambitious plans but with his side a year older and more skilful there might be brighter days to come for Norfolk’s patient fans.

Alsancak enjoyed a successful away day to keep their grip on sixth; overcoming Jammas AllStars 2-0 at Jamford Bridge. John Burston was denied by Frezzolini in the very first minute while Elliot Vasa put a powerful header too close to Preoteasa at the other end as the game got off to a fast start. Preoteasa would also gather comfortably from a Teobaldo Bispo header as the home side struggled with their finishing. Andrew Taylor had no such difficulties at the other end as he lobbed an excellent header over Frezzolini for the opening goal on 19 minutes. Alsancak might have furthered their lead but Frezzolini saved superbly from a Taylor free-kick while Burston somewhat unluckily put his lob against the bar. The second-half again saw chances at both ends in an enterprising contest. Miles Beckett would flick a header wide for the visitors while at the other end Vasa missed narrowly with a powerful low shot. Margrott Ashdown would also volley off-target for the hosts and they would then fall 2-0 behind on 76 minutes; Naruto Otiai placing home a clinical header for the insurance goal. Ashdown would waste a free-kick for the hosts while Rory Burston had a shot brush a post for Alsancak as the game continued in open fashion right to the last. Wienersnitzel remains ‘pleased with the progress his side have made this season’ and they could be a team to watch next term. Jamma will hope to mould his side into a force to be reckoned with also and the manager is sure to be busy in the off-season.

Rolling Thunder overtook Mighty Mojos in the standings after they defeated them 2-0 at Cloud Nine. The game might have turned out much differently had Mojos taken one of their chances in a good first-half performance. Thunder did have an early chance to take the lead but Marcelo da Silva wasted the spot-kick and the Mojos went on to enjoy the better of the half. Ferdinand Quinn would see a header saved by Jorquera before Michel Montolio put a lob against the bar as the visitors threatened the opening goal. Timotei Buta would also lob a header over the bar as their best efforts in the opening 45 minutes resulted in stalemate. Thunder were a much different proposition from the moment Jovan Gagic looped in a header on 50 minutes to give them a 1-0 advantage. A free-kick by Erland Hangeland missed the goal by a metre while Montolio had a goal disallowed at the other end for offside. Buta would see a diving header hit a post as Mojos’ luck appeared to be out. Yiannis Koutsis would shoot wide for the hosts while Montolio hit a free-kick wildly off-target as the game remained in the balance. The decisive moment came on 92 minutes, though, as Gagic produced an excellent diving header to put his side 2-0 up and they might have added a further goal but Hangeland couldn’t deliver from his set-piece. Vehusheia will have been satisfied with the win and better times may await next season once he has the chance to make some changes. Joshy admitted his side should have ‘been 1-0 up at the break’ and added that they ‘missed their captain’ during the second 45 minutes.

FCR Cressex and EspAda were involved in a five-goal thriller at Cressex Astro and it was the home side who would emerge with a 3-2 victory. Tomas Tiribocchi had an early header saved by Newell before Geoffrey Stiles would head wide at the other end in an explosive start to the game. Tiribocchi’s cheeky back-heel would be easily saved by Newell and Frederik Smit would strike a post as both sides continued to enjoy chances. The opening goal arrived on 30 minutes with Lauro Poggi heading in for the hosts to give them a slender advantage. Herbert Stigsson, however, would ensure this lead would last just four minutes as he thundered in a strike from distance to level matters. Concentration would then prove to be the visitors’ downfall as straight from the kick-off they allowed Poggi space to lob home and put Cressex ahead once more. Patric Torebring would have the opportunity to level before the break and made no mistake with a calm finish and a splendid first-half finished 2-2. Smit chipped over with the first chance after the break while Newell kept the scores level by saving from Poggi at the other end. A free-kick by Emil Rojas saw Newell make another save but the ‘keeper could do nothing about Poggi’s header on 88 minutes which gave the forward his hat-trick and Cressex a 3-2 lead. EspAda did try to level late on but Torebring had a shot brush the post and time ran out on their efforts. Both Villan_RAS and Malteseexpert will be hoping for better things next season following a campaign of underachievement at the respective sides.