Sport

Eagles flying high

November 3 - 9, 2010

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Saar Eagles continued to stamp their mark on the GulfWeekly Eight-a-Side Expat League with a convincing 6-3 win over the Arabian Celts, writes Mai Al Khatib.

The side, riding high on top of the division alongside Bayer Neverlusen, scored within minutes of the kick-off with a crisp shot courtesy of Dan Niemeyer.

The Irish team rallied back with a classy four-man move which allowed Derek O'Brian to steal in and bag the equaliser.

The Eagles captain Brian Cross said: "After the first half ended on equal footing, you could hear the frenzied pep talks from both camps. I sent on new boy, Chris Mason, and moved Lewis Marr back in place of Ash Kingstone."

The luck of the Irish shone brightly at the start of the second half as Tim Backhouse put them ahead.

Eagles goalkeeper Steve 'The Cat' Gibbons was not too happy with what was going on and meowed his disapproval. This seemed to spur on the Saar lads as within seconds Mason grabbed control of the ball and raced downfield to level the scores at 2-2.

Things were falling into place when John Anderson, got hold of the ball and put the Eagles 3-2 in front. But again, there was to be no respite as Backhouse's powerful shot brought the score back to 3-3.

As play restarted, Niemeyer claimed his second goal as he put the finishing touches to a passing run through the field.

The Celts keeper seemed to have had enough, as he walked towards the touchline, forced out through injury. His replacement, Arabian Celts captain Paul Keown, took his place between the sticks to cheeky jibes from the Eagles' Mickie Dismore: "He will never fit inside that jersey!" he said.

Mason grabbed his second goal and a few minutes later Yacine Meridji wrapped it up with a fine goal.

Cross admitted after the game: "To be sure, the Irish lads had played their part and the Eagles were pleased to get this one under their belt to remain on top. Tonight we plan to give the St Chris teachers a lesson in the art of good football."

Meanwhile, fortune finally shone on the Dilmun Club as the side upset the odds by beating St Christopher's School 4-3.

The Dilly Boys had lost their first three matches and St Chris felt confident of increasing captain David Lord's misery. Unfortunately due to school commitments, the teachers' team missed five of its regular stars.

St Christopher's started brightly with a spectacular strike from captain Mark Holness from outside of the box. After a few careless errors the Dilmun Club got into the game and struck four times in the space of 10 minutes. Lord, playing like a man half his age, scored two goals while Mark Evans and Alan Gallagher notched one apiece.

David Crossy and Bod Mathurin made the score respectable as the teachers attempted an unlikely comeback.

St. Christopher's Holness, said: "Mark Little had his finest game, with some great passes and once again John Cat Roycroft had a great game between the sticks."

Lord, happy to have spurred his team to victory, said: "That was the first week that we had all our players available. It was a vast improvement on the performances so far."

Bayer Neverlusen then edged out the Royal Riffa 'Wee Monty' 2-1 in a tight encounter.

A great goalkeeping display by Laurent Biehly and determined tackling by his defenders thwarted Bayer as Monty's Jimmie Esmen scored against the run of play with a low shot into the corner.

Bayer got back on terms when Chris Tricker finished with a shot into the far corner of the net to make the halftime score 1-1.

In the second half, Bayer came out with all guns blazing. Good work on the left from Owen Coll enabled Tricker to turn and shoot. His effort was blocked by Monty's defence butTricker got a second bite and drilled the ball in to the net with the keeper all at sea.

Oak FC also recorded a 5-2 win over the British Club, whose team manager Raj Pahuja said: "We played well in the first half and forward Andy 'cheeky' Crellin got the first goal for us by forcing the ball over the line on the stroke of half time.

"In the second half we lost our shape a bit and were made to pay by a strong Oak side. Forward Sanjeev Pathak grabbed a consolation goal with a fine solo effort."

Dynamic Oak FC's Derrick Rodney scored four and Adil Glia notched a solo effort.

Oak FC faced the Royal Riffa 'Wee Monty' on Monday and the British Club took on Bayer Neverlusen.

Tonight the Dilmun Club will play Arabian Celts and Saar Eagles face St Christopher's School. All games are held at the British School of Bahrain in Hamala.

Spotlight on Dilmun Club

Goalkeeper, Andrew 'Stoza' Storey, 26

Goalkeeper/defender, Mark 'Fat Mark' Brereton-Stuart, 29

Defender, Garry 'Wurzel' Baker, 25

Midfielder, Alan 'Golden Balls' Gallagher, 27

Defender, Ian 'Smalls' Ashbery, 28

Midfielder, Adam 'Yorkie' Vause, 26

Midfielder, Craig 'Wedgie' Guire, 25

Defender, Alan 'Braveheart' Beattie, 25

Defender, Arnie 'Coccoon' Young, 29

Midfielder, David 'Lordie' Lord, 25

Forward, Eamon 'Shamrock' Egan, 28