Coming From Behind 3 – 2 Eastcote Rangers

By Zarif Rasul
At the Middlesex Stadium

CFB survived a late Eastcote Rangers comeback to grab a dramatic 3-2 victory at the Middlesex Stadium on Thursday.

Ed Pike opened the scoring with a neat close-range header, before winger Daniel Caulfield doubled CFB’s advantage after springing Rangers’ offside trap and slotting past keeper Gary Wells.

Substitute Gary Edwards brought Rangers back on level terms, scoring his side’s first before setting up Jack’s superb volleyed equaliser.

But the lively Ross Berti snatched a dramatic win in the dying moments with a scrambled effort from close-range.

The victory concludes CFB’s pre-season preparations, but it will be Rangers who have the most to think about after this performance.

A disjointed opening period yielded few chances. After an even first ten minutes, the home side began to impose their authority, with striker Ed Pike testing Rangers keeper Gary Wells.

They took a deserved lead in the 33rd minute when Pike headed Ross Berti’s gloriously flighted-cross into the top right-hand corner.

The goal seemed to settle CFB’s nerves, as they subjected Rangers to wave after wave of sustained pressure.

And CFB were rewarded for their endeavours on the stroke of half-time, as Daniel Caulfield latched on to a superb through-ball from Scott Berti and coolly stroked the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.

The Behinders started the second half with typical gusto, with Sam Robbins and Scott Berti dominating in the middle of the park, and wingers Ross Berti and Dan Caulfield continually troubling the static Rangers backline.

And they were unlucky not to put the game beyond doubt in the 60th minute, when Pike’s scuffed effort hit the post following a goalmouth scramble.

The introduction of player-manager Gary Edwards drastically changed Rangers’ fortunes, and within minutes the midfielder reduced the deficit. The former Northwood man picked the ball up on the edge of CFB’s box and drilled a superb shot into the bottom right-hand corner.

This galvanised the away side, and they levelled the scores just seven minutes later. Edwards surged down the right-hand side before picking out Jack inside the box, and Eastcote’s number nine swivelled smartly before rifling a ferocious half-volley past the hapless CFB keeper.

Jack’s wonderstrike set up a tense finale, and CFB were unlucky not to regain their lead when Ross Berti’s drive was parried by Wells.

But CFB sealed the win deep into injury time and broke Rangers’ hearts when Ross Berti followed up a parried attempt by tapping in from six yards out.

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Zarif Rasul withdraws MA Print transfer request

Rasul commits to Print

MA PRINT midfielder Zarif Rasul has withdrawn his transfer request after talks with the club.

The 22-year-old England international, who joined Print in September 2010, said last month that he wanted to leave after growing dissatisfied with the club’s lack of ambition and with life in the north of England.

But Print said in a statement on Tuesday that Rasul has expressed his commitment to the club and will remain at Stade de Shorthand.

“Zarif knows that the club is looking to move forward over the next few months, and push on both domestically and in Europe,” it said.

“Zarif is a key part of our plans for the long-term future and we are delighted that he has decided to stay at the club.”

Rasul was linked with moves to Liverpool and fierce local rivals Broadcast after handing in his transfer request last month.

He cited “broken promises made to him by the club’s management” as the main reason for his unhappiness, and claimed to have “played his last game for the club.”

Print expressed their disappointment at Rasul’s request, with club Director of Football Jamie Stanley critical of Rasul’s agent Jia Joorabchian.

The club insist that they received no bids for the diminutive playmaker over the Christmas period, and Rasul completed a dramatic U-turn just hours before the side’s Teeline Cup Final second leg.

Any doubts over Rasuls’s commitment were quelled as the midfielder marked his return to the side with a goal in Print’s 10-5 victory over Broadcast last night.

Rasul hands in transfer request

Rasul joined MA Print in September

MA Print midfielder Zarif Rasul has handed in a transfer request, Eddycrane.com understands.

The 22-year-old has blamed the club’s lack of ambition for his decision to leave. He is also understood to be homesick.

Rasul has gone back to London for Christmas and has said he has no intention of returning to Sheffield.

A statement released by the player’s representative said: “Zarif has made it clear to staff at MA Print that he has played his last game for the club. He is upset by broken promises made to him by the club’s management, and will be leaving the club in January.”

Rasul’s last appearance for the Shorthanders came during their 7-6 Teeline Cup defeat to local rivals MA Broadcast last month.

The diminutive midfielder joined MA Print from Ruislip Rudeboys last summer. Rasul enjoyed a fruitful two-year spell at the West London side, picking up two league titles and one Teeline South Cup, as well as the JFA Golden Boot award twice.

Print – Broadcast game postponed

Frozen pitch caused a second postponement.

MA Print’s Teeline Cup Final second-leg match with MA Broadcast was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

It is the second time the game has been postponed.

MA Broadcast are carrying a slender advantage after triumphing 7-6 in the first-leg match.

————————————————————————————————————————————–

MA Print are closing in on the permanent signing of on-loan midfielder George Gwatkin.

The UG Chemistry midfielder has impressed since joining the Shorthanders last month and scored twice in their 7-6 defeat to MA Broadcast.

Broadcast MA 7 – 6 Print MA

MA Broadcast 7 – 6 MA Print

A LAST-GASP winner from Pulasta Dhar