LEAGUE ROUND 23
July Fourth 2-1 genclerbirligi
July Fourth 119.5 3N-6-1 V - genclerbirligi 113.9 4-3W-1-2
This was a bit of a eventful game and not one for the nerves as our opponents caused us problems one again... genclerbirligi were on top early and threatened our goal with Ntoules and Mahajne both attempting to get through on goal but Ramirez was there to clear the danger... Michu then got himself into a great scoring opportunity but was fouled just ouside the area and Ntoules was sent off for a professional foul, we struggled to find the goal for the remainder of the first half with Hardy missing a couple of free-kicks, It wasn't until we changed tactics in the second half we found joy with Pietropaolo setting up Hogan to get us into the lead but however genclerbirligi found a way past our defence with 10 men and Akerberg was fouled by Ramirez and genclerbirligi won a penalty and Gaviria sent Knight the wrong way and it was 1-1, but 2 minutes later Pietropaolo beat the genclerbirligi defence and was 1v1 against the keeper and managed to curl it round him and into the goal, we held on for the important 3 points.
Goals: Hogan (55) Gaviria (76 PEN) Pietropaolo (78) MOTM: Pietropaolo.
Team Talk: Nearly trolled by the NGE there with a side that was eventually reduced to 9 players with Akenburg being injured in the challenge that resulted in genclernirligi's penalty but Pietropaolo is finding his form in such an important period for us in the league and this result keeps us in the lead with the result of Batigo United vs nakomphatom to come...
And the result is...
Batigo United 2-1 nakomphatom
This was an important match for us and we were not even playing a win for nakomphatom would keep them 2 points behind us and another result would mean we only need to win 2 of our 3 remaining league games and especially we finish with a difficult away fixture against ALPDER. Batigo United took the lead through Toprak but late first half pressure from nakomphatom paid off as they equalised through Traore... but Pena through on goal for Batigo got the winner on 51 minutes and nakomphatom thried to throw the kitchen sink at Batigo late on but Batigo held on for the win and retake nakomphatom for 2nd place and July Fourth are now 5 points clear of both teams in the league. Both managers were watching the game as well as ourselves as a neutral since the nakomphatom manager watched our game but as a neutral so we stayed as a neutral as well for the big game between those 2. It is now our league to lose now.
Title Odds: July Fourth 1/16, Batigo United 10/1, nakomphatom 20/1.