Despite a few cancellations as a precautionary measure over the last couple of weeks due to the Covid situation, the Legal League season seems to be back on track and there are some great title races to look forward to. Let’s start in division two, where three games were played over round 10. The games kicked off with a 5-goal thriller between San P’s and Mes, with the water boys shading it. A ding-dong affair saw Tom Rogerston take the lead for Mes, then 3 goals in 5 minutes of madness had San P’s equalize via an OG, Mes retake the lead direct from the restart with an Anthony Forsyth goal only for Charlie Clack to level it again from outside the box. Things settled down second half and a mix up at the back saw Austin Tenny net the winner for San P’s. Wolves smashed 7 past Vikings thanks to a hat-trick apiece from Murphy Chan and Stefan Schratz, with Martin Li also scoring but Vikings can point to a shambolic second half performance, as Henrik Andersen had brought the scores level at HT. Krauts edged Sam Blue 2-1 in a hard-fought game that saw the Germans with a man advantage after an early bath for a Sam Blue lad for 2 yellows. Jan Lommer got the Krauts ahead while Mir Adil equalised with 10 to go, but the 10 men succumbed in the last 5 mins and Nick Gerigk snatched a late winner.

Onto round 11 with a full fixture list, where Legal Head were able to close the gap at the top to 4 points thanks to a 2-nil win against OSM. Jose Cabot scored a penalty, then Thomas Bombardieri added a second, but would later receive his marching orders in unnecessary and unsavoury fashion. OSM failed to capitalise in the second half though playing 11 v 10. The gap closed because Krauts were held to a goal apiece against San P’s. In a very even match where a draw was the right outcome, Angel Suarez scored for the Germans while Simon Roberts scored from the spot for San P’s, who also highlighted a wonder save from the Krauts keeper at point blank range. Wolves shaded the Eagles by a solitary Daniel Derani strike in a tight end to end game with chances few and far between. Samurai Blue condemned Vikings to a tenth straight loss this time by a score of 3-1, a Rasmus Brendborg consolation the only thing to smile about while Limbu Rishi Hang, Pan Da Hui and Mir Adil again got the Sam Blue goals. Last but not least, KCC and Mes scored nine goals between them in a 6-3 win for the Royals. A Darren Yan hat-trick, Sam Trayford Brace and Lumley Smith goal were enough for KCC while Tom Rogerston, Yanni Kiryacou and Raz Dansanghani goals counted for nowt for Mes.

Into division 3 where only one fixture survived the Covid scare in week 10, that being Bants beating Shooters 2-1 in a tough and tight contest. Eamon McMurray put Bants ahead before Yosuke Kuramae equalised for Shooters. However, a foul from the CB left Alexis Devaud to do the honours from the spot and move Bants top all be it for one week only. Shooters bounced back last weekend to reclaim top spot with a comprehensive 4-1 win against Barbarians. A nice game played in good spirits and hot conditions saw the Shooters have too much fire power. Tsuyoshi Iida, Fuminori Isimaru, Yoheu Kuramae and Kazuhisa Takeda got the goals after Jose Calla had equalized early on. Bants dropped down to second place as they fought out a 2-2 draw with BOC’s. Bants were on target again through Alexis Devaud again from the spot, but a free kick from Mo Lemsitef on the edge of the box brought the scores level. Mo then turned provider as his floated ball was headed home by Kamel Dridi but in the second half, wave after wave of Bants attacks saw Jeff Leung equalize but profligacy in front of goal ensured that 2-2 was the final score. Dong Feng Express pulled further clear of their rivals Dragon Valley in third place as Pablo Gravito Chong helped himself to a hat-trick in a resounding 5-2 success. Wang Wei Zhi had opened the scoring for DF and Wong Siu Tan made it two. Jimmy Zhang pulled one back for DV before Chong took over smashing in 3 without reply. Ian Trower added a touch of respectability to the score line late on but DV now look like the race for a promotion could be a bridge too far.

With the top two not playing due to Covid fears, DBFC took full advantage in round 10 hitting 4 without reply against Corinthians. Ethan Squires got the first and Enzo Xisto made it two before half time. Much of the same second half as Matthew Hoare and Steve Lang saw the Bay lads to an easy win. In the proverbial game of two halves, Club Tropicana were left to rue what could have been against Spartans as Kyle Wagner’s two goals saw them go in 2 up at half time, but it could and should have been much more. Sparts missed a pen, which spurred them to life as they scored 4 goals in the last 20 minutes without reply to leave it 4-2 at full time. Oli Baijings, Chris Balka, Dan Dibden and Ali Thompson did the damage. Scottish Stags took advantage of Soho Spartans not having a keeper available, scoring one in the first half and four in the second in a 5-0 thrashing. Bobak opened the scoring then player manager Tommy Bartles got a couple with one a nice effort from distance. Rob Scott put three lads on their ass to make it 4 before a fine team goal was finished off by Brent Sanson.

Onto round 11 which saw the now top of the league side DBFC travel to KP on Friday night knowing a win would really blow the title race wide open against USRC Gunners. In a very even game, USRC had more possession but DBFC created the better chances. A Paul Crompton corner was headed home by Steve Lang who was left in acres of space to put Disco one up. Mat Zoller then saw his penalty saved by ex-DB keeper Alessio who was apparently told years ago that he was surplus to requirements because he was ‘too old!’ That save gave USRC the momentum and a cross-shot from the right wing fluked its way into the top corner from Matthew Logan. Late on, a Jamie Hooper free kick bounced of one or two DB bodies and into the net sealing a come from behind win for Gunners. Irish Harps leap-frogged DB back into second spot with a hard fought 3-1 win against a young, energetic if naïve KCC Cavs on Monday. Luke Moynagh set the ball rolling for Ireland with a clinical finish after lovely play on the counter and veteran Cian McNamara drilled home a rebound with his left foot to make it two. Cavs made it two one with a direct free kick from Stefan Antonic which bounced in off the bar, but Iain Kiloughery cut in from the right and beat the keeper near post to restore the 2-goal lead. Had KCC scored one of their numerous late chances, they may have gone on to snatch a point but the Irish held firm.

Wanchai Spartans are still in with a shout of winning the league with another come from behind victory, this time against Revolution. Geoffrey Gardiner and Krish Mohinani’s Rev goals were separated by a Mike Grimshaw thunderbolt to leave Revs 2-1 up with 20 minutes to play, but Sparts ran out easy winners in the end. A disputed pen- was it hands or testicles- and a direct free kick from Jorginio, and further goals from Ali Thompson and Oli Baijings left the final score at 5-2. Goodfellas edged out Corinthians 1-0 in what was an admittedly poor game with neither team at their best. Rob Davis got the goal for Fellas but it could have been a different story had Cors not missed a penalty 5 minutes prior. Lastly, Club Trop went down 3-1 to Soho Spartans but were unlucky to have a lad sent off for dissent which was retrospectively rescinded. Benny Borsi had Tropics one up with a cross come shot that sneaked in at the back post but Revs equalized through Tom Lipton on the stroke of half time. The red card helped swing the game in favour of Soho as Gabe Brettell and Tim Murphy bagged the goals, the latter after a fumble from the Tropicana keeper. The two teams are separated by goal difference in 7th and 8th on 12 points.