Carpet Munchers 7 Leaking Goals 9

Carpet Munchers FC (6)7[Rob Danson 4, Dan Arciniega,  Sam Roberts 2] Leaking Goals (1)9

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Rob Danson, Dan Arciniega, Sam Roberts

In an amazing game, Munchers dominated for three quarters of the match yet still finished as the beaten side. Despite having only five players as against the opposition’s squad of 8, it was the opponents who were longing for the final whistle.

There was little sign of the drama to come in a one-sided first half. Rob scored the opening two goals, and although Leaking Goals had a lot of the ball, Iain’s defensive blocks and Craig’s handling in goal meant it came as something of a surprise when the opponents scored. Rob completed his hat trick when the ‘keeper threw the ball to him on the edge of the box, giving him the simple task of knocking the ball in – this was a repeat of his second goal. Craig tipped a shot onto the bar before Munchers took complete control, Dan scoring from Iain’s pass, then setting up Sam for the second of his two quick goals to leave Munchers comfortably in front 6-1 at half time – a slightly flattering scoreline, but there was no question that Munchers were the better side.

The game continued in a similar fashion in the opening minutes of the second half, but changed totally when Leaking Goals scored their second goal with a shot that went in off the post. Within less than ten minutes, a 6-1 lead had turned into a 6-9 deficit. Stung into a response, Munchers dominated the remainder of the game, Rob scoring their seventh, but shot after shot just went wide or was saved by the ‘keeper, and the final whistle blew with Munchers still two goals adrift.

Carpet Munchers 5 Cushdy United 11

Carpet Munchers FC (3)5[Patrick McNulty 2, Gaz Winter 4] Cushdy United (7)11

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Rob Danson, Dan Arciniega, Patrick McNulty, Gaz Winter

Munchers were comprehensively beaten by a side below them in the table, and but for the goalkeeping of Craig, the scoreline would have been embarrassing. After conceding two very early goals, there was a glimmer of hope when Pat’s shot slipped through the ‘keeper’s hands, but Cushdy were soon back on the attack and their quick passing saw them establish a 5-1 lead. Gaz scored two quick goals and Iain brought a diving save out of the ‘keeper, but Cushdy ended the half by netting another couple to lead 7-3.

Cushdy were even more ruthless as the second half began, showing no signs of tiring despite having no substitute, ands raced into a 10-3 lead before Gaz hit the bar. The framework was in play at the other end, though, as a shot deflected off Rob onto the post, the rebound was fired back in and hit both posts, Craig tipped another shot onto the post and then Cushdy hit the bar, all in barely over a minute.

Gaz scored two late goals either side of Cushdy’s eleventh, but the final score of 5-11 only served to hide how dominant the victors were.

Carpet Munchers 10 Spartans 7

Carpet Munchers FC (5)10[Dan Arciniega, Mark 5, Rob Danson, Patrick McNulty 2, Iain Wilson] Spartans (3)7

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Rob Danson, Dan Arciniega, Patrick McNulty, Mark

Munchers started the second half of the season by completing the double over Spartans, although it was a much closer victory than in the opening fixture between the sides. In the early stages, Spartans dominated possession, with Craig making several fine stops, yet Munchers found themselves 4-0 ahead, Dan, Mark, Rob and Mark again netting the goals. Spartans pulled a goal back after following up when Craig saved an initial shot, and struck again as they realised that it would be almost impossible to hold the ball in the torrential rain. Mark stretched the lead again to three before Spartans ended the half by netting their own third goal.

The second half saw goals traded evenly throughout, beginning when Patrick scored to make it 6-3. Iain finished in the corner to make it 7-4, Mark’s goal made it 8-5, Patrick followed up to score after Mark’s shot had been saved to make it 9-6 and Mark scored the final goal to make it 10-7 after Patrick’s shot hit the post.

