FIGHT CLUB

 

The calm before the storm

THE GOOD NEWS:  Rovers recorded their first victory of 2010 against Karlsberg, despite conceding early on after a pretty shambolic opening 10 minutes.  The goal seemed to wake the reds up, as they immediately replied with an equaliser when professional asskoek Vegard Nordheim charged down a Karlsberg clearance, sending it into the opposition net.  Nathaniel Golbaniel then made it two with a tenacious drive from the left which the keeper could only parry back to the strawberry-blonde forward, who drilled the ball home at the second time of asking, before celebrating with his signature roar.  A beautiful passing move then gave Nordheim his second and Rovers' third, and although Karlsberg pulled one back in the 2nd half and pressured the red's goal for an equaliser, Melchester held on for the three points.

 

FLASHPOINT - just one of the many 'altercations' that marred Melchester's victory

THE BAD NEWS:  Sadly the match will be remembered for all the wrong reasons, as Karlsberg demonstrated the kind of ignorant, violent and racist behaviour that has no place in sport at any level.  After spending the first half hurling racist abuse at Melchester, in the second half Kalrsberg seemed to give up on playing, opting instead to assault any player who came anywhere near their goal, culminating in a disgusting attack on Kimbrell for which the keeper didn't even see a card.  Having virtually lost control of the game, the referee threatened to abandon the match, but this had no effect on the opposition, and in the end the ref didn't stick to his word, allowing the game to continue to the ugly end.  Rovers have lodged a formal complaint with the league, and are waiting to see what, if any, action will be taken.

On the plus side, Melchester knew from the first half of the season that Karlsberg were a bunch of burani, but that most of the other teams are reasonably civilised folks, so hopefully there will be no more unpleasantness for the rest of the season.  Unless we meet Karlsberg in the play-offs.

Melchester Rovers 3 - 2 Karlsberg C.F."B" (3-1 HT)

CosteaJ, MestanekM, SmithM, Gio, KimbrellC, NordheimV(2), PagliaroJ, GolbanielN(1), HollandP