Shaun Leaves Gooners for Dead

These Charming Men won the big game of the day in Division Two as they defeated Gooners courtesy of a solitary goal at Irregulars Arena. With both sides sitting in the top three they knew a win against the other would put them in a strong position going into the second-half of the season. TCM would begin positively and Shaun McFadden defied a tight angle to open the scoring in the very first minute. Jordi Rodri then saw a header saved by Seaman before McFadden’s diving header was also held by the ‘keeper as they looked to win the game early. However, Gooners would respond and a powerful shot by Cesc Fabregas needed saving by Derksen. Jorge Carril would waste a set-piece for the hosts before Kyle Lang hit a post late in the half for Gooners. TCM’s Chano Delgado would mishit a shot when well-placed just before the hour and Dennis Bergkamp missed the target with a diving header at the other end. Bergkamp would fare no better from a couple of free-kick efforts either as he put one off-target while Derksen claimed the other. Derksen would also be alert to save from a Lang effort and this save secured three vital points for TCM. RDCM admitted he had received a ‘very fortunate MOTR’ but added he was ‘enjoying the season.’ FMR moved his focus onto his double-header against Abu Dhabi and added there ‘will be quite a few debutants over the two games.’

Bully Boys kept hold of top spot but were made to work hard by The Kings at Masters. With The Kings unbeaten at home and Bully Boys holding title aspirations a keenly-fought contest was anticipated. A free-kick on five minutes gave Bosse Bong the chance to open the scoring but Fitzsimmons made a fine save before Sjunne Wenna lobbed over. The Kings responded with a free-kick from Pat van de Hauwe but it would narrowly miss and Kevin Ratcliffe nearly scored an own goal but was saved by a brilliant save by Fitzsimmons. Jairo Neftali would have a headed chance before the interval but flicked it wide and the sides would go in goalless. The second-half would prove very tight but Paul Bracewell might have put the home side in front with a toe-poke but put it too close to Kangashaka. The key moment would then arrive on 78 minutes as Berti Behrends luckily mishit a shot beyond Fitzsimmons to deliver Bully Boys a priceless goal. The Kings would try to fight back but Neftali curled a powerful shot too near to the ‘keeper and victory belonged to the leaders. The win prompted Cath to sing as he told the world that he ‘feels good.’ Hitman offered congratulations to his opposite number before admitting that he ‘thought it could end in a draw’ when the minutes were ticking by.

Crimea River gained a point on Gooners but were worked hard by an improved wortley side in a 1-1 draw. With wortley in trouble at the wrong end of the table Thegtreatlorbags knew they needed to start picking up wins but were up against a promotion chasing side in Crimea. Brandon Hiller would serve notice of wortley’s intent by striking a shot off the bar before Rai Kike brought an excellent save out of Fabianski from a header. However, Crimea would also look dangerous and would have taken the lead but for a doubtful offside decision which ruled out Sid Peyton’s strike from distance. They would still take the lead, though, as Marcel Desailly converted a penalty on 20 minutes. Wortley’s response was a looping header from Hiller which smashed against the bar and they would go in still one-goal down. A free-kick on 47 minutes saw Paulinho Santos denied by a good stop from Fabianski as wortley continued to search for the equaliser. It would finally arrive on 78 minutes and it would be Santos who produced a calm side-foot finish to beat the ‘keeper. Alan Smith would miss a late chance to win it for River as he got too much on his header and the sides had to settle for a point each. Ithaqua bemoaned ‘a disallowed goal and a serious injury’ ahead of a crucial double-header with The Kings. Thegtreatlordbags will have been heartened by his side’s display but the matches don’t get any easier for the relegation-haunted side as TCM visit next.

Dream Team gained ground on the top three with a comfortable 3-0 home victory over PSV Eindhoven. Buoyed by their first win of the season in the last round PSV travelled in good spirits although strong in the knowledge that this would be a much different proposition. Kris Krafty would open the scoring from their first chance as he shot home from inside the penalty area on 24 minutes before Adam Aspire missed the chance to make it 2-0 as his diving header was off-target. Mil Moody would also lack accuracy as his lob had too much weight on it but it would be 2-0 on 38 minutes as Garry Gain lobbed Weston to find the net. Moody would head in a third goal moments later as DT threatened to run riot. The second-half wouldn’t see anywhere near as much action with Moody putting the only chance wide; his driving shot lacking any sort of direction. @peace sees his side just four points back of Gooners and will now look to take six points off Juventus as the season reaches the turn. Kadri will realise his side were overmatched and move on with his ambition of claiming another win before the season ends.

Juventus took advantage of a home fixture against Futsal to record a comfortable win and move up the Division Two standings. With Futsal in the process of waiting for a new manager, SuperJuve knew there would never be a better opportunity to pick up three points. Fabrizio Lucci gave them an ideal start by powering in a shot from distance on three minutes before a free-kick by Jacobo Chacros was saved by Roberts. Lucci would power in his second goal of the game on 27 minutes before Rick Tuttle completely mishit his shot at the other end. Kristoffer Lindfors nearly made it three but his steered shot hit the bar while Chacros put a free-kick off-target. Juve continued in the same fashion in the second-half and Chacros got his goal with a shot after a corner. Orlan Canito would hit a shot wide on 50 minutes before powering in a fourth on 56 minutes. Lindfors then had a shot saved but Juve would add a fifth when the same player converted a penalty on 84 minutes. Chacros would have a late set-piece saved by Roberts but Juve would emerge comfortable victors. SuperJuve has his side moving in the right direction once more but faces a tough task over the next week with back-to-back games against Dream Team. Futsal are waiting on a new manager being appointed and the fans will be hopeful this happens as soon as possible.

FC Bayern Munich and Abu Dhabi United drew 1-1 in the other game in Division Two. With both sides having up and down campaigns another interesting match was in store. Bayern started off well and a toe-poke by Billy Bob had them in front on two minutes. Ger Wattamaleo tried to respond but his header was saved and United would go in a goal behind. Bayern had the chance to extend their lead on 70 minutes but Bob’s free-kick was turned away while Jack Wilshere was denied at the other end as his header was saved by Syvaluoma. Jonathan Boulding put a back pass uncomfortably close to his own goal and United would level when Ritchie Morgan headed home on 86 minutes. Dimentis will have been disappointed his side couldn’t do more with the possession they had but it’s another point on the tally as the halfway mark approaches. Tal admitted he was ‘glad to see the form of (his) team starting to move back upwards’ and he will hope to keep it that way in the crucial second half of the campaign.