MacCleir Magic Cruel for Milan

Smurftastic Smurfs hit the heights in Division One with a tight 1-0 win over AC Milan. However, the score only tells a small picture of a game in which Milan gave more than as good as they got. A quiet opening 45 minutes saw Quigley Addison have a free-kick caught by Bogefeldt with the visitor’s chance while Ernie Ormondroyd put his free-kick over at the other end. The game would enjoy more chances after the break and the majority would go the way of the visitors. Addison had another free-kick saved and they would be punished as Finlay MacCleir headed the home side into the lead on 59 minutes. Jonte Sandholm would respond by driving a shot too close to the ‘keeper before Lorenzo De Gasperi also failed with a thunderous strike. Savino Piovanelli’s flick header would be pushed round by Bogefeldt as Milan continued to press and Addison saw another free-kick miss the target. The Smurfs would have a headed effort courtesy of MacCleir but it would go high over the bar and they nearly paid the price as Bernard Lormor placed a header beyond the ‘keeper only to see it come back off a post. This would prove their last chance and the home side could celebrate three hard-earned points. Thesmurf is said to be happy with his side’s start and hopes that ‘things will continue to be good as form improves and as teamwork values start to gel.’ Xmensch will be disappointed with this defeat to say the least and will want his team to show more of a cutting edge to go with their play on Tuesday.

Pahang are level on points with the Smurfs at the top of the table after they edged out Bumerang 1-0. With both sides on seven points a tight game was expected but the home side would warrant their points. A strong first-half saw them create all the chances in the game and a power shot by Tom Hording nearly had them in front in the very first minute. Hording would be denied by Stancu moments later as the ‘keeper gathered at his feet but Pahang would be rewarded for their fine start on 19 minutes as Kilian Strongbow headed home. Strongbow looked to add a second before the break but his chip was punched away by Stancu and 1-0 would be the half-time score. A tighter contest would follow after the break but the first chance would again fall to the hosts; Strongbow’s header falling into the grateful arms of Stancu. Bumerang’s first chance would come on 63 minutes but Sten Stille side-footed wide. They would come very close to the equaliser on 71 minutes but Joseph Heffer’s luck was out as his diving header hit a post. Pahang would also strike the woodwork before the game was out but Harold Yates’ mishit shot didn’t really deserve to find the net. However, the home side did deserve their win which sees them up to second in the table. MrT thanked Harold and Strongbow for ‘outstanding games’ and hopes his team can maintain their high position. Coolboy will realise his side underperformed in the contest but knows a home win against Milan on Tuesday will get them back on track.

Carthage complete the top three following a stunning 2-1 success at F.C. Greatness. With both sides having enjoyed decent starts to the season any result seemed possible. Greatness would enjoy the first chance of the game but Fabian Ostgard’s free-kick was saved by Dido and the home side took control. Miguel Angelo put them in front following a corner on 14 minutes and Paul Glimsjo then went close with a header. Fabius Maximus also had a header saved on the stroke of half-time but the visitors would be in control at the break. Greatness opened the second-half with an equaliser courtesy of Fabrizio Colluato as the talented midfielder finished clinically. Hannibal Barca would respond by firing wide before Massimiliano Cardone missed the target at the other end. Barca would waste another chance for the visitors before Angelo was denied by Calvert. Carthage’s task got a little tougher moments later as Delis Eribenne was sent-off for brutal play as the game became fraught. However, Carthage would overcome this as Torsten Post converted a penalty to put them back in front. Ad Herbal might have added another but missed with a free-kick before Angelo also put a header wide. The missed chances weren’t to matter, though, as Blakey’s side held on for a brilliant three points which had the manager singing, ‘we only had 10 men.’ Darren Calvert will be unhappy with his side’s mid-table position as promotion is definitely on the agenda this term.

Splott Rovers continued their improved form with a storming 4-1 away success at Cardiff. Having recorded their first win in their last game Splott were looking to take advantage of a Cardiff side struggling with confidence. Cardiff did receive a welcome boost, though as Franklin Boden shot home after a corner to give them a lead on eight minutes. The start didn’t seem to unduly worry Splott and Paul-Phillip Ravage soon levelled with a clinical header. Chano Paya responded by having a header saved for the home side before Frank Punisher also put an aerial effort off-target. Punisher would get his goal, though, with a more precise header to leave Peyton beaten. This would become a familiar feeling for the home ‘keeper as moments later Ravage lobbed in another header to make it 3-1 to the surging visitors. Cardiff did have a late chance in the half but Paya’s shot was well-held by Roschach and Splott’s two-goal lead remained intact. The second-half saw Boden open with a volley which narrowly missed and from that moment on Rovers assumed control once more. Ravage would flick a further header off-target while Punisher had one saved by the ‘keeper. Reed Fantastic would net a fourth on 80 minutes with a fine strike and Rodney Shuttlewood might have added another late on but couldn’t make his driving shot count. Carbonmonoxide has seen his side adapt to the required level needed in this division and the manager will now be hopeful his side can go on and challenge for promotion. Nothing Uwfb has seen in his opening matches will have changed his opinion that the task is a tough one but he will be expecting his side to compete well against Bonkers on Tuesday.

AJ Rovers moved into fifth on the back of a 2-1 home win against Padston Villa. After struggling for goals in their opening batch of matches AJ put together a much more attacking display to edge out the talented visitors. Mercourios Simos opened up by driving narrowly wide before Gordon Hogg did put them in front with a powerful header. Padston came back well but Percival Horsfield’s header was saved before Luigi McKeever put a free-kick wide. The second-half would remain an entertaining contest with Villa equalising courtesy of a fine McKeever header. The home side’s response would be a Hogg drive which was held by Handez before Ferdinand Starck narrowly missed with a chip at the other end. The game would have a good flow to it by this stage and Eustace Bain went close with a header as the home side searched for the three points. Bain would follow up by putting a lob over but Rovers would be rewarded for their late pressure as Sonny Vickerman hit a stunning free-kick on 93 minutes. Rothion will be delighted at his side’s display and if they can follow that up with a similar display against Carthage they will be looking good. Paddy admitted ‘3-4-3 wasn’t for him after this defeat’ and the manager will be keen for his side to get back on track in their next outing.

Kensington picked up their second win of the campaign as they left Bonkers frustrated in a 2-1 success at Crazy Town. With Bonkers winless so far they were hopeful of opening their three-point account but came up against strong opposition in Kensington. The away side had the first sight of goal but Charles Tilly saw his header tipped over and Bonkers would then take the lead as Innocenzio Filippinetti steered home in the area on 15 minutes. Henrik Larsson would follow up by going close with a chip before the away side looked to respond. Niles Worthington would do just that by finding his range from distance to level and on the stroke of half-time Tilly headed in to turn the game round. After the break Larsson looked to level for the hosts but lobbed over while James Wilde missed with a powerful shot at the other end. Filippinetti would try for his second of the game on 67 minutes but couldn’t direct his free-kick accurately enough and this would prove their last chance. Dorian Lonsdale tried to extend the visitor’s lead but mishit his shot while Adrian Gray came very close with a steered effort which struck the woodwork. James Wilde would also strike a post on 90 minutes as Kensington finished strongly to secure a 2-1 triumph. Patrik looks to have steadied the ship since his troubled start and with the side in excellent form and only three points off top things look promising for another promotion challenge. Gareth Lloyd’s response was to say his side need ‘a right kicking up the behind to get their act together’ so we will await their next match with interest.