Season 91 - Are you ready?

[talisman]

Desert Rats FC played the 2nd Leg of their Cup Round of 16 tie at home, just needing any sort of win to go through after a thrilling 3-3 draw in the 1st Leg. Kostadin Marinov put the hosts ahead in the 25th minute, turning in a cross from fellow-winger Patrick Tillmanns, but the visitors quickly equalised. Even then, the Management wasn't unduly worried, as the away goals rule would save them if the Rats failed to score again. In the second-half, defensive right-winger Jim Henderson made all that discussion moot when he fired home from long range, and Desert Rats booked their Quarter-Final berth 2-1 on the day, 5-4 on aggregate.

Strikers on the list for the Assistant Managers Recommendations, and the Management spent some time weighing up all the options before purchasing Charlie Howell, and then releasing Maximiliano Arcamone.



The referee was kept busy in the the home League match, dishing out no less than 5 yellows and three reds, making the match more of a procession than a contest. The first yellow appeared in the 9th minute, the visitors right centre back being the recipient. Three minutes later, the right back was sent packing with a straight red card and midfielder Moritz Maiwald converted the penalty. Charlie Howell kept up the long Rats tradition of debut match scoring, finding the net after 22 minutes. Toward the end of the half, things started getting serious as the opposition AMC was sent off and Maiwald added a free-kick goal to his set-piece repertoire. Maiwald completed a hat-trick by scoring one from open play on the stroke of half-time, finishing off a left-wing move and cross from left-winger Eulogio Noguera. After the break, another penalty after a yellow-card infringement, and Maiwald's match total climbed to four. Just after the hour mark, the right centre back transgressed again, and his day was done after a second yellow, and another free-kick sent into the net, again by Maiwald, who then missed a gilt-edged opportunity for a double hat-trick after another yellow-card infringement by the visitors, sending the free-kick over the cross-bar. Jim Henderson added his second goal of the day late on as Maiwald turned provider, and there was just enough time for the Man-of-the-Match to blot his copy-book with a caution, the visitors' set-piece ball going wide of the post, much to the relief of the defence. Desert Rats' 7-0 win keeps them three points clear at the top, but still chasing their nearest challegers goal difference target due to their low scoring in their early matches.

Thanks to madflo for his support today.