Hawkings 8 Own Goals and Gaffes 1

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (4)8 [own goal, Andrew Dignan 5, Iain Wilson, Chris Elliott] Own Goals and Gaffes (1)1

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Chris Elliott, Richard Elliott, Andrew Dignan, Stephen Woods

Hawkings took on the early season league leaders and defeated them comfortably. The opening goal of the game was a bizarre own goal – the opposition living up to their name – but they equalised with a quality strike low into the corner. Two Andy Dignan goals restored the lead, and Iain Wilson ended the first half scoring at 4-1.

Hawkings continue to dominate throughout the second half, with Andy Dignan scoring another three goals to win the man-of-the-match award. Chris Elliott scored the other Hawkings goal, but with Iain Wilson hitting the bar and missing a completely open goal, Chris Elliott also missing from point blank range, Stephen Woods having several chances and Ric Elliott having more shots in this game than he normally has in a full season, Hawkings could have easily doubled their tally. Own Goals were always a threat going forwards, though, and Craig Wilson made two or three remarkable saves even by his own usual high standards.

Man of the match Andy Dignan

Carpet Munchers 6 Blackwood Homes 6

Carpet Munchers FC (1)6 [Stephen Woods 2, Iain Wilson, Chris Elliott, Tony Albanese] Blackwood Homes (2)6

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Tony Albanese, Stephen Woods, Chris Elliott, Ric Elliott, Andrew Dignan

Munchers were unlucky only to take a point from this game after Homes equalised deep into added on time. Early on, though, it looked as if Blackwood Homes were heading for their third victory in three matches between the sides during the season, as they took a 2-0 lead in the first few minutes. However, after good persevering battling by both Iain Wilson and Stephen Woods, Woods reduced the arrears with a low shot. There were no further goals in the first half, with both ‘keepers making some fine saves.

Iain Wilson scored after a fine passing move to make it 2-2 early in the second half, but within minutes Homes had restored their initial two-goal lead. From that point on, though, Munchers gradually gained the upper hand as goals from Stephen Woods and Chris Elliott levelled the score at 4-4. Elliott hit a fifth goal to put Munchers ahead for the first time, and after Ric Elliott had a shot blocked, Tony Albonese made it 6-4 with less than five minutes remaining. Munchers had further chances, but in added time their lead was halved after Craig Wilson touched a shot onto the post, it flew across goal to hit the other post and come out, only for a Blackwood Homes forward to drive the ball back into the net. The referee had said there was less than a minute remaining, but the game continued long after that time until Homes eventually levelled the scores at 6-6 with a shot that went in off the inside of the post.

It was a disappointing finish to the game, but an excellent performance by all the players on both sides.

Hawkings 3 Walton Wanderers 9

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (3)3 [Iain Wilson, Frances Dignan, Chris Elliott] Walton Wanderers (1)9

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Chris Elliott, Richard Elliott, Andrew Dignan, Frances Dignan, Stephen Woods

The new season saw Hawkings up against last season’s double-winners, yet in the early stages Hawkings looked the better side. Iain Wilson gave them the lead with a fine shot in off the post, and Frances Dignon made it 2-0. Walton were very sharp all night, but when they did score it was from a penalty after Rick Elliott stepped in the area, but a Chris Elliott goal and some fine saves by Craig Wilson made it 3-1 by half time.awkings

It all went wrong in the second half though, as Walton scored two very quick goals to level at 3-3. From then on, it was just a question of how many, and despite fine performances, especially from the Wilson brothers, Walton scored regularly throughout the half to eventually win the game comfortably 9-3.

Carpet Munchers 6 Seven Stars 4

Carpet Munchers FC (2)6 [Tony Albanese 3, Chris Elliott 3] Seven Stars (2)4

Squad – Craig Wilson, Andrew Dignan, Iain Wilson, Rob Danson, Richard Elliott, Chris Elliott, Tony Albanese

This was an excellent close game, with Munchers gaining revenge for their earlier defeat against the same opposition. Three times in the first half hour, Tony Albanese struck excellent goals to equalise strikes from the Stars team, before Chris Elliott scored the goal that gave Munchers the lead. Although Stars soon levelled the score, Chris added two further goals to give Munchers a well-deserved victory.

Carpet Munchers 4 Brockholes Arms 5

Carpet Munchers FC (2)4 [Andrew Dignan 2, Tony Albonese, Lee Hopkinson] Brockholes Arms (1)5

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

This was a very tight game, but it ended controversially with the referee blowing for time five minutes early. Within thirty seconds of the start, Lee Hopkinson had to leave the pitch bleeding from the eyebrow after colliding with the pitch surround – he returned patched up some minutes later. Two Andrew Dignan finishes gave Munchers the lead, but it was the physical Brockholes side who posed most of the problems, pulling one goal back and also hitting the post three times in the first half.

Tony Albonese restored the two-goal lead early in the second half, and although Brockholes scored again, Lee Hopkinson made it 4-2 before it all went wrong for Munchers as Brockholes scored three times in the last five minutes of actual play – both sides later protested at the shortened game.

Hawkings 3 K-Town 6

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (1)3 [Chris Elliott 2, Francis Dignon] K Town (3)6

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Chris Elliott, Richard Elliott, Francis Dignan, Stephen Woods

In a game played in torrential rain, there was little between two closely-matched sides. The first ten minutes were goalless, but then K Town scored three quick goals to take the lead. Just before half time, Chris Elliott reduced the arrears as he followed up to score when Francis Dignon’s shot was beaten out by the ‘keeper.

The second half was similar to the first, with the difference being in the marking at the back as K Town stretched their lead to 5-1. In the last few minutes, Francis Dignon scored after Iain Wilson and Stephen Woods had shots well saved, and Chris Elliott quickly netted a third, but slack defence almost straight away gifted the sixth and final goal to K Town.

Carpet Munchers 16 DJFC 1

Carpet Munchers FC (7)16 [Iain Wilson 4, Lee Hopkinson 2, Andrew Dignon 3, Tony Albonese 2, Ric Elliott 2, Stephen Woods 3] DJFC (0)1

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Tony Albonese, Stephen Woods, Andrew Dignon, Ric Elliott, Lee Hopkinson

A very comfortable victory, but also an excellent all-round team performance from first minute to last. Iain Wilson opened the scoring, and the woodwork was struck by Iain again, Stephen Woods and lee Hopkinson before Lee drove home the second goal. Five further goals followed before half time, Iain and Lee each notching their second, Andrew Dignon adding a couple and Tony Albonese scoring the other goal.

Ric Elliott opened the scoring in the second half, and Stephen Woods followed shortly afterwards to ensure every outfield player was on the score sheet. Iain completed his hat trick to take the score into double figures, before DJFC scored their only goal of the evening with a long shot that zipped into the corner.

That was to be the only blemish of the evening, though, as Andrew, Ric, Iain and Tony added further goals, and Stephen added another couple to bring the final score to 16-1.