Rovers Enjoy Belly Feast

Splott Rovers kept hold of top spot in Division Two by easing to a 2-0 victory over rudderless Belly Tubbies. Frank Punisher made it a dreadful start for the visitors by heading in from a corner and it would have been worse had Fitzsimmons not saved from Paul-Phillip Ravage’s header minutes later. Ravage was the source of the next effort but his shot was also saved by the ‘keeper before Matt Daredevil’s header was also held by Fitzsimmons. Tubbies did create a chance before the half-time whistle and Beach Ball was nearly fortunate as his mishit shot struck a post. Winston Badger hit a toe-poke against the bar as the home side began the second-half on top. Fitzsimmons would also have to be alert to deny Reed Fantastic but there was nothing the ‘keeper could do to stop Ravage’s header which made it 2-0. Calum Jeeves had an effort saved by Ghostrider at the other end before Ravage had a further strike disallowed for offside. Splott would finish on top as well with Winston Badger having a shot punched away before Punisher’s header was tapped over by the excellent Fitzsimmons. The win sees CM’s side two points clear and a match against Reggae Reggae Sauce on Tuesday points to more joy for Splott. The same cannot be said for Tubbies unless Fitzy makes a dramatic return to the fold.

These Charming Men dropped two points at home to a good Arsenal side as neither could find a way through the other’s rearguard. Jon Hardy had a low shot for TCM strike a post while Abou Diaby mishit his dreadfully at the other end as the game began promisingly. Arsenal would then win a penalty but Eduardo da Silva’s shot was excellently saved by Derksen. The ‘keeper would be thankful for his post minutes later, though, as Andrey Arshavin’s free-kick struck the woodwork and went clear. Arsenal would go close again on 37 minutes as da Silva hit his shot just wide while Hardy’s half-volley was off-target at the other end. The second-half had fewer chances with Samir Nasri placing a shot high and not very handsome for Arsenal while the home side saw Chano Delgado hit his shot too close to Fabianski to mean a point apiece. RDCM declared it as a ‘good result’ and purred about Derksen’s performance in goal. Brown was pleased with the clean sheet but admitted to feeling ‘a bit hard done by’ with just a point.

Carthage returned to winning ways with a 3-1 home victory over Los Samgeles Kings. The first-half was a relatively quiet affair with a chance each. Alexander Frolov got his shot all wrong for the visitors to allow Aurelius to save while Ad Herbal’s lobbed header cleared the bar at the other end. The game would open up after the break with the home side emerging as the dominant force. Herbal’s volley gave them a 55th minute lead and the midfielder then placed in a header seven minutes later to make it 2-0. Quincy Lansbury narrowly missed with a volley of his own before Fahrettin Inal pulled a goal back with a powerful strike at the other end. Carthage were soon back on the front foot, though, with Amin Mansourian going close with a driving shot before Eric Fray missed a headed chance. 3-1 would arrive shortly afterwards, however, as Hamilcar Barca shot home from a difficult angle to give them breathing space. Los Samgeles responded with an Evgeni Malkin strike which went over and this took the wind out of their sails and they slipped to a 3-1 defeat. The response will have been nothing less than Blakey expected and with a four-point cushion on fourth things are looking good for his men. Los Samgeles look certain to be playing Division Three football next season but will understand the importance of getting form up to salvage something from a troubled campaign.

The Lone Wanderers maintained their interest in the promotion battle with a comfortable victory over Reggae Reggae Sauce. They would take control early as Mart Rosbottom got lucky with a mishit shot to give them a 12th minute lead. Rosbottom would produce a better finish three minutes later to head the Wanderers into a 2-0 lead. Stephen Julius would have a header saved by Mullen before Arsim Kule toe-poked home the third on 31 minutes. The second-half was a similar story but the home side’s finishing wasn’t quite as efficient. Kule had a header saved by Mullen while Albert Scully shot over the bar as they stayed on the front foot. Kule would waste another chance by shooting wide while Rosbottom’s placed shot was saved by Mullen. They would get a fourth deep into injury-time, though, as Scully powered in a brilliant header to cap a satisfactory evening. HH spoke optimistically about his side’s promotion chances saying ‘given the nature of this league anything can happen.’ Sauce are wondering if they will ever win again and their journey from the top to the bottom is nearly complete.

Kroklund eased their relegation fears with a 2-0 home victory over Futsal who slipped a couple of places as a result. Kroklund saw an early chance wasted by Zwonko Fuckala as he headed off-target but they would take an eighth-minute lead; Aatu Vuokki heading in expertly from a Kapiala cross. The second-half saw more opportunities with Bosse Bong hitting a free-kick too close to Roberts. Kroklund would then win a penalty and Sjunne Wenna made no mistake from the spot to give them a 2-0 lead. Tolvanen ensured they would keep this lead as he saved from a Luciano Salvatori half-volley. The home side would then see Vuokki miss the target with a strike before Salvatori hit a volley over at the other end. Kroklund finished the better of the sides and nearly made it 3-0 as Gabriel Galtier’s lob hit the bar. The win gives bossebong’s side a ten-point cushion over the bottom three and they will be confident of playing Division Two football next season. Jake will be disappointed with the defeat and the match against Carthage on Tuesday now takes on added significance if they are to maintain a promotion interest.

Juventus won the other game in the division by disposing of St Omer 4-1 at the Delle Alpi. A strong first-half showing put the game beyond doubt with Mairthin Foley driving home the opening goal on five minutes. Foley would then curl an effort wide before also putting a chip over the bar. Foley would continue his one-man assault by shooting home from inside the area to make it 2-0 on 23 minutes. A minute later and Jorn Fruh had a header saved by Rain before Joaquin Messi steered in a third following a corner by Lindfors. The second-half would see fewer chances but a goal each for the sides. Foley completed his hat-trick with a clinical strike on 49 minutes before Fruh wasted a headed chance which would have made it five. Omer would have the last say in the contest but Cony Tottee’s penalty was nothing more than a consolation. SuperJuve has seen his side go eight games unbeaten and they will still be keeping a close eye on the promotion places as the games tick by. Cony Tottee explained that the side was ‘brought back down to earth’ with this loss but the squad remains in good form ahead of the change.