Agostino Fills Net for Greatness

F.C. Greatness stormed to the top of Division One with a complete performance in a 4-0 success over Bumerang. Buoyed from their strong win last time out Greatness wouldn’t give Bumerang so much as a sniff of getting something out of the contest. Agostino Filippinetti gave the home side a dream start with an agile diving header which gave Stancu no chance in the Bumerang goal. This lead was very nearly doubled on 14 minutes but Fabrizio Colluato’s side-footed shot smashed against the bar. However, they would go 2-0 up on 20 minutes with Faust Baronchelli finishing neatly and when Filippinetti rifled in from distance just before the half the home side were in total control. They would ease up in the second-half a little but would still do enough to add another goal to their tally. It came from the only chance of the half with Martinus Benfari placing a composed finish out of the reach of Stancu on 49 minutes. Shinosuke Isimaru did have the ball in the net for the visitors on 77 minutes but he was yards offside to cap a miserable day for Coolboy’s side. However, this was just their first defeat of the season and the manager won’t be pressing any panic buttons yet ahead of a home match against AJ Rovers. Darren Calvert said that they had ‘outplayed (Bumerang) in every position’ but stopped short of answering questions about titles.

Pahang United fell from the summit following a 1-1 draw at Bonkers who got a deserved late equaliser after an excellent second-half performance. With Bonkers going into the game on the back of two successive draws they were hoping a good home performance would see them get their first win of the campaign. However, it would be the confident visitors who started the quicker of the two with Till Gloden forcing Hawke into an early save from a neat shot. Claudio Silvestri did put a header over for the hosts but they would find themselves behind on nine minutes when Romeo Hogg rather fortuitously mishit a shot home. Ray Eastwood had the chance to extend the visitors lead but his header brushed a post before Kilian Strongbow’s steered shot was saved by the ‘keeper. Bonkers battled well to stay in the contest and a powerful low shot by Chris Sutton went just inches wide. The second-half saw the home side produce concerted pressure on the Pahang defence as they searched for the equalising goal. A free-kick was lifted up for Neo Clemence but his half-volley was held by Hussain and the ‘keeper would also gather comfortably from a Garry Maynard header. Pahang did look like they had sealed the win when Harold Yates slotted home but he was pulled back for a 50/50 offside call. Maynard then seized on this let-off for the hosts by rifling a shot against a post before a free-kick by Pietro Di Fabio also struck a post. Bonkers would get their reward, though, as Silvestri side-footed home in injury-time to earn a share of the spoils that they richly deserved. Once again GarethLloyd will be happy with his side’s resilient qualities but he will be eager for his side to put their first win on the board against AC Milan on Tuesday. MrT was ‘very disappointed’ with the late goal but added it is ‘still okay because it’s a point gained at an opponent’s stadium.’

Carthage completed a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Cardiff to move into early contention at the top of Division One. With UWFB still learning about his new Cardiff side, the hosts put in a dominant performance to stifle them and coast to victory. An early chance would go begging for the hosts as Ad Herbal shot straight at Peyton but the same player would make amends on 35 minutes with a sumptuous chip which gave them a half-time lead. Carthage were more ambitious after the break, seemingly buoyed by their lead. Hasdrubal Gisco chipped one effort over the bar before Kenneth McKenna had a header warded off by the ‘keeper. Peyton would also save well from Hamilcar Barca but there was little he could do to stop the forward from making it 2-0 from point blank range on 69 minutes. Miguel Angelo hit a powerful shot over late on but Carthage saw out the game in relative comfort to move into a good early position. Blakey was pleased to ‘see a lot of draws around’ so his side gained ground and they will go into their next home match in confident mood following two straight wins. UWFB has admitted that the job will be ‘a hard one’ but the manager will be assessing his troops all the time in a bid to give them the best possible chance of success this term.

AJ Rovers were typically tough to beat once more as they gained an important point away to Smurftastic Smurfs. Having been in mean mood in the opening to the season Rovers had to be on alert to keep out Ernie Ormondroyd and the Smurfs as they looked to get back to winning ways. In the first-half both sides would cancel each other out in a fractious 45 minutes which saw the referee’s notebook as the main talking point. Eustace Bain did have the ball in the net for the visitors but this was chalked off for an earlier foul and the sides would go in deadlocked. Things would open up in the second 45 as Smurfs had to respond to going behind; Phil Marsh powering in a super opener on 49 minutes. Smurfs responded quickly, though, as AJ gave Ormondroyd a chance from a set-piece and the brilliant forward didn’t disappoint with a shot which arrowed into the top corner. A free-kick at the other end wouldn’t be quite as successful as Sonny Vickerman shot narrowly over the bar. AJ suffered a blow on 77 minutes as Gregory Rowling saw red for shirt pulling but they nearly overcame it moments later as Marsh struck a post with an excellent volley. Morell then had to be alert in Rovers’ goal as Ormondroyd got in a powerful shot which demanded a super reflex save. Craig Elliston would then put a diving header too close to the ‘keeper before another header, this time from Finlay MacCleir, brought the best stop from the cat yet. This would prove the final chance as both sides went away with a well-earned point to add to their respective tallies. Thesmurf will be happy with his side’s improved performance but will know they need to improve yet again to take anything from their next trip at Pahang on Tuesday. Rothion’s side are proving as tough to beat as ever and a trip to Bumerang will hold no fears for them as they look for their second three-point haul of the campaign.

Splott Rovers and Padston Villa were involved in a 1-1 draw of their own in a tight game at Star Centre Arena. With both sides looking for wins to move them up the table they would both find the going tough to break the other’s defence. The first-half would see just the one chance but it would result in the opening goal; Savo Milosevic steering in a fine shot beyond Ghostrider. Splott sought to respond after the break and they were given the perfect chance to level from the spot; a chance Frank Punisher gleefully took. Both sides would have a chance to win the game but Winston Yorke put a header over for the visitors while Eddie Venom’s shot at the other end proved no real trouble for Handez in goal. Carbonmonoxide will have been relieved to get through the game without seeing red after claiming officials have ‘got it in for (them)’. With another point on the board they are coming to terms with life in a higher division. Meanwhile, Paddy is still busy in the transfer market as this report goes to press and once he gets the squad he desires (around the year 2015 eh Paddy??) the division will surely sit up and take note.

The battle at the bottom saw AC Milan and Kensington Boys Club both pick up their first point of the season in a 1-1 draw at San Siro. With both sides without a goal let alone a point before the game something was always going to give as they slugged it out. The first break would go to the home side and Jonte Sandholm took full advantage by driving home the first goal of the day on 22 minutes. Kensington responded with a Gilbert de Clare shot which curled into the net three minutes later but was cruelly disallowed for offside. The second-half would see more chances as the visitors chased the game. James Wilde’s diving header had them level on 48 minutes before Seymour MacRanald went close with an ambitious lob. Sandholm went close to putting the hosts back in front with a shot which brushed a post and the woodwork would be tested at the other end as well with Harry Whitlow chipping against the bar. Quigley Addison would go close to a glorious winner for Milan but, yet again, the frame of the goal prevented a winner as his free-kick struck the angle and went safe. Ultimately, both sides would take away a point each as they got off the mark for the season. Xmensch will be hopeful his side can kick on from here as they did last term and another home match against Bonkers gives them a chance to get their first win on the board. Patrik will be happy with his side’s form and after this promising performance three points against Cardiff will be on the agenda.