Super Juve Smack Rovers

Juventus put in a superb home performance to defeat leaders Splott Rovers 5-2 at Delle Alpi but results elsewhere meant the visitors would remain in pole position. Kristoffer Lindfors looked to have made a mess of the hosts’ first chance of the game but his mishit shot eluded Ghostrider to give them a 1-0 lead. This advantage would be doubled on 22 minutes with Georg Mollelund placing the ball beyond substitute ‘keeper Roschach. Splott attempted to strike back immediately but Fuentes protected his side’s lead by punching away a header by Matt Daredevil. Jorn Fruh would then hit a powerful strike just wide for the hosts before Obadele Eliakwu also missed the target when well-placed. The visitors would waste their chance to get back into the game before the break as Clyde Henderson put a chip over the bar and they would go in with it all to do. Raf Tudisco was denied by a fine save from Roschach at the start of the second-half but Juventus would go 3-0 ahead as Joaquin Messi hit an unstoppable half-volley on 51 minutes. Tudisco would then get his goal with a calm side-footed finish in the area and Fuentes would have no problem keeping it at a four-goal lead as he gathered Remy Gambit’s header comfortably at the other end. Tudisco headed in a brilliant fifth for the hosts who appeared unstoppable at this stage. However, a combination of the home side taking their foot off the gas and Splott improving allowed the visitors to put some respectability on the score in the final stages. Denilson Pereira Neves headed in to make it 5-1 and Winston Badger drove in a super effort to reduce the deficit still further to three. However, there wouldn’t be enough time to pull anymore back and they slipped to a damaging defeat. Carbonmonoxide called it the ‘worst performance of the season’ before admitting that it’s a ‘big match’ for them and TCM on Tuesday. The win illustrates SuperJuve’s ability to beat the best in the league and if his side can win three out of three they might still pull off the incredible after a tough start to the season.

These Charming Men couldn’t make any inroads into Splott’s lead as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at The Lone Wanderers who in return did their promotion hopes no harm at all. TCM started well-enough but Tord Jakobson couldn’t direct his free-kick onto goal and Albert Scully headed the hosts into the lead on 13 minutes. Chano Delgado would then narrowly fail to head in for the visitors while a shot by Mauricio Capdevila was easily held by Peyton as the home side took their lead into the break. Marco Busquets’ well-placed shot would be saved by Avellino and the visitors took advantage by thumping in a free-kick to level the game. The home side would respond well to this setback, though, and shortly after Busquets had put a header off-target they retook the lead as the forward produced a brilliant diving header to beat Avelino. The visitors would have a late chance to take a point away from the contest but a great save from Peyton denied Gerard Caffery’s header and the home side held on. RDCM jokingly laughed off the loss as he said ‘you can tell it’s Xmas, we gifted Lone Wanderers that one’ before agreeing that it is a ‘very big game on Tuesday.’ HH was a happy man as he praised the ‘squad’s character’ before adding they need to make ‘sure (they) pick up 9 points’ to give themselves ‘a fighting chance at promotion.’

Carthage did take advantage of the troubles of the top two as they edged Arsenal 3-2 at Carthage City to move back within two points of first. Hamilcar Barca thundered home the opener from inside the area to put the hosts ahead on nine minutes but they would come up against a stubborn Arsenal side. Eduardo da Silva put a header over the bar before they levelled courtesy of a super Andrey Arshavin free-kick on 15 minutes. Kenneth MacKenna would then put a lob over the bar for the hosts and they would suffer a further setback as Arshavin netted his second goal as he headed expertly past Aurelius. Carthage wouldn’t be behind for long, though, as Eric Fray converted after a corner wasn’t cleared by the visiting defence. Torsten Post saw a free-kick saved by Fabianski as the home side continued to create chances up to the interval. The second-half would see Carthage up their game in search of vital points. Fray would hit a post after placing through the legs of Fabianski before the ‘keeper made a fine save from a Post free-kick as the home side dominated. Barca would flick a header against the woodwork as it looked like their luck would be out. However, Fray would have different ideas and after the ball fell to him in the area he eased it beyond Fabianski to give them a crucial lead. Fray might even have scored a hat-trick goal but couldn’t head in during injury-time but it was unimportant as the points were theirs. Blakey will be a confident man now his side appear to be over their blip and three wins will secure promotion to Division One. Dom Brown wasn’t too downcast after the defeat and explained that ‘4th is best suited for this team as they need time to grow before taking the next step up.’

