Memory Lane Win for Cath

Cathal enjoyed a winning return to his old club as Bully Boys FC edged out Abu Dhabi United 1-0 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. With Bully Boys suffering their first defeat in their last game this one took on extra significance against a side who have been performing brilliantly this term. Bully Boys would put together a strong first-half performance and might have taken the lead had Berti Behrends managed to direct his shot a little more accurately. Dominic Smythe then had a powerful shot punched away by Rossell but the visitors would take the lead as Toini Vasama converted a penalty with ease. Abu Dhabi responded in the second-half but had to survive a Trudell Conway lob which smashed against the bar. They would then have a chance to pinch a point but Ritchie Morgan blasted a penalty over the bar and they fell to their first defeat of the campaign. Cath offered his opposite number commiserations before adding that he was ‘thrilled with the win.’ Talinmer said the ‘result was expected’ but rued the missed penalty.

Gooners slipped to a first defeat as The Kings came out deserved 2-1 winners at Masters. With Gooners in confident mood going into the game the home side knew they had to be at their best to get anything and they wouldn’t disappoint. Kyle Lang scored from the visitor’s opening chance as it looked like business as usual for FMR’s side. They might even have made it two but Marc Overmars headed wide and Allan Akerboom then hit the home side’s first chance wildly over. Akerboom then put a diving header too close to Seaman and it would be the leaders who would go in with a goal lead. However, the home side would be a different animal after the break with Paul Bracewell steering an opening shot wide. They would be level on 69 minutes as Trevor Steven directed in a header and Fitzsimmons protected their new found parity by saving from a Freddie Ljungberg shot. The Kings would be back on the attack as a Pat van de Hauwe free-kick brushed a post and they would then take the lead as Akerboom placed home an excellent header. Gooners tried to level instantly but Sylvain Wiltord’s shot couldn’t find the net and it might have been 3-1 but Trevor Steven’s lob smashed against the bar. Ultimately it wouldn’t matter as The Kings clinched an impressive win. With this victory behind them Hitman10 will be looking for his side to push on and force themselves into the promotion race; starting with an away match at wortley. FMR won’t be pleased by his side’s defeat and a response will be vital at Futsal.

These Charming Men joined Gooners on 12 points as they overcame Crimea River 2-0 at Irregulars Arena. With Ithaqua having got an instant response out of his side RDCM had his troops well aware of the threat the visitors would pose. A tight first-half would see only one chance and Fabianski proved the equal to Chano Delgado’s header. The rest of the half would be a battle of attrition as the sides fought for supremacy. The second-half would see TCM open up and they duly took the lead when Loran Rajabi steered home a shot from inside the area. Bryan Higginbottom then skimmed a chip over the bar before powering in from distance to make it 2-0. Crimea River did have a late chance to make an impact on the game but Eduardo da Silva was denied by Derksen and they were defeated. RDCM will have been delighted with three points against a dangerous opponent but another one awaits them in the next round as they travel to meet Dream Team. Ithaqua has been busy in the transfer market since he took over the Crimea hot-seat and his side are sure to be a work in progress for a little while.

Futsal and FC Bayern Munchen battled out a 1-1 draw in an entertaining clash at Futsal Arena. With both sides competing in the middle of the table they were looking for three points to move them up towards the promotion pack. The opening half would belong to the visitors as they created all of the chances. Billy Bob would be the first to try his luck but put a powerful shot over the bar, however, Sam Jakestown would do better with a lob which beat Roberts and found the net for the opening goal. Bob would then place a header wide as the score remained 1-0 at the break to the visitors. The second 45 minutes would see Futsal come into the contest. However, they had to survive two Bob free-kicks; one of which was tipped over by Roberts while the other was off-target. Futsal’s first chance came via the boot of Ricky Routhledge but he put his chip over the bar. However, they would be level on 72 minutes as Freddy Kennedy converted a penalty with the minimum of fuss. Kennedy might have put his side ahead but missed with a powerful shot. Routhledge would also miss the target with a drilled effort and the sides would take away a point each. Both Wildy1974 and Dimentis will be happy enough with their starts but will recognise they need a couple of wins to force themselves upon the top three or four sides.

Dream Team finally got back to winning ways with a 4-2 home success over wortley afc. With both sides enduring a stuttering start to the campaign they needed the points and it would show in a pulsating encounter. Wortley would begin by opening the scoring courtesy of a cheeky toe-poke by Brandon Hiller on four minutes. Moments later Paulinho Santos had a free-kick turned round by Delirious in a breathless start. Garry Gain began the attacking for DT with a powerfully curled shot which levelled matters on nine minutes before the same player missed by inches with a powerful header. At the other end Rai Kike put a diving header over before DT struck the front as Warren Wish headed home accurately. Hiller would waste a chance for the visitors by heading off-target before Santos had a free-kick held by Delirious. The second-half saw more of the same as the sides attacked the game. Curt Pryor drove in a stunning equaliser for wortley on 49 minutes and the same player headed too close to the ‘keeper as they looked for the lead. DT wouldn’t play second fiddle for long, though, and Gain placed home a header to put them back in front. Wish would waste another headed chance but DT would double their lead as Ronaldo Ready thumped home a free-kick. Mil Moody might have added another goal but his curled effort hit the angle while Pryor lobbed over the bar at the other end. Hiller would then see a header held and DT also still looked dangerous as Wish hit a post with a placed shot. Santos would then waste wortley’s last chance to get back into the game by hitting a free-kick too near to Delirious and DT had got a much needed three points. @peace will be relieved at his first win at the club but they face a tough challenge next as TCM come to town. Thegtreatlordbags continues to see his side entertain but a more cynical edge might be needed to survive this division.

Juventus got a much needed second win of the campaign as they disposed of PSV Eindhoven 4-0 at Delle Alpi. In need of points Juve sensed the opportunity to put the young PSV to the sword and they did what was required in an efficient performance. Orlan Canito opened the scoring on four minutes with a diving header and Jorn Fruh came within the width of a post of making it two with a header on 13 minutes. Kristoffer Lindfors did make it 2-0 on 25 minutes with a clinical strike in the area and worse was to follow for PSV as Jacobo Chacros delivered a super free-kick. Ezequiel Avila wasted the visitor’s only chance of the half and they went in three behind. A quieter second-half ensued with Rory MacFinlay heading tamely at Tonetto with the first chance. Juventus duly made it 4-0 on 63 minutes as Lindfors headed home his second of the game to complete a routine win. SuperJuve will now be hopeful his side can make it back-to-back wins as they travel to Munchen on Tuesday. Kadri admitted Juve ‘countered them well’ and ‘were very clinical in front of goal.’