Match Review: Aioli Monkeys FC vs Hotspurs FC

• DF Philip Scharff
• ST Mark Addy
• ST Eric Clermont
• ST Peter Besselink
• -- Ruben Angel Rodriguez
• -- Silvan Lehner
• -- Martin Eusebi
• -- Thibault Torregrosa
• -- Boujema Jelikh Kamel
• -- Adrien Dambre
• -- Kelly Williams

• DF Andrew Storan
• -- Oliver Johnson
• -- Darren Naughton

Primera victoria para los Aioli-monos!!!

It tustve been the 5pm kick off that suited us this week because we started very well against the Hotspurs. We created plenty of chances with Addy getting in behind the defence and Eric getting free in the box a few times. After the 20 minutes onslaught we still had nothing to show for it. Hotspurs battled well and looked like they'd take advantage of any poor passes in midfield. On 25 minutes after great work from Peter the ball came across to mountain man who put Addy in on goal and he finished cooly to open his goals tally for the season. Phewwwwwww Next up addy turned provider when a pass across the box was met by Eric's majestic right foot, it curled into the top corner and we finally had a 2 goal lead in the Cosmo league. Finally time to relax and concentrate on possession, but hotspurs weren't having any of it and straight from the kick off a hotspurs player won 3-4 50/50 tackles in a row and went from kick off to the penalty box, the ball broke to PM hall of famer Charlie Moss and the Formula 1 Facebook fanatic smashed it in to make it 2-1 at HT. Second half, we knew the hotspurs would go for it and they upped the pressure on our back 4 in possession, we struggled to pass through midfield and had to resort to more direct football. Addy got in behind early and a shot saved by the hotspurs second half keeper fell to the hard working besselink and the dutchman poked it into the back of the net. Mark had a nice lob that hit the cross bar and managed to round the keeper at one point but the tight angle evaded him. We had a few chances to up the score and hotspurs could have snuck another but we were good value for the win. Onwards to the germans next week. Thanks to hotspurs for a good battle.

• Martyn U'ren GK
• Charlie Moss DF
• James Keane DF
• Tom Hine DF
• Igor Stojanac DF
• Lionel Kong MD
• Max Gray --
• Duncan Elias --
• Barry McVeigh --
• Jack Munday --
• Matt Young --

• Aaron Jones DF
• Fu Cheng Wei --
• Matthew Shoult --
• Pete MacKenney --

Three in a row for depleted Hotspurs

A severely depleted Hotspurs crashed to a third successive defeat despite a spirited performance against Aioli. A lack of height and strength was always going to be an issue for a diminutive Hotspurs side, and so it proved as Aioli dominated the opening exchanges. After a few close calls, Aioli took the lead just after the half hour, and quickly doubled their advantage with a neat first time finish from the edge of the box. Hotspurs were denied the most blatant of penalties for a shove on striker Matty Young, but they did reduce the arrears just before the break. A marauding forward run from Lionel Kong released Charlie Moss who chipped the keeper to secure Hotspurs a lifeline. Hotspurs were hoping to carry the momentum into the second period, but they conceded a third just after the restart – a simple tap in after a good initial save from Matt Shoult. Hotspurs gradually began to enjoy more possession, but found it difficult to create any clear cut openings, until Young’s inch perfect through ball put debutant Pete MacKenney in on goal, but the linesman inexplicably raised his flag. Despite their dogged determination, it’s difficult to make a case that Hotspurs deserved anything from the game. However, had those two shocking decisions gone in their favour, then they may just have nicked a share of the spoils.