Kroklund picked up an important win to keep the nine-point gap between them and the relegation zone by seeing off Belly Tubbies 2-0 at Dont know yet. Kroklund put in a controlled performance to shut down any attacks Belly Tubbies tried to launch while scoring from the chances they created. Aatu Vuokki steered in the opener on four minutes following good work by Sjunne Wenna and he might have had a second as he lobbed Fitzsimmons but a doubtful offside decision cost him. The lead remained at one until late in the game when they would seal the victory. An excellent strike from Bosse Bong on 79 minutes flew past the ‘keeper to deliver a comforting three points to his namesake manager. One point will be enough to secure survival now for Bossebong’s side and a trip to Reggae Reggae Sauce gives them the perfect opportunity on Tuesday. Fitzy’s return is awaited by many in the league and until then it is hard to know what the future holds for Belly Tubbies.

BitterSweeters continued to rack up the wins but they were made to work hard by a spirited St Omer side before eventually seeing them off 3-2 at Five Percent Stadium. The visitors started strongly and a powerful header by Alexander Frolov had them 1-0 up on three minutes while Torben Kummel’s header struck the angle as more goals looked likely. Omer would see Dennis Bogarde skim a lob over but the half would belong to the visitors and they finished strongly. Kummel missed the target with a tame effort but Dustin Brown would finish an excellent breakaway to give them a 2-0 half-time lead. However, the home side would enjoy a stronger second-half to make a real game of it to the delight of their fans. A free-kick by Cony Tottee needed blocking by Ersberg before they did pull a goal back courtesy of a flick header by Roberto da Luz on 51 minutes. Joe Radley then missed a golden opportunity to level as Ersberg saved at the forward’s feet. They wouldn’t be denied their equaliser, though, as Soren Prestmoen nodded in from an excellent Tottee free-kick. However, as so often this season they would ultimately be disappointed as Ladislav Nagy looped home an 84th minute header. They would valiantly try to level but da Luz’s toe-poke struck a post and they nearly got caught at the other end as Evgeni Malkin went close to making it 4-2. However, the visitors had done enough to secure the points but whether it will be enough to keep Xelaalex’s side in the division still remains to be seen. Cony Tottee’s ambition is they ‘don’t concede 100 before the end of the season’ but he will be hopeful of an upturn in the club’s fortunes in the coming campaigns.

The division’s other game saw Futsal thump Reggae Reggae Sauce 5-1 at Futsal Arena. Free from any sort of pressure Futsal played an expansive game and were rewarded with some fine goals. Freddy Kennedy would start poorly by heading softly at Mullen and he would follow up by placing a shot well-wide on eight minutes. However, a free-kick on 21 minutes would give them the lead as Rowley Forrester hit a sweet strike into the roof of the net. The defender would hit a carbon-copy strike on 44 minutes to double their lead and give them some breathing space before the interval. Graeme Haynes started the second-half in explosive fashion by heading past Mullen for the third before Mirciulica Bardes lobbed in a long range fourth on 52 minutes to put Futsal in complete control. RRS finally managed an attack of note shortly afterwards but Roberts saved from Homer Russell’s header. There was nothing the ‘keeper could do about Christiano Torres’ well-directed shot on 61 minutes, though, as the visitors got some reward for a period of enterprising play. Futsal forced their way back onto the front foot, though, but Bardes' header was some way from making it five. They would get their fifth shotly afterwards as Danny Shorey shot home following a rapid breakaway and Roberts completed their fine day by saving from a late Torres header at the other end. Jake continues to receive positives ahead of next season following this free-flowing display and the manager will already be looking forward to next term. Xpertelevener has long since known his fate and he will be hopeful his young side develops well to give hope of a brighter future.