Carpet Munchers 8 William Pye Ltd 9

Carpet Munchers FC (5)8 [Liam Calland 2, Rob Danson 3, Stephen Woods 2, Gaz Winter] William Pye (2)9

Squad –Iain Wilson, Stephen Woods, Rob Danson, Gaz Winter, Liam Calland

With Craig Wilson missing through injury and Dan Arciniega unable to make the game because of work commitments, Munchers only had five players and Iain Wilson had to play in goal. In the early stages, though, it didn’t seem to matter as Liam Calland, and Rob Danson with two gave Munchers a 3-0 lead. After Pye scored, Liam Calland netted again to make it 4-1. Munchers were unlucky to concede a second when a wayward shot rebounded off the back wall and hit Iain Wilson on the back and rebounded into the net. The three goal lead was restored before half time when Stephen Woods scored Munchers’ fifth, and Iain Wilson kept that lead intact with some vital stops.

Pye pulled a goal back early in the second half, but Stephen Woods scored again following good work by Rob Danson to make it 6-3. After this, though, the game became a struggle for Munchers. Pye scored to make it 6-4 direct from a free kick, and Munchers failed to learn their lesson when another free kick wasn’t stopped, the ball striking the post and rebounding in off the diving Iain Wilson’s head – very unlucky, but the defence should have blocked the ball before it ever reached the goal. Pye could sense the game was there for the taking, and equalised when they cut out an underhit pass and drove home their sixth goal.

Munchers fought back and retook the lead when Rob Danson hit a fine strike for the seventh goal, and Gaz Winter had the ball in the net soon afterwards but was just inside the area when he shot. Instead of 8-6, it was 7-7 almost immediately, but Gaz Winter did score a legal goal to put Munchers 8-7 in front very close to the end. Pye were still going forward, though, and levelled at 8-8. In the closing seconds, Iain Wilson made an excellent save that should have secured a draw, but the referee played two minutes over the twenty in the second half, as he was talking to somebody outside the cage, and in the second of those minutes Pye scored what proved to be the winning goal.

It was, though, a disappointing performance, with too many passes cut out and the ball surrendered far too often.

Hawkings 4 Walton Wanderers 12

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (2)4 [Ric Powell, Stephen Woods, Chris Elliott, Ric Elliott] Walton Wanderers (7)12

Squad –Iain Wilson, Richard Elliott, Chris Elliott, Stephen Woods, Richard Powell

Richard Powell returned for Hawkings just short of a year since breaking his leg the last time he played for the side. Against the champions, Hawkings were without their regular goalkeepers, Iain Wilson deputising between the sticks, and with no substitutes, it was always going to be difficult.

In the early stages, a repeat of the 13-1 drubbing of a previous campaign seemed the best that Hawkings could hope for, as Walton took a 4-0 lead, but Ric Powell marked his return to the side with Hawkings’ first goal. Although Walton scored twice more and hit the bar, Hawkings were beginning to compete more and deservedly scored a second when Stephen Woods scored from a Chris Elliott pass.

It was 7-2 at half time, and Chris Elliott was unlucky to see a shot hit the post before Walton scored their eighth goal. Chris did reduce the arrears soon afterwards, and although Walton hit the bar for the second time in the evening, for a long time there were no further goals, with Iain Wilson making some fine stops and the whole team defending resolutely. Tiredness crept in towards the end, and three more goals were conceded, but Ric Elliott netted to ensure all outfield players got on the score sheet. Although Walton scored again to make the final score 12-4, it was a spirited performance by Hawkings, especially in the second half.

Munchers 5 MWFC 10

Carpet Munchers FC (2)5 [own goal, Iain Wilson, Gaz Winter, Liam Calland 2] MWFC (3)10

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Dan Arciniega, Rob Danson, Gaz Winter, Liam Calland

Despite the defeat, Munchers performed well against very skilful and fast opposition. Solid defending kept MWFC out early on, and it was only 1-0 to them after about ten minutes, but in that time Munchers had rarely been in the opposition half of the pitch. Munchers equalised when a gentle back pass to the ‘keeper slipped under his hands and rolled into the net, and a fine strike by Iain Wilson gave them the lead shortly afterwards. After being so much in control, MWFC were rattled now, but they scored twice just before half time to change round with a narrow 3-2 advantage.

The turning point of the game arrived when Liam Calland played the ball back for Dan Arciniega to ‘score’ the equalising goal, only for the referee to disallow it as Liam had touched the wall – if anything, it should have been a free kick to Munchers as he was pushed into the surround. Instead of being level at 3-3, moments afterwards Munchers found themselves 4-2 behind. Forced to attack more, they left spaces at the back which resulted in two more goals for MWFC. Gaz Winter pulled a goal back, but MWFC were full of confidence now and stretched their lead to 9-3. Liam Calland scored two fine late goals either side of the tenth goal for MWFC to allow Munchers to gain some respectability from the result.

Hawkings 8 Inter Minan 6

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (5)8 [Chris Elliott 3 – 1 penalty, Ric Elliott, Andrew Dignan, Stephen Woods 3] Inter Minan (2)6

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

The new season began with a victory that was rather more difficult than it should have been. Chris gave Hawkings an early lead, and the Inter ‘keeper made a fine save from Iain, but slackness at the back allowed Inter to equalise. Stephen almost restored the lead with a shot that hit the post, but Inter were full of confidence at this stage, hitting the post themselves and Simon had to make several fine saves to stop Inter taking the lead. That seemed to spur Hawkings on, and Ric restored the lead after a three-man passing move before Andy made it 3-1. Inter pulled a goal back, but Hawkings ended the half comfortably on top as Stephen and Chris scored to give Hawkings a 5-2 lead.aHawkings H

Although Inter scored soon after the restart, it was quickly 7-3 as Stephen scored twice, first from a pass inside by Andrew, then from a through ball from Iain. In the closing five minutes, though, it all began to go wrong, as 7-3 became 7-6 and only some excellent goalkeeping from Simon kept Hawkings ahead. The sixth goal was a penalty after Simon was left with little option but to bring down an attacker as he was about to score, but Hawkings ended the scoring with a penalty of their own when the Inter ‘keeper handled out of the area.

Carpet Munchers 9 Blackwood Homes 4

Carpet Munchers FC (7)9 [Stephen Woods 4, Iain Wilson 2, Dan Arciniega, Rob Danson, Callum Faulds] Blackwood Homes (2)4

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Dan Arciniega, Stephen Woods, Rob Danson, Callum Faulds

This was probably Munchers’ finest ever performance, with all six players putting in almost faultless performances. Throughout the game, ‘keep it simple’ was the order of the day, and by a combination of passing, running off the ball and getting back to block and cover, Munchers achieved a comfortable victory against a side who they had never before beaten.

After a bright opening, in which both Callum and Dan had shots saved, Stephen scored two quick goals to give Munchers the advantage, the second coming after Callum’s shot had been well saved. Although Homes did pull a goal back, they couldn’t keep Munchers out, and Iain scored the third after receiving a through ball from Stephen. Dan poked the fourth home, showing a striker’s instinct when the ball was running towards the goal area, and Rob made it 5-1 when Dan played the ball through to Iain, who passed across the area to his unmarked teammate at the far post.

Stephen scored the next two goals, the second from another Iain pass, and although Homes pulled a goal back just before half time, the half ended with Munchers’ best move of all, when Dan’s pass to Callum was instantly back heeled to Iain, who hit the bar with his first-time effort.

The second half was more even as far as the scoring went, but Munchers were still by far the better side. Even so, Craig had several opportunities to make his own contribution to the successful evening with several fine stops. Homes did pull a goal back to make it 7-3, but Callum scored number eight with some marvellous ‘quick-feet’ skill, dragging the ball past and beyond three defenders on his way to netting. Homes reduced the arrears again, to 8-4, but Munchers had several opportunities at the other end, most notably when Dan hit the post, until Iain scored the final goal of the evening. This last goal summed up the entire performance, as Stephen played an inch perfect through ball that Iain read and stroked home.

Carpet Munchers 10 First Touch 19

Carpet Munchers FC (6)10 [Dan Arciniega 3, Stephen Woods 3, Callam Faulds 2, Gaz Winter, Mike Hind] First Touch (11)19

Squad – Craig Wilson, Dan Arciniega, Gaz Winter, Stephen Woods, Mike Hind, Rob Danson, Callam Faulds

For the second Thursday in succession, Munchers came up against First Touch, and once again they were beaten heavily. The game should have been against kronenbourgs, but they pulled out of the league after just two matches, and First Touch stepped in, despite having already had a game of their own.

Munchers began well, Dan Arciniega scoring after Stephen Woods’ shot had been saved, then adding a second with a toepoke right on the edge of the area and completed his hat trick in making it 3-0 with less than three minutes played. It seemed easy for Munchers, but Craig Wilson had already been called into action before Touch scored two quick goals to reduce the lead to a single goal.

Stephen Woods made it 4-2 after Mike Hind’s effort had been saved, and Rob Danson almost made it 5-2, but Touch were now getting used to the pace of the game and soon levelled the scores. Callam Faulds scored direct from a free kick to give Munchers the lead again, but shots were raining in on Craig Wilson’s goal, and despite some fine saves, such was the power and accuracy of the First Touch finishing that a 5-4 lead became a 5-9 deficit in one three minute spell. Stephen Woods scored again, but the last two goals of the half extended First Touch’s lead to 11-6.

Two more goals were conceded early in the second half, but Stephen Woods completed his hat trick after a nice move involving Callam Faulds. Touch extended the lead to 14-7 only for Gaz Winter to net Munchers’ eighth goal. Stephen Woods hit the bar following a three-man move, Callam Faulds hit the inside of the post, and the First Touch ‘keeper made some fine saves, foiling Mike Hind on three occasions, but most of the action was still at the other end, and First Touch were soon 19-8 in front. It would have been 20-8 but for an amazing save by Craig Wilson, who somehow flung himself to his right to tip a close-range blast onto the post and away.

Mike Hind finally got the goal he deserved with a mishit shot that trickled past the ‘keeper, and Callam Faulds ended the scoring with an exquisite finish in the top corner.

Hawkings 4 No Fourteen Day Return 9

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (2)4 [Chris Elliott 2, Iain Wilson, Stephen Woods] No Fourteen Day Return (7)9

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

A disappointing end to the season for Hawkings, who never competed against their opponents. They were 0-2 down within minutes, and it would have been three times that score but for Simon Eason’s goalkeeping. Chris Elliott hit the post in Hawkings’ first real attack, and scored seconds later, but any hope of a comeback was quickly extinguished as Return added another two goals. Iain Wilson scored a fine second goal, but Return added another three to make the half time score 2-7.

The second half was more even as far as the score went, but – if anything – Hawkings were even more outplayed, and only Simon Eason’s brave goalkeeping saved the team from a real drubbing. Chris Elliott scored the first goal of the half to make it 3-7, and Stephen Woods got a deserved goal to make it 4-8, but the final score of 4-9 only flattered Hawkings.