Cosmos cement top spot with victory

LEADERS Cosmos had a comfortable win over Wrultizers in the works football league, while it was unlucky 13 for Banks as Chernobyl romped to the bakers’ dozen in goals. The other match played was a eight-goal thriller which saw Wrultizers edge out Malakoff 5-3 in the Association Cup.

Northwards Shetland Works League
Cosmos 5, Wrultizers 0

With Cosmos looking to stretch out their lead at the top of the table, Tizers rolled into town in search of a valuable three points to keep them in the chasing pack.

Both league heavyweights started slowly, battling windy conditions at Clickimin, but Cosmos struck first after 20 minutes, Darren Johnson with a neat finish from the dge of the six-yard box.

After a year away young Thomas Sinclair was back in the Cosmos line-up and 10 minutes later he nipped in behind the Tizers defence to slot home goal number two.

In the second half Tizers began to use the wind at their backs to their advantage. Some towering kicks from keeper Liam Doull tested the abilities of Calderwood, Wiseman, Hunter, Miller and MacKay at the back for Cosmos but all handled the task admirably.

Playing it to feet on the ground, Cosmos began to take charge of the midfield and using the power and speed of Patterson and Johnson in midfield, began to open up Tizers at the back.

Number three came midway through the half, courtesy of veteran Kevin Moreland who had come on at the end of the first half. Johnson worked some neat play at the edge of the 18-yard line and then played a sitter of a pass for Moreland to run on to and slot home.

Goal four came from new signing Brydon Gray. Yet another deft pass from Johnson set him up with a one-on-one with keeper Doull, Gray hitting it over the big fella with a lob that even Nadal would have been proud of.

Man-of-the-match Johnson played yet another inch perfect pass from the left into the box where it was met with the neatest of finishes by an onrushing Calderwood for goal number five.

Banks 1, Chernobyl 13

Chernobyl took on a depleted Banks and for once the hoops appeared to be wearing their shooting boots on the right feet.

Sammy Sjoberg set the tone with a quick fire hat-trick before Magnus Malcolmson drilled home his first for the season. Andy Law completed the first-half scoring when he controlled a clearance from Banks keeper Steven Jarmson and promptly sent the ball back over his head from just inside his own half.

David Smith increased the lead within minutes of the restart following good work from Craig Duncan who had clearly decided to abandon his defensive duties for the second period. Banks pulled one back when Craig Spowart held off Andy Law to curl the ball into the top corner.

The hoops response was to go on an all-out offensive as they adopted an attacking formation seldom seen outside the confines of a primary school playground.

Goals now arrived at regular intervals with Jason Shaw bagging a brace and a gleeful Simon Swift netting against his old team mates. Craig Duncan popped up to score his usual one goal a season with Malcolmson adding two more to complete his hat-trick aided by a huge deflection off the unfortunate Jeremy Duncan.
With time running out Peter Smith ghosted in to fire home the unlucky 13th and insure a share of family bragging rights with older brother David.

Fortunately for Banks the final whistle soon put them out of their misery with some players wondering if it was time to check Derek Hannah out of the retirement home to shore up a leaky defence.

Association Cup
Wrultizers 5, Malakoff 3

The Wrultizers turned up with a treatment room like that looked like a scene from ER. With only seven players claiming to be fully fit the management team sent out a team smelling of a combination of Ralgex, Vicks and some strange oriental ointment.

Wrultizers burst into action 10 minutes in when Andrew Boyd pushed forward on the left and released rampaging full back Stuart Grains. He drove forward before cutting inside his man and playing in Danny Carter who dribbled round Duncan in the Malakoff goal to roll the ball home to open the lead.

The lead didn’t last long as Malakoff won a corner after Liam Doull tipped a long ranger from Craig Jenkins around the post. Malakoff swung in the corner and a scuffed shot was cleared of the line by Arnie Brown. Unfortunately the clearance struck the ample rear of the keeper to rebound into the back of the net for an unfortunate own goal.

Wrultizers were further hampered moments later as they lost defensive lynchpin Aiden Bennett to a nasty head wound after an accidental clash of heads with Leckie.

Wrultizers reshuffled again, bringing on Adam Doull at full back who instantly made his presence felt with some big tackles to snatch back the initiative.

Moments later Tizers retook the lead when the lightning quick Carter burst clear to round Duncan and slot the ball home.

Malakoff made it 2-2 just before half time when a couple of errors from the Tizers back line let Michael Light in to emphatically finish.

The second half started with Tizers taking the lead for the third time. Boyd played in Carter who again feinted past Derek Duncan to roll the ball into the empty net. Third time, however, was not a charm as Malakoff once again equalised from a corner.

Tizers were determined not to let things slip though as they grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and started to dominate.

Duncan pulled of a couple of vital saves from the ever-dangerous Carter before Chris Polson slammed the ball into the roof of the net from a couple of yards..

Five minutes later Wrultizers finished the game off. Carter gave Duncan déjà-vu to the power of three when for the fourth time he dribbled around the keeper to roll the ball into the empty net.

Best for Malakoff were Gardner and Leckie. For Wrultizers there were too many impressing to mention as the team stubbornly refused to give up no matter how many times Malakoff appeared to be getting a foothold.