Rothion's Rovers Rise to Top

AJ Rovers hit the heights in Division One with a 5-1 success over Carthage FC. Both AJ and Carthage came into the contest in good heart following a decent start to the season but nothing could have foretold a scoring blitz by AJ. They began well with a powerful strike by Gordon Hogg finding the net to give them a lead on four minutes. Hamilcar Barca would head straight at Morell with the visitor’s first chance before Chad Atlee missed with a header at the other end. The second-half would be more explosive than the first and Taylor Grape had an early chance but got too much air under his shot. AJ would make it 2-0, though, as Mercourios Simos delivered an accurate lob over Aurelius on 50 minutes. Carthage would attempt to fight back and Hannibal Barca had a drive tipped round before Ad Herbal toe-poked straight at Morell. Ham Barca would fare no better with a headed chance on 66 minutes while Sonny Vickerman also wasted a free-kick at the other end. AJ would seal the game on 79 minutes, though, as Hogg headed home accurately to make it 3-0. Herbal would see a free-kick tipped round for Carthage and proceeded to watch Vickerman show him how it was done with a stunning strike to make it 4-0. This would soon become five as Simos steered in a clever shot and although Ham Barca quickly lobbed in a header to make it 5-1 Carthage were well-beaten. Simos had a late chance to make it six but couldn’t find a finish but it proved largely irrelevant. Rothion will be delighted with the five goals and seems to have ticked all the right boxes to enjoy a prolonged promotion challenge this season. Blakey was disgusted with the result saying ‘5-1 my arse’ and adding that ‘he was prepared and had much higher form.’ Sometimes it just isn’t your day.

Smurftastic Smurfs slipped from top spot but took a valuable point away from a 2-2 draw with Kensington. With Kensington having slipped into form in recent weeks and Smurfs boasting superstar Ernie Ormondroyd this was a much-anticipated match-up. The Smurfs saw Minoru Hara head them into a lead on six minutes and this set the tone for an exciting game. Ormondroyd had a quick chance to make it 2-0 from a free-kick but Sampson made a fine save. At the other end James Wilde produced a stunning free-kick to level matters but this didn’t last long as Jeremy Cumming defied a tight angle to put the Smurfs 2-1 up. Wilde tried to respond again for the hosts but put his chip over and they would go in behind. Aubrey de Vere would level at the start of the second-half, though, with a precise header and Wilde saw a free-kick held as they looked to hit the front. The free-kicks would keep coming and Wilde nearly netted with his next effort which struck a post before de Vere put a spectacular back heel against the angle. Gabriel Islas had a rare chance at the other end but Lorentzen made the save while Wilde wasted another free-kick. This would prove the last chance and the points were shared at the end of a pulsating match. Thesmurf described his season as ‘not bad’ so far and will now focus on getting back to winning ways against Bonkers on Friday. Patrik sees his side continue to progress and another home match offers them the chance to close the gap on the top three.

Splott Rovers are in third following an entertaining 3-2 home victory over F.C Greatness. With the sides going in opposite directions over the past few matches the home side were fancied for the win and they didn’t disappoint. Eddie Venom would try to give them a flying start but Calvert stopped his toe-poke while Faust Baronchelli had a free-kick parried by Roschach at the other end. Greatness would continue to press and Massimiliano Cardone was unfortunate not to put them in front with a lob which struck the bar. Splott would also look dangerous and Venom hit a strike just wide before Matt Daredevil’s diving header struck a post. Greatness would stun the hosts, though, as Baronchelli curled in a beautiful long range shot to put them in front on 36 minutes. Reed Fantastic quickly had the home side level with a thumping free-kick and the sides would remain tied at the break. The second-half saw Daredevil put Splott in front for the first time with a flick header on the hour-mark while Agostino Filippinetti had a goal disallowed at the other end for offside. Greatness would level, though, on 82 minutes as Baronchelli clinically struck in the area to please the travelling fans. However, Splott would have the final say deep into injury-time as Daredevil evaded the visiting defence to head home and deliver the home side three important points. Carbonmonoxide will be more than happy with his side’s progress and they will take this into their top-of-the-table clash with Rovers on Friday. Darren Calvert is thought to be ‘at a loss to explain recent results’ and they will expect nothing less than three points against Cardiff next.

