Carpet Munchers 9 Seven Stars 13

Carpet Munchers FC(2)9 [Chris Elliott 6 – 1 penalty, Tony Albonese 2, Stephen Woods] Seven Stars (9)13

Squad – Andrew Dignon, Iain Wilson, Stephen Woods, Richard Elliott, Chris Elliott, Tony Albonese

Andrew Dignon played the entire game in goals as he was carrying an injury, and although it isn’t his regular position, he made some fine saves during the match. Overall, though, it’s hard to understand how this game was lost, for there was nothing special about the opposition, but an awful first half performance saw Munchers trailing 2-9 – and one of the two goals was a gift penalty following a pass back.

The second half was an entirely different performance, Munchers winning it 7-4 and also having at least half a dozen other goalworthy attempts kept out by some excellent goalkeeping, and with four minutes to go and the deficit just three goals, a miraculous comeback looked a probability, but tiredness took its toll in the end as the first half margin was just too large to claw back.

Hawkings 9 Norfolk n Chance 10

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (4)9 [Chris Elliott 4, Iain Wilson 3, Andrew Dignan 2] Norfolk n Chance (5)10

Squad – Francis Tudor Jones, Iain Wilson, Chris Elliott, Richard Elliott, Andrew Dignon

Francis Tudor Jones made his debut in goal for Hawkings, replacing Craig Wilson who was ill, and he had plenty to do in this end to end game, making several fine saves. Ultimately, a single goal separated the sides, although the referee – who can’t have seen much of the second half as he was talking to his colleague, and who also ended the game early – recorded a victory by a two-goal margin, having missed one of the Hawkings’ goals.

Norfolk were the better side early on, and Francis Tudor Jones made several fine saves, but couldn’t prevent Hawkings going behind after five minutes. Hawkings were gifted a chance to equalise when the referee adjudged that Norfolk’s ‘keeper Rio had thrown the ball out above head height – a harsh decision – but Chris Elliott hit his kick straight at the ‘keeper, who made amends for his error. Chris Elliott soon levelled the scores, but gaps at the back let Norfolk go into a 3-1 lead. Andrew Dignon made it 3-2, and after Iain Wilson hit the post with a fine effort, he then played a great ball through for Chris Elliott to level the scores again at 3-3. Again, lapses at the back allowed Norfolk to take a two-goal lead, but Iain Wilson pulled a goal back after an excellent Rick Elliott pass, and at 4-5 down at half time, the momentum was definitely with Hawkings.

The referee restarted the game while he was outside the cage, and his absence for most of the half (even when there, he was talking to his colleague on the other side of the fence, often not watching the match) affected both sides. Norfolk started the stronger, and were soon 7-4 ahead, and although Chris Elliott scored again, it quickly became 5-8. Hawkings were having twice as many chances to score as Norfolk, but were wasting them. Iain Wilson scored his second to make it 6-8 with a few minutes remaining, but then the game was ruined by a sending off of a Norfolk player who lost his temper with the referee for not watching while he appeared to be fouled. Although he was dismissed for his rant at the referee – which went on for several minutes, with the referee threatening to ‘sort him out afterwards’ – it hadn’t been a dirty game, had generally been played in good spirit, and certainly didn’t deserve to see one side reduced to four players. With a man advantage, Andrew Dignon and Chris Elliott soon levelled the scores at 8-8, and although Norfolk scored again, Iain Wilson completed his hat trick to make it 9-9. With more than five minutes remaining, it seemed odds on that Hawkings would go on to win, but the next goal was scored by Norfolk, and the referee then ended the game – although that goal didn’t really matter, as the referee had Norfolk ahead 9-8 anyway.

It was an unsatisfactory climax to a game that had always been close and well-fought, and – in truth – it would have been unfair on Norfolk to have lost the points as a result of the sending off.

Hawkings 5 The Generals 4

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (1) 5 [Iain Wilson, Chris Elliott 3, Richard Elliott] The Generals (2)4

Squad – Craig Wilson, Chris Elliott, Iain Wilson, Richard Elliott, Andrew Dignon

After Iain Wilson had an early chance saved by the ‘keeper’s feet, The Generals took control and were soon 2-0 ahead. Hawkings competed well, even though technically Generals were the better side, and created a few chances of their own, culminating in an Iain Wilson goal shortly before half time after Andrew Dignon played him through.

Early in the second half, Chris Elliott levelled scores with a penalty, and after withstanding considerable pressure, Hawkings took the lead with a Richard Elliott special from halfway. Generals increased the pressure, but Craig Wilson was at his best, though he could do nothing abut the equalising goal midway through the half. Chris Elliott restored the lead from a free kick, but a free kick at the other end made it 4-4, before Chris Elliott struck a fine hat-trick goal shortly before the end.

Hawkings withstood intense pressure to clinch the victory, with all five players outstanding. Man-of-the-match went to Craig Wilson for several superb stops, and this was probably the best victory since the 4-3 win over UCLAN in the second match Hawkings ever played.

Carpet Munchers 16 Blackburn Deaf 2

Carpet Munchers FC (13)16 [Lee Hopkinson 4, Andrew Dignan 7, Tony Albonese 2, Stephen Woods 2, Iain Wilson 1 penalty] Blackburn Deaf (0)2

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Andrew Dignan, Stephen Woods, Lee Hopkinson, Tony Albonese

This was a totally different encounter from the bad-tempered meeting between the sides a fortnight earlier, and despite the Blackburn side showing some nice touches, Munchers strolled to a very easy win. By half-time, Munchers were 13-0 ahead, with all of the outfield players scoring, Iain Wilson’s goal coming from the penalty spot after the Blackburn ’keeper kicked the ball out – an offence they also committed a fortnight earlier.

In the second half, Munchers had just as many chances but were foiled by some good goalkeeping and some over elaborate finishing. Andrew Dignan led the way with seven goals, one a cheeky chip over the ‘keeper, Lee Hopkinson weighed in with four and Stephen Woods and Tony Albonese scored twice each.

Carpet Munchers 11 Mushrooms 9

Carpet Munchers FC (7)11 [Tony Albonese 4, Chris Elliott 4, Iain Wilson 2, Stephen Woods] Mushrooms (5)9

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Andrew Dignon, Stephen Woods, Richard Elliott, Chris Elliott, Tony Albonese

Munchers started the new league season with an emphatic victory over Mushrooms, even if the scoreline fails to reflect their true superiority. In the early stages, Mushrooms were restricted to first-time shots, but such was the accuracy of their shooting, they took the lead four times, only for Tony Albonese (with three) and Chris Elliott to peg them back on each occasion. Iain Wilson gave Munchers the lead for the first time at 5-4, and despite Mushrooms scoring again, two more Chris Elliott goals gave the half time scoreline a truer reflection of the play.

The second half was even more one sided, with Stephen Woods, Iain Wilson, Tony Albonese and Chris Elliott all scoring, but two very late goals were conceded to make the final score 11-9. There was one bizarre moment, with the referee insisting that substitutions could only be made when the ball was out of play, yet a Mushrooms player had blood all over his face and players from both sides paused waiting for the game to be stopped so a substitution could be made. The referee ignored them, insisting the players continue, and the substitution could only be made once Tony Albonese had scored – if this is a new rule for the new season, it needs a rethink quickly!