There were a glut of goals this weekend in Division 1 with four of the game producing 5 goals or more with three teams bagging 6 each.
The first of them came from USRC who posted an impressive 6-0 win over Mes who have now conceded 14 in three games. Sharing the goals evenly over the two halves it was having some quality in the final third that made the difference with USRC taking the majority of their chances while Mes couldn’t capitalize on the chances they created. Aron Ruzel (2), Marcello Vastola (2), Sean Taylor and Stephen Cairns scoring the goals.
Goodfellas bounced back from a disappointing performance the previous week to smash 6 past Revolution who did manage a conciliation strike to make the final score 6-1. Revo manager Snelly cited they didn’t have an answer for the long over the top and in the searing heat of a 1pm kick off they struggled. Having suffered themselves in the heat again Mes when they became unstuck, Goodfellas adapted better with the goals coming via a Steve Franklin hat-trick, Rob Davis brace and Louis Man.
After two draws to open up their campaign Tropics posted their first win of the season putting 6 past SOHO Spartans. Taking the lead after 20 minutes through a Frazer Adam penalty, Tropics found themselves pegged back within two minutes when Daniel Dunn got in ahead of the Tropics CB. Having got ahead again in the first half it was a 20 minute period at the start of the second half that saw the game move away from SOHO’s as Tropics opened up a 5-1 lead. Two more goals were shared in the last 20 minutes for a deserved 6-2 over all scoreline. Kevin Frimpong (2), Paul Ryding, Frazer Adams and Stephan Bastos making up the Tropics scorers with Charles Forbes getting the second for SOHO.
In the closest game of the weekend HK Scottish edged out the J-Leaguers 3-2 in a feisty encounter where both teams saw red. Needing to come from behind twice the Stags showed good battling spirit as well as some excellent football but the hero of the day was Myles Winter with a hat-trick to cancel out the strikes from Takekazu Hiramatsu and Shunsuke Nakamura.
DBFC got back to winning way with what looked like a comfortable 3-0 win against a struggling Corinthians who find themselves with 1 point from the opening three games. However, the scoreline doesn’t reflect the game with the first half very much belonging to Cors but they failed to take their chances and three defensive errors over the 80 minutes cost them.
Division 2 continued to entertain the fans, trouble the scorers and generally be a pain in the arse for defenders and keepers as there was another banquet of delicious and satisfying goals on offer for most.
The big game this week saw Irish Harps travel to Kings Park on Monday to face off against KCC Cavs. Harps had swatted aside their first two opponents but knew that this would be more of a test against the unbeaten KCC lads. Cavs were keen to start well after relying on late goals in their previous games and this aim was achieved as they eased into a 2 goal lead by half time. The baffling but true cliché of this being a dangerous lead reared its head again though as Harps fought back to level things up thanks to a brace from Liam Grant. Poised at 2-2 the Irish decided to gamble for a winner and this was to prove their undoing as Cavs broke well on a couple of occasions to restore their 2 goal advantage. Shane Moore headed in a late corner to half the deficit but too little too late as it was Cavs eyes that were left smiling after a 4-3 win. Adrian Samtani the hero with 3 whilst Gabriel Ho also continued his rich vein of form.
Also going in to this week with 2 wins from 2, Eagles are enjoying their debut campaign thus far. Searching for their third prey, they were facing an MBFC side who have made great strides this season. The Mandarin Boys are no longer LL whipping boys and gave a further decent account of themselves in this one before eventually losing out 5-2. Eagles swooped in early with 2 quick goals and despite a spirited fight from MBFC, held a 4-2 lead at the break. A tighter second period saw just one more goal added as the heat played its part, causing the sweat to pour and giving weight to the famous phrase ‘as wet as an eagle’. Jamie Hill, Elliott Suett (2), Keith Wood and an OG for Scottish with Cao Yuxing and Wang Weizhi for MBFC.
Samurai Blue were also looking to make it maximum points and duly did so in a well-mannered and thoroughly pleasant fixture against Shooters. Ahmed Jemli gave Samurai the lead before ‘wonderboy’ Peter Kassam made it 2, channeling his inner Georgi Kinkladze to weave his way past 5 players before finishing. Danger man Younes Aboubker was not to be outdone though as he got 2 in the second half, one of them another magnificent individual effort as the game was made safe. Judging by the photos of both sides arm in arm in the same shot, this was played in excellent spirits, so much so that Samurai opted to give a penalty away late on to spoil their own clean sheet as Matsumoto accepted the gift. 4-1 the final score.
Vikings looked like world-beaters when they first joined the Legal League before slipping away slightly over the last 18 months. It looks like they are back to their best for their latest marauding campaign this year though with a highly impressive 6-0 dismantling of Old Speckled Men keeping them perfect. Going ahead within a minute will always help matters and it was very one-sided from then on with OSM admitting they were flat and ultimately flattened. Further joy followed for the in-form Danes as Soren Kargo bagged a hat-trick, Frederik Hebo Christensen got 2 and Kasper Nielsen scored his annual goal too.
San Pells vs BOCs is a game you would maybe look at as a potential cricket score at the start of the season but that was not the case as it was once again proven that you can’t take anything for granted. BOCs keeper has been known to put in worldie performances in the past, looking at times like he could probably save the Titanic, and this was to be another one as he stopped (nearly) everything that came at him. San Pells lost count of the amount of chances that were thwarted by the cat-like reflexes (which also included a penalty save), although a goal from Sherwan Esmailzadeh was enough for them to edge it 1-0.
In a dramatic game full of twists of turns, Wolves inflicted a first defeat of the season on Krauts as they saw off the Germans 3-2 in Aberdeen. Henry Li had given Wolves an early lead when he headed in from a corner but they could not hold on as Krauts hit back with goals from Simon Ranke and Roberto Pascarelli. Not willing to lie down, Wolves swung it back in their favor again as Chris Jim netted twice to grab a deserved victory despite an excellent goalkeeping display from Krauts young stopper.
Bants beat Shui Wei 3-1 with Lee Hodgson (2) and Vlad Karanovic on target. Niko Nitti for Shui Wei. As there was no report provided for this one then feel free to make up your own story.
Never in danger of that fate are Dragon Valley whose difficult start to the season continued after a heavy defeat to Young Guns. In hindsight choosing to have this one recorded was maybe not the best idea as Young Guns cruised to a 5-2 success. With goals from Simon Fan (2), Tai Lai Wong and Nicky Lo (2), the Guns were in a ruthless mood, picking up their first points of the season. Jordan Jackson and Paul Martin got the consolations for DV who plummet in to their own Valley of despair near the foot of the early season table.
KCC Royals have also struggled in the opening weeks and this trend continued as they were smashed 7-3 in a Monday night goal-fest. Legal Head were on fire this week, putting to rest the painful memory of a 10-1 reverse in the same fixture last season. 2 nil up inside of 5 minutes is becoming a recurring theme in Division 2 this year, as Head continued the trend. Royals hit back but further goals were added for Legal to give them a rare 4-1 advantage at the break. With no sign of shutting up shop, the chances and action continued to flow and despite the ref calling the game early, 10 goals had already been scored by this point with the result far beyond any doubt. Cesur Turker (2), Yann Cruz, Darragh Keenan, Sultan Shahzad, Mike Frank and Jason Tiger earned their stripes for Head with Steve Hamill (2) and Ben Walker replying in vain.
