Division Three

Punjab Colts narrowed the gap on the leaders Chequers United with their 2-1 win over Clifton Dynamo.Lee Jackson with another brace of goals to add to his ever increasing tally!

Wollaton Pirates stay fourth maintaining their 100% record with 5-1 win over Boots Wednesday but with games in hand the title is in their capabilities this season.

In mid table land Plumtree enjoyed a terrific comeback to beat  Beeston Athletic after being two goals down  early doors.Keeper John Acaster kept Beeston at bay whilst Paul Thomas with a late second half hat trick snatched the three points from a shell shocked Athletic side.

Match Report   - Wollaton Pirates 5 - 2 Chequers

A potential title deciding clash was played at Chilwell Olympia with the home team Wollaton Pirates coming into the game with a 100% league record so far this season. The opposition was table topping Chequers who had only dropped 3 points in 10 Empal outings. From the outset this was going to be a physical game as both teams tried to get a grip of the midfield with some juicy but fair tackles flying in from both teams. Against the run of play Chequers took the lead from a well delivered free kick which the Chequers striker S Kendal delightfully guided over the Pirates keeper with his head. The Pirates reacted instantly and were unlucky not to level minutes later when a header from a corner rattled the cross bar. Paolo Piliero then levelled for the Pirates with a ferocious drive from 22 yards out nestling into the bottom corner of the Chequers goal. Paolo then grabbed a second not long after with some great interplay down the left from Alex Doyle and Anthony Fragola enabling Paolo to poke home from 2 yards out. The Pirates were then dealt a killer blow as powerful striker and top goalscorer Frankie Labbate tore his hamstring.  Just before half time Chequers levelled again through S Kendall as he coolly chipped the ball over the Pirates keeper in a one on one situation. The second half started much the same as the first but the Pirates were starting to look the more superior side and were pushing Chequers back looking for that elusive 3rd goal. The Pirates were not given a clear cut penalty on 50 minutes when Paolo was rugby tackled in the box by a Chequers player.  They carried on pressing and minutes later were awarded a penalty for a lunging tackle from behind. Anthony Fragola coolly converted to make the score 3-2. The Pirates then got a 4th goal again through Fragola who buried hard and low from the left hand side of the box. Karl Aram was then denied by the post for the Pirates and Anthony Fragola's 30 yard free kick rattled the same post moments later. On this occasion Paolo Piliero was able to slot home the rebound to claim his second successive hat-trick and finish the game off at 5-2. After hitting  the  woodwork  3  times  and  being  unlucky  not  to  have  been awarded a second penalty the Pirates thoroughly deserved this victory and  have  certainly  put  themselves  in  a  position  to  be  deemed  title favourites  after  already  having  despatched  of  Punjab  Colts  and Kinoulton Villa prior  to  this game.

Report by Adrian Ford & Dino Labbate

Balls Mania Issue 55 

Wollaton Pirates Reserves showed their true title credentials with a well-earned win over Caythorpe.

The game started evenly, with both sides spreading the play across the small frozen pitch. It was the Pirates started to edge the game, having most of the possession, and camping  out in the Caythorpe half. They took advantage of this and soon found themselves with a two goal lead thanks to some neat passing  and decisive  finishing.

Caythorpe pulled one back with a speculative  lob  that looped over the Pirates keeper, nestling nicely into the bottom corner. The  Pirates  restored  the  two  goal  advantage  almost  immediately. Caythorpe were unable  to deal with Luke Burton's  'Delap'  throw-ins, and Frankie  Labbate  was  able  to  poke  one  into  the  net  after  a  short scramble. Caythorpe again reduced the deficit - smashing one home from 20 yards out. Pirates grabbed a  fourth before half  time.

The second half started much the same as the first with both teams needing time to get back into the swing of things. Caythorpe were the first to do so and began  storming  forward  with  four  up-front.  The  Pirates  defended valiantly for a long period, but were unable to stop a bullet shot after a goal mouth scramble. Pirates grabbed a fifth late on when Wes Moore latched on  to a  loose ball and  fired cooly past  the on-rushing keeper.

The game finished Pirates 5 (Frankie Labbate 2, Mark Jordan, Mark Long, Wes  Moore)   -   Caythorpe  3  (D.   Lang  2,   D  Ather ley) .