Tigers on Prowl

Crimson Tigers produced a strong home showing to defeat St Omer 4-0 and move closer to the top three. Both sides had enjoyed four wins prior to the match-up and considering they field young sides it has been no mean effort. Andy Howe put the home side ahead on five minutes with a well-executed diving header while Arne Seiffert could only hit a post with Omer’s response. Miroslav Burkhart put a lob over the bar as Tigers looked for more goals and Howe duly added the second with a fine breakaway goal on 16 minutes. Dennis Bogarde continued Omer’s misfortune by striking a post with an excellent header and Kendrick Osmond made matters worse by curling in the third for the hosts from some way out. Dante Allegri had a header turned round by Hamshaw and Howe narrowly missed a hat-trick as he went close with a placed shot. However, the home side would add a fourth before the break with Zoli Denes flicking a header beyond Hamshaw and into the net. Andrew Folan saw a volley saved for the hosts and Omer went into the break shell-shocked. The second-half would be a quieter affair with only a few chances. Burkhart put a shot wide for the hosts before Howe powered a header wide. For Omer, a shot by Artur Arneng was easily caught by Gow and they were well-beaten. Paulc333 is said to be ‘happy with the team’s progress’ and said they ‘will try to capitalise’ on any slip-ups from the sides above them. CT will be disappointed by the margin of this defeat even though they were giving up three years to their opponents. They will seek quick revenge on Tuesday.

Morley Town completed the first-half of the season unbeaten as they romped to a 3-0 away win at FCR Cressex. With the home side’s development side in mid-table they looked overmatched against an all-conquering Morley side. A header by Helder Velez struck the post on five minutes for the visitors and Cressex had the perfect opportunity to take advantage with a penalty on 27 minutes. However, Gaughan produced an excellent save to deny Lauro Poggi and the game remained goalless. Morley would take the lead before the break as Velez powered in a superb strike on 41 minutes before the same player headed over a minute later. Velez would complete an explosive spell before the break by heading in the second on 44 minutes to put Morley in complete control. The second-half proved a quiet affair although Florian Arnautu did net from the spot to complete a 3-0 win for the title chasers. Leeg21 will be confident of the title as they begin the second-half of the season four-points clear at the top and almost assured of promotion. Villan_RAS will steel his side for the return match on Tuesday and will hope for a strong finish to the campaign.

EspAda completed a very impressive first-half of the season themselves with a 2-0 success at manager-less 1863 Munich. While Munich remain concentrated on finding a new manager to improve their future hopes the visitors’ ambition is to catch long-time leaders Morley. The opening chance came on 20 minutes as Zihni Demiray was forced into a miss-kick in front of his own goal but fortunately Kerrigan was alert enough to save. A free-kick gave EspAda their first chance on 37 minutes but Andreas Sommer couldn’t make it count. It was a similar tale at the other end as Stephane Aoudou put a free-kick wide and the half-time score remained 0-0. The second 45 minutes started quickly with Sommer heading a chance over before putting a diving header into the roof of the net for 1-0 to the visitors. Patric Torebring quickly made it 2-0 with a clinical strike in the area to put EspAda in total control. Fabrizio Gualtieri would head over as the hosts struggled to respond while Demiray shot just wide for EspAda. The final chance would fall to the home side but Adrian Fontenla’s bicycle kick didn’t trouble Kerrigan and the three points belonged to Crismorena’s side. The manager will now focus on completing the double over Munich while hoping for a slip-up from Morley. Munich will be hopeful of a new manager to salvage something from an otherwise troubled campaign.

Alsancak remain in the top three but were frustrated by Tottenham in a 0-0 draw at Mosquito Alley. Having just secured their first win in the last round, Tottenham were in good spirits going into the contest but were pushed back by a determined home side. Miles Beckett would have an early header saved by Gomes while Danny Rose was also denied by the ‘keeper in an otherwise quiet first-half. Rory Burston had an early chance after the break but powered a shot wide before John Burston mishit his shot when well-placed. Burston had a further chance saved by Gomes while Fabrice Muamba put a diving header wide. Alsancak’s frustrations continued as Burston toe-poked a shot at Gomes and Mark Noble completed them with a well-placed shot which was also saved. Tottenham might have completed the greatest backs-to-the-wall performance on 93 minutes as Robbie Keane shot home but their joy was quickly stifled by a rather dubious offside decision. Wienersnitzel will be frustrated by his side’s lack of cutting edge but they get the chance to put it right on Tuesday as they travel to White Hart Lane. Ocs noted that ‘0-0 will do (him) nicely’ but might have greater ambition in the return match.

Anime Allstars closed the gap on the top three with an impressive 2-1 away success at Rolling Thunder. With the sides knowing a run of wins was needed to catapult them into the promotion race an open contest was expected. Sivert Saugestad would give the home side a fantastic start by finishing a breakaway to put them 1-0 ahead on a minute. However, the visitors wouldn’t be rocked by this and Naru Narusegawa put a chance wide before Johnny Douglas lobbed in what he thought to be an equaliser on 18 minutes only for it to be chalked off. Thunder were nearly gifted a second goal on 19 minutes as Kirie Kojima deflected the ball off his own bar. The Allstars would then see a free-kick by Kuriko Kazetsubaki saved before a second set-piece was saved by McArraway. However, the visitors would level on 25 minutes as Narusegawa slotted home from the spot before Sonsaku Hakufu nearly completed the turnaround but saw his lob saved. The second-half began with a side-footed shot by Miharu Sena-Kanaka which put the Allstars into the lead on 47 minutes. Kanaka would then have a back-heel expertly saved by McArraway before Thunder spurned the chance to level as a penalty by John Obi Mikel was saved by Sapienza. A half-volley by Narusegawa went wide for the visitors before Kanaka couldn’t head home moments later. Kazetsubaki had one last free-kick saved but it wouldn’t matter as the visitors held on for the points. Joshy will have been delighted with his side’s positive performance and will be hopeful of a repeat on Tuesday. Vehusheia won’t be pleased with his side’s display and will demand better or his side’s top three aspirations may well fade.

Reggae Reggae Sauce and AFC Boo Boys were involved in a 0-0 draw in the other game in the division at Sauce Bottle Arena. With Sauce looking to get off the bottom of the division and Boo Boys hopeful of closing the gap to the top three an open contest was hoped for but failed to materialise. The first chance didn’t arrive until late in the half when Conrado Arrieta had a goal disallowed for a foul. The second-half would be better but neither side would be able to apply a finishing touch. Todd Osborn had a half-volley hit a post for the home side while Alexander Frolov did likewise with a side-footed shot at the other end. Torben Kummel then put a diving header straight at Mullen while Osbron headed over as the sides continued to trade chances. Boo Boys would have one final chance to pinch the points but Michal Handzus could only place the ball well-wide and the game finished in a draw. Skoolyou will expect better of his home side on Tuesday as they sit five points off third with aspirations of making a move. Xpertelevener will have been pleased with only his side’s fourth point of the season and they will make the turn in better spirits.