Ravage Savages Wanderers

Splott Rovers put in an excellent home performance to defeat The Lone Wanderers 2-1 and stay ahead of the pack in Division Two. Splott would waste early opportunities as Clyde Henderson shot wide in the very first minute before Paul-Phillip Ravage would also place a header off-target. Ravage would fare better with his second headed opportunity, though, as he put the ball beyond Peyton for the opening goal on 17 minutes. This would remain the score until the break with Splott much the happier of the two sides. Reed Fantastic hit an early free-kick off-target before smashing a post with a further effort as the home side remained on top at the start of the second-half. Frans Fleischer would make them pay for their profligacy by shooting home in the area on 52 minutes from the visitors’ first sight of goal. However, Splott would respond like champions and a lob from inside the area on 54 minutes by Ravage gave them their lead back. Fleischer would be foiled by Ghostrider as he attempted to round the ‘keeper on 65 minutes while Ravage saw his dreams of a hat-trick denied thanks to a dubious offside call. Albert Scully would miss narrowly from a driving shot on 79 minutes while at the other end Henderson put a toe-poke over. Splott continued to look for further goals but Henderson was again wayward with his finishing and a 2-1 victory would be their reward from a dominating performance. Splott News described the success as a ‘narrow 2-1 win against a dogged side’ before saying they could face a ‘title decider’ with TCM in a couple of games time should results go in favour of both sides before then. HH faces another massive fixture next as his side square up to TCM themselves, a game they dare not lose following this reversal.

These Charming Men remain in good shape following a routine 5-0 success over St Omer. Omer did enjoy an early chance but Arne Seiffert’s shot brushed a post and they would find themselves behind as Stuart Cooksey shot home from inside the area on 11 minutes. Cooksey would follow up by lobbing against the bar a minute later before Bryan Higginbottom volleyed the hosts into a 2-0 lead on 24 minutes. Higginbottom might have added a third two minutes later but had his lob chalked off for a spot of shirt pulling. They wouldn’t have to wait too long to establish a three-goal cushion, though, as on 40 minutes Vaios Pakaltsis produced an excellent finish to beat Rain form inside the area. Omer would see Dennis Bogarde fire wide in an act of defiance before the break and the side would troop in 3-0 down. Pakaltsis quickly had a header saved by Rain at the start of the second-half but Steven Lane would add a fourth on 55 minutes following a rapid break by the hosts. Lane nearly put through his own net on 70 minutes but escaped as it went over and the hosts completed the win with a penalty by Jordi Rodri on 82 minutes. RDCM will now be preparing his side for that tough trip to the Wanderers knowing a win could take them to the precipice of promotion. Cony Tottee has just four games left of another developmental season and the coach will be desperate for improvement so his side can challenge on a more regular basis next term.

Carthage enjoyed a welcome return to form as they despatched Juventus 4-0 at Carthage City. They signalled their intent early on by forcing Fuentes into a fine save in goal as Hamilcar Barca looked to side-foot beyond the ‘keeper. Barca would not be denied a second time and on 14 minutes he placed a shot beyond Fuentes before powering a header in three minutes later to put the hosts 2-0 ahead. Orlan Canito looked to respond for the visitors but his header proved easy for Dido and they might have been further behind if it wasn’t for the crossbar denying Eric Fray’s chip on 25 minutes. Joaquin Messi mishit his shot when well-placed for Juve as their trials continued and an accurate header from Barca had them 3-0 behind on the half-hour. Jacobo Chacros didn’t fare any better for the visitors as he missed with a free-kick and they would go in with it all to do. It would ultimately prove beyond them during a quiet second-half and Fray added a fourth for the hosts when he headed past Fuentes on 57 minutes. Kristoffer Lindfors did crash a header off the bar late on for the visitors but it was nothing more than a token gesture and they slipped to a damaging defeat. Blakey admitted to being ‘a little worried’ with his team’s recent results and so was happy the side ‘returned to winning ways.’ SuperJuve’s race for promotion looks bleaker following this result and nothing less than a win against current leaders Splott will keep them realistically in touch.

Arsenal UK remain on the fringes of the top three as they rescued a late point in a 2-2 home draw with Kroklund Kings. Theo Walcott had given them the lead with a fine strike in the penalty area in the very first minute but Kroklund would contribute to an even game. Robin van Persie put a header over as the hosts searched for a second goal but they would still go in with the advantage. Abou Diaby put an early chance wide at the start of the second-half and a stunning free-kick by Bosse Bong had the visitors level on 50 minutes. Curt Elliott would force Fabianski into a save on 78 minutes but his curled effort wasn’t far enough into the corner to truly trouble the ‘keeper. Berti Behrends would beat Fabianski, though, and his header looked to have given Kroklund the three points with time at a premium. However, DomBrown’s Arsenal are a tough nut to crack and so it proved with Andrey Arshavin showing remarkable composure to place a shot past Kangashaka with the last chance of the game. Arsenal News reported that the changes to the team were made because Brown thought this the best way to ‘progress the whole team’ before going on to call their clash with Carthage a ‘must win game.’ Bossebong continues the development of his side and if his youngsters gain the necessary skill levels in the change the future will be looking bright at Dont know yet.

Xelaalex made it two wins from two to keep BitterSweeters’ slim survival hopes alive as they defeated Reggae Reggae Sauce 1-0 at Sauce Bottle Arena. Alexander Frolov lobbed the Sweeters into a 20th minute lead following a quiet start to the game. Sauce attempted to hit back straight away but Shivan Preetnav’s curled shot struck a post while Ersberg produced a brilliant reflex save to deny Todd Osborn’s bicycle-kick. Christiano Torres would head against the angle of post and bar while Burim Mejdani shot wide as the home side enjoyed no fortune before the interval. Wayne Mardle saw Ersberg punch away his lob at the start of the second 45 minutes while Derek Armstrong went close to making it 2-0 at the other end as his powerful shot missed by inches. Dustin Brown would have a header saved by Mullen but the home side couldn’t capitalise as Terry Jenkins put his chip over the bar. Xpertelevener will have seen positives from his relatively young side that there may well be a brighter future but the fans will be looking for results next season following another relegation. Xelaalex will know his side have to continue winning but they have the perfect chance to do so as they face Omer on Friday.

Michael Fitzsimmons continued to lead Belly Tubbies in his manager’s absence and another excellent performance allowed his side to edge Futsal 1-0 at Flabbyland. Trevor Steven headed in on four minutes only for a dubious assistant’s offside decision deny him. Pat van de Hauwe cracked a free-kick off the bar before Ricky Routhledge had a shot caught by Fitzsimmons at the other end. The second-half saw Futsal largely dominate but it would be the home side who would score the crucial goal. Rick Tuttle hit a post with a fine header while he put another headed effort too close to the ‘keeper. Futsal continued to press but Rowley Forrester missed the target completely from a free-kick and they found themselves behind as Evert Nicklasson found his range from distance with a stunning effort. Routhledge had a late chance to pinch a point but his header didn’t test Fitzsimmons and the win belonged to the Tubbies. Despite the win it is hard to be positive about Belly Tubbies' future due to the absence of Fitzy. Futsal look to be preparing for next season now and with a youthful squad they are well-placed for a promotion push next term.