After narrowing the gap on league leaders DBFC to 4 points, USRC were looking to narrow the gap even further down to a single point but came unstuck against a resurgent Forward. The visitors to Kings Park took the lead after 20 minutes when Vu Pham struck a volley from the edge of the box and they doubled their lead when a defensive mix up led to an OG. Regrouping at half time USRC got back into the contest via a Kieran McBride pen but again found themselves 2 goals down when they once again scored at the wrong end for their 2nd OG. Ian Casey notched another for USRC but they couldn't find the equaliser - Forward winning 3-2.
That victory would give DB a huge boost going into their 3pm kick off at Happy Valley against Soho Spartans - and they capatalised winning 2-1 in a game where they were on the back foot for large periods. DB got off to a flying start via goals from Enzo Pedro and Thierry Jacquemin but thereafter found themselves in a very tight first half. The second half was dominated by Soho's who missed a penalty before Daniel Backenhaus halved the deficit but DB held on to take the 3 points and open up a seven point lead in the race for the title.
Corinthians went 1 up after a superb volley from the edge of the box by Jamie Foy in their 1pm kick off against HK Scottish. Scottish equalized just before half time but kicked on in the second half netting a further twice without reply. Jamie Foy got his second to bring the score to 3-2 but two minutes after the restart Stags got their 4th and ended the contest. Stags scorers: Thomas Bartles, Robert Scott, Lorenzo Budini Gattai and Aaron Tennant.
Tropics and Goodfellas fought out a 1-1 draw with Alex Esson taking the lead for Fellas in a largely dominant first 20 minutes. Within 5 minutes of making a tactical change, Tropics won a penalty with James Manning sending the keeper the wrong way. Both teams had half chances and sights of goal without any real clean cut but Tropics thought they had won their second pen in the final minutes but the ref seemed to change his mind after pointing to the spot and instead awarded a goal kick.
The two later games on Saturday saw a combined 16 goals but these were mainly scored by two teams. J-Leaguers put Krauts to the sword in an 8-0 thumping with their goals coming from Takekazu Hiramatsu, Mikiya Abe, Dai Tanaka (2), Yasumasa Miyauchi, Ryo Tsuda, Yuji Hirano, Shun Hamano
Wanchai Spartans ran out 7-1 winners against Bants with goals from Chris Colbourne, Simon Liu (2), Philip Bracker (3) and Damo Pilat. Spartans started off well with 2 early goals in the first 10 mins before Bants got back into the game via Rob Gorczynski. Spartans made some personnel changes 5 mins into 2nd half before taking control of the game scoring another 5 in what Player Manager Pete Solomon stated was "one of the best performances of the season"...
It was very much a case of Groundhog Day in Division 2 as the league remains predictably entertaining. If you could have a flutter then safe bets so far this season would be that there will be a shed load of goals each week, referees will take a berating, Samurai Blue will hit the bar, Revo will score a header and Mes will not get beat……so on that note…
It was the league leaders who yet again set the tone in their 1pm kick off by dispatching Vikings 4-0. Mes are looking on track to make an immediate return to Division 1 having now scored more goals this season than there are weekend visitors to Lockhart Rd hotels. In similar fashion their opponents put up a bit of a fight but ultimately got spanked in the end. Golden boot hopeful Chris Delaglesia added another to his tally with further strikes coming from Lar Finnerty, Kevin Hennessy and Nico Cottely. Next up for Mes is a tricky Monday night fixture against Cavs in what is sure to be a stern test of their title credentials.
San Pells had a few hours to stew on this result before they faced Legal Head in the day’s late kick off but any inkling of pressure was quickly swatted aside along with their opponents in a 7-0 drumming. Austin Tenny helped himself to a hattrick whilst the other goals were credited to Charlie Clack, Darren Slade, Craig Tuckeman and Dylan McWilliams in a clinical display from the other of last seasons relegated sides. Amid calls for a flip-book style dubious goals presentation, it was eventually decided that the credit would go to the attacker and save the embarrassment of an OG.
At the other end of the table there was a wooden spoon six pointer as China faced Japan in the form of MBFC vs Shooters with both sides eyeing this as a chance to pick up just their second win of the season. It was the Mandarin Boys who took the lead in this one with Sung Hyun Park soaring Hy and Parking his header in the back of the net. In the second half the lead was doubled when Pablo Garavito Chong finished off a counter attack before that man Park had his name Sung again by wrapping up a memorable 3-0 victory.
Another side to improve at the bottom in recent weeks is BOCs as they put in their third solid display in as many weeks, this time against Shui Wei. A point a piece in this one after a 1-1 draw but BOCs will be left bemoaning their luck and the agreed length of a half as they conceded the equalizer in Fergie time. Jase Lee had earlier scored a trademark header which looked set to be enough to claim the points until a final minute dubious freekick was swung in and Adrian Cremin was able to poke home to break BOC hearts.
Revolution faced Samurai Blue for the 465th time in the last 2 years as the friendly rivals squared off at Happy Valley. In what is always a close and bruising encounter, Revo started the better and took the lead as a deep free kick was nodded in by a towering Tim Rechter. 10 minutes later and a carbon copy goal was produced as Revolution’s answer to Rudi Voller repeated the trick (the giant German obviously inspired after being told he would be named Der Kaiser if he got 3). After missing a few other excellent chances, Revo were left scratching their balding heads as to how the score was only 2 at half time. A much improved Samurai Blue emerged for the second period and after hitting the bar with a beautiful effort, deservedly got back in the game when Yang Zhang George slammed home from close range to capitalize on a defensive blunder. Further chances and dubious calls came and went for both sides until Geoffrey ‘Titchmarsh’ Gardiner grasped the nettle as he ran through to lob the keeper in the final minute ensuring a 3-1 win for Revo.
Speaking of aging gents, Old Speckled Men continued their strong season but were made to work by a bag of revels Young Guns side. It seems that you never quite know what to expect from YG this season and this was one of their better days despite ultimately losing out 2-1. In an end to end game, James Chambers and James Kay did enough to get their side over their line despite Simon Ho creating a nervous final period for OSM to endure.
It was a KCC goal-fest on Monday night despite both games looking like they would be tight on paper. Cavaliers against Dragons had a distinctly medieval feel to it and this particular joust was over by half time with just the Dragons defeated corpse left to be stamped on for the final 40 minutes in a ruthless display of over-kill from a merciless Cavs side. The referee finally called time with the score at 11-2 after Nikhil Narwani (3), Adrian Samtani (2), Krishna Mohinani (2), Ryan Jarvis, Chan Ming Kong, Stefan Antonic and an OG had compounded the misery for DV. It had looked like a close game for a while as Kazu Araki made it 1-1 and Max Remington scored for 2-2 but the hope of a contest was short-lived as Cavs had already pulled away to 5-2 at the break. In a league where goal difference could be so crucial at the top fair play to the KCC lads for kicking on and getting a further 6.
In the final report, further KCC wrath was dished out this time by Royals as they caused a few howls with their 6-1 obliteration of Wolves. Wolves had been on an excellent winning run seeing them emerge as an outside shout for promotion contenders but with a combination of last minute dropouts and defensive mix-ups, they were brought crashing back to the pack by an unforgiving opponent. Luca Merlone (2), Sam Wolstenholme, Sam Trayford, Andy Chambers and Ben Walker all on target with Nathan Golding getting the consolation.
With one round of fixtures left until the league splits, top and bottom lists have been confirmed however with 6 points separating the top 4 in what will be Div 2 and just 3 points bridging the same gap in Div 3 then every point counts as we enter the business end of the season.
