Carpet Munchers 12 CMFC 7

Carpet Munchers FC (7)12[Sam Roberts 5, Sean Ives 3, Iain Wilson 3, Rob Danson] CMFC (4)7

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

Although Munchers fell behind early on to a goal scored after a CMFC player touched the ball in the area, they never looked likely to lose this game and quickly took a 3-1 lead, Sam equalising and – after Rob hit the bar – Sean scoring twice. CMFC did pull a goal back, and it took a superb save by Craig to prevent Iain scoring past him for the equaliser, but moments later Iain scored at the correct end to make it 4-2. Sam added two more goals, and although CMFC scored two more before half time, the goals were split by a fine finish from Iain after Craig’s long throw eluded the CMFC defence.

The early stages of the second half saw the sides trading goals, Sam and Rob netting for Munchers, but when CMFC reduced the arrears to 9-7, memories of their fightback on the previous occasions the sides met must have surfaced. However, to their credit, Munchers concentrated on the game and Iain, Sean and Sam all scored to cement a comfortable victory.

Overall, it was an impressive performance in all positions, with Dan and Iain putting in strong and important defensive performances, Craig making some vital stops and Sam, Sean and Rob bringing a host of saves out of a very competent CMFC ‘keeper.

Carpet Munchers 12 First Touch 11

Carpet Munchers FC (9)12[Rob Danson 2, Sean Ives 2, Iain Wilson 2, Callum Faulds 5, Dan Arciniega] First Touch (5)11

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Rob Danson, Dan Arciniega, Callum Faulds, Sean Ives

A great team performance saw Munchers defeat a very good First Touch side for the first time. They took the lead in fortunate fashion, a clearance cannoning off Rob and going in, but First equalised with a shot that deflected in off Callum. Sean gave Munchers a 2-1 lead with a shot that beat the ‘keeper at the near post, and Rob made it 3-1 with a long shot. First Touch came back with some excellent finishing to take a 3-4 lead, but Munchers dominated the rest of the half, Iain scoring to equalise, then hitting the post before goals from Callum, Iain, Callum, Sean and Callum again made it 9-4, and although First Touch scored a fifth five seconds before the half time whistle, Munchers led 9-5 after an excellent half.

Munchers had a blow just a minute into the second half when Sean was injured and took no further part in the game, but Munchers defended as a unit, with all four outfield players making decisive blocks and Craig having a superb evening in goal. First Touch scored to make it 9-6, but Dan notched Munchers’ tenth after Craig’s long throw out found Rob, who blasted the ball off the back wall and into Dan’s path. Again, the sides swapped goals, Callum scoring after Touch had scored, but at 11-7 and with under ten minutes to go, First Touch began to exert real pressure. Despite the great defensive performance, the lead was whittled down to 11-10 before Callum scored with a superb long-range effort to make it 12-10, and although First Touch notched an eleventh, Munchers held out for a well-deserved victory.

Hawkings 1 Walton Wanderers 10

Stephen Hawkings Football Boots (0)1 [Iain] Walton Wanderers (3)10

Squad – Craig Wilson (standing in for first five minutes), Iain Wilson, Ric Elliott, Chris Elliott, Andrew Dignan, Karl Robinson

With Karl held up on his way back from Manchester, Craig played for Hawkings for the first few minutes to make up the team of five, and when Karl arrived, the game was still scoreless, with Hawkings having the better of the play. Hawkings competed well throughout the half, but the lack of a regular ‘keeper cost them dearly, and they turned round 3-0 down.

The second half saw more of the same, equality in general in the play but Walton took full advantage of the substitute ‘keepers, although Hawkings deservedly got on the scoresheet when Chris passed wide for Iain to score in the corner.

Carpet Munchers 9 All Stars 13

Carpet Munchers FC (5)9[Gaz Winter 3, Sam Roberts 3, Rob Danson, Iain Wilson 2] All Stars (7)13

Squad – Craig Wilson, Iain Wilson, Rob Danson, Gaz Winter, Sam Roberts

Munchers took the lead when Gaz scored, and regained it with an effort by Sam after conceding an equaliser. All Stars levelled again, then went in front after Gaz gave away a penalty, but goals by Rob and Gaz saw Munchers back in front at 4-3. In a topsy-turvy game, All Stars soon led 6-4, and although Gaz scored his third to pull one back, goals either side of half time gave All Stars an 8-5 lead.

Sam’s goal to bring the score back to 6-8 sparked a period of Munchers pressure, with Iain twice being foiled by the ‘keeper, and Rob also seeing a shot kept out. At the other end, though, the bar or post saved Munchers on four occasions and Craig made several good saves, but could do nothing about the two goals that took All Stars four clear at 6-10. Munchers still kept going forward, and Sam and Iain scored to halve the deficit, but by the time Iain notched his second, three other goals had been conceded to finish the game as a contest.