Carpet Munchers 7 ZAF FC 4

Carpet Munchers FC (4)7 [Sam Roberts 4, Sean Ives 3] ZAF FC (2)4

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

Munchers fell behind in the opening minute, but a good team performance produced goals for Sam, Sean and Sam again. Zaf reduced the arrears but Munchers ended the half strongly, Rob hitting the post and Sam the bar before Sean made it 4-2 at half-time.

Zaf hit the post early in the second half, but Munchers stretched their lead to three with a fine solo goal from Sean. The success was founded on a solid defensive performance, with Iain again outstanding at the back and Craig pulling off some fine saves when needed. Sean hit the post before Sam made it 6-2, following up after Iain’s shot had been saved, and Sam scored again to make it 7-2. Zaf replied twice towards the end, the final goal being a deflection in off Iain as he tried to block another effort.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Carpet Munchers 9 First Touch 11

Carpet Munchers FC (2)9[Callum Faulds 2, Stephen Woods 3, Patrick McNulty 3, Rob Danson] First Touch (4)11

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

Munchers made a poor start, and without the solidity of the injured Iain Wilson in defence, slackness at the back left them 4-0 behind midway through the first half. The game turned, though, with a Stephen shot that hit the underside of the bar, and for the rest of the match, it was only an exceptional goalkeeping effort from the First Touch ‘keeper that prevented a  convincing Munchers victory.

Callum and Dan scored before half time to bring Munchers back into the game, and early in the second half Callum and Patrick netted to bring Munchers level. First Touch were always a threat going forward, and Craig made some excellent saves, but the quality of their finishing was high as they went back in front 5-4 and – after Stephen had equalised again – 6-5. Callum hit the post just before First Touch stretched the lead to 7-5, but Munchers were awarded a penalty after the ‘keeper came out of his area to save. He redeemed himself by making a diving save from Stephen’s penalty, but Rob battled well to win the ball back and score.

First Touch scored again to make it 8-6, but Pat followed up a shot to make it 7-8 and Stephen hit the equaliser, before the post once again kept out a Callum effort. First Touch benefited by going in front again, but Patrick equalised with a carbon copy of Munchers’ seventh goal. At 9-9, Munchers looked the likely winners, but two defensive lapses in the last minute cost goals, and the final score of 9-11 failed to reflect another good Munchers performance.