Padston Villa enjoyed a good day with a 2-1 win over Pahang but were then thrown into turmoil amidst differing rumours over their manager. Some sources suggest the manager walked while there were also contrary reports indicating the boss was sacked. Whatever the truth, Padston would be manager-less following the game. The first chance of the game fell to the visitors but Ray Eastwood’s header hit a post. Padston would see their first chance go begging as Ray Goddard’s half-volley was held by Hussain. There would be more action in the second 45 minutes with Kilian Strongbow having an early free-kick saved. The home side responded with a brilliant header from Jermaine Jackson which struck the bar while Hussain had to be alert to hold from Richard Madeley’s powerful header. Pahang would the stun the home crowd with a goal from Strongbow; evading markers the forward shot home from inside the penalty area. The lead wouldn’t last long, though, as Jackson found his range from distance to level on 64 minutes before Handez protected their parity with a save from Strongbow’s header. Handez would also save from a Till Gloden half-volley and the home side took advantage with Luigi McKeever heading in the winner on 87 minutes. What followed would be dramatic as Paddy was said to be ‘shocked’ at his ‘sacking’ while long-time RMI servant Robin Meeblind said ‘the Padston chairman assured me Paddy walked after seeing a top-flight vacancy come up. Perhaps we’ll never know the complete truth.’ MrT, meanwhile, will be disappointed with his side’s defeat and a tough trip to Carthage now awaits them.

AC Milan moved out of the relegation zone as they edged Bumerang 2-1 at Darkdale. Going into the game Milan knew a win was important to keep them in touch with the other sides in the division but with Bumerang in decent form a tough game was in the offing. Quigley Addison had the first chance of the game and a super long range shot from the defender had Milan in front. Jonte Sandholm then put a lob over before Bumerang had their first chance; Shinosuke Isimaru forcing Hindle into a save from a powerful strike. The second-half would also be an intriguing contest with Sten Stille hitting the bar early on for the hosts with an excellent header. However, they would be stung moments later as Andrea Pirlo side-footed home following a corner to put Milan 2-0 ahead. Bumerang’s response would be swift with Rikard Lind drilling home a free-kick and they were nearly gifted a leveller but Lorenzon De Gasperi’s back header went over. Bernard Lormor tried to extend the visitor’s lead but he steered over before Sandholm headed straight at Stancu. However, these misses wouldn’t prove costly as they ran down time on an important win. Xmensch now has his side within four points of the top following an indifferent start to the campaign and they will hope to take advantage of a troubled Padston on Friday. Coolboy’s side are also just four points from top but having seen his side lose three of their last four he will be keen just to pick up a win as soon as possible.

Cardiff were the other winners on the day as they defeated Bonkers 3-0 at Fratton Park. With both sides struggling at the bottom of the table a tight contest was anticipated but the home side blew Bonkers away in an attacking display. Tommaso Miceli had an early shot saved by Hawke before the ‘keeper also punched away a lob header by Osorio Sao as the home side pressed. Chano Paya would then put a lob over the bar before Franklin Bodin had a half-volley caught by Hawke. Bonkers would briefly respond and Oswald Rickers’ lob needed tipping over by Peyton before Henrik Larsson’s well-placed shot was also saved by the ‘keeper. At the other end Sao would be unable to overcome a tight angle but he would do better with his next effort before the break which gave Cardiff a 1-0 half-time lead. Cardiff were soon back on the front foot after the interval and Arsim Kule had a curled effort strike the bar as they looked for a second goal. This would arrive on 59 minutes as Micheli chipped Hawke following an excellent breakaway move. Paya then delivered a stunning diving header to make it 3-0 on 74 minutes and put the game out of Bonkers’ reach. The visitors would see Edip Bayrak put a header straight at Peyton before Sao had a late driving shot saved by Hawke at the other end. Ultimately it would be the home side who would be enjoying their post-match drink more following an important three points. Uwfb will be hopeful his side can push on from this win and with the section so tight there is no reason why they cannot do so. GarethLloyd will continue to be perplexed by his side after an opening six games which has seen them fail to pick up a victory.