Carpet Munchers 6 Blackwood Homes 12

Carpet Munchers FC (2)6[Iain Wilson 3, Gaz Winter, Callum Faulds 2] Blackwood Homes (6)12

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Rob Danson, Callum Faulds, Patrick McNulty, Dan Arciniega, Gaz Winter

Once again, Blackwood Homes provided strong opposition for Munchers and proved far too strong in the end. They raced into a 4-0 lead before Iain scored Munchers’ first goal, making space to receive Craig’s pitch-length throw and turn the ball past the Homes ‘keeper. Homes’ finishing was clinical, and they extended the lead to four goals again before Iain was unlucky with a shot that hit the bar, and shortly afterwards scored his second goal of the half. Homes scored again before half-time, and but for some excellent stops by Craig and some brave blocking challenges by Iain, would have already notched up double figures.

The second half provided more of the same, with Homes racing into a 9-2 lead and peppering shots in on Craig’s goal. Gaz scored Munchers first of the half to make it 3-9, and after Homes added a tenth, Callum blasted a superb fourth past a very good Homes ‘keeper. Iain scored Munchers best-worked goal of the evening soon afterwards, being on hand to turn the ball into an empty net after Dan passed to Rob and Rob instantly switched the ball across to Iain on the far side of the area. Homes added another two in quick succession to reach the dozen mark, and Callum scored with the last shot of the game to make the final score 6-12.

Hawkings 4 FC Vernons 7

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (0)4 [Callum Faulds, Carl Robinson, Iain Wilson, Stephen Woods] FC Vernons (6)7

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Rick Elliott, Stephen Woods, Carl Robinson, Callum Faulds

After a run of victories, second-placed Hawkings came crashing down to earth after this defeat against a side who shouldn’t have presented much of a problem. Vernons, though, adopted a shoot-on-sight policy, and by half time they had established a seemingly unassailable 6-0 lead. Practically every time they shot, the ball zipped through the defenders and into the top corner past an unsighted Craig, and with finishing like that, there is nothing you can do but wait for the tide to turn.

Hawkings had more success in the second half, but even then they found that shots were flying just wide or hitting the Vernons’ ‘keeper, who semeed to somehow get his body in the way of every on target effort. Callum finally got Hawkings off the mark, but almost immediately Vernons extended the lead to six goals again. However, Hawkings were finally getting beyond the Vernons defence now,  and goals from Carl, Iain and Stephen gave Hawkings’ the chance of actually getting something out of the game – that is until the referee blew for time three minutes early.

Carpet Munchers 12 CMFC 11

Carpet Munchers FC (9)12[Patrick McNulty 3, Gaz Winter 4, Dan Arciniega, Callum Faulds 4] CMFC (3)11

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Rob Danson, Callum Faulds, Patrick McNulty, Dan Arciniega, Gaz Winter

Munchers were up against the league’s bottom side and almost managed to throw the game away after holding a seven-goal lead at one stage. They began superbly, and goals from Patrick, Gaz and Dan saw them race into a 3-0 lead. The ‘other’ CMFC pulled a goal back, but Callum struck immediately to restore the three-goal lead. CMFC showed they were good going forwards, and Craig had to make some fine saves, but they were weak at the back – as bore evidence in 85 goals conceded in five games. They scored a fortunate second after Craig pushed a shot onto the post and it bounced back and went in off him, but that initiated a goalscoring spree from Munchers. Gaz made it 5-2 finishing off a fine passing move involving Iain and Dan, notched another to make it 6-2, and after Rob hit the post, Pat, Gaz and Callum all scored before CMFC pulled a goal back just before half time.

Rob hit the post again shortly after the restart, and although CMFC also saw a shot come back off the upright, it was soon 10-3 when Callum scored again. CMFC were having much more success in the second half, though, and soon reduced the arrears to 10-5. The turning point came shortly after this, when Iain passed to Dan whose shot beat the ‘keeper but came back off the post, and seconds later the ball was in the net at the other end – instead of 11-5 it was now 10-6. Munchers were rocking now, and conceded another to make it 10-7, but Callum soon restored the four goal lead. CMFC came back again to make it 11-8, and Munchers’ luck seemed out again when the CMFC ‘keeper somehow touched an Iain effort onto the post, but fortunately the ball fell kindly for Munchers this time and Pat lashed in the rebound.

At 12-8, the game should have been all over, but the conceding of  three quick goals ensured a nervous closing few minutes, and the final action of the game was a CMFC shot that zipped past Iain and fortunately went into an unsighted Craig’s arms.