Season 126 - Are you ready?

[talisman]

Desert Rats FC made things difficult for themselves today, and they know it.

The League match this afternoon was against a team they have played against in the past two seasons, and have a 100% record against. Having a 12% Quality advantage doesn't always mean you are going to be better on the day, and so it proved. Going 0-1 and 1-2 down, the Management finally got to grips with the visitors' attacking intentions and made formation and orders changes, and eventually a player change and stopped the rot. Left winger Roberto Alatorre bagged a brace, and there was a goal for Laurens Vanaudenaerde on his full debut before right winger Gustavo Castillo got into the action to complete the turnaround.

Only a 6% advantage for the away Champions League match this evening and it was a tale of two red cards. Defender Matteo Capelli transgressed five minutes after the break and got his marching orders, but 'keeper Adam Bridge was alert to the danger and saved the resulting free-kick, and another shortly after as the home side threatened again. With 15 minutes to go, the match-settling event occurred - an opposition defender got the Order of the Early Bath, levelling the playing numbers, and Luc Ngando was on hand to bury the awarded Penalty past the home custodian for the match-winning score.



Nouvion Ville FC had it a little easier, but not much. Their League programme started with an away trip to Indonesia early doors and right winger Maicol Guilherme settled their nerves early with a vicious strike from way out which flashed past the static 'keeper. In the second half, midfielder Sam Shaw increased the lead, but the hosts immediately reduced the arrears through their substitute striker. Again a red card incident settled the match, a home midfielder picking up his second yellow of the match, and Santiago Valdez converted the free-kick to secure the 3-1 win.

The Management considered the 35% Quality difference between his charges and the visitors in this afternoon's Champions League match and made some tactical formation changes to reduce the difference somewhat. The opposition proved a little more resilient than he expected, however, and Nouvion made heavy weather of overcoming a defence-oriented side. The last action of the old Youth Academy was to push out a nicely rounded striker, and after the training in of an SA and Quality boosting, Lee Howe made his full debut and netted five minutes before the break to open his account. Santiago Valdez nearly undid all the good work by accumulating two yellow cards in 7 minutes, leaving his team short-handed and short of fire-power up front as they struggled to a 1-0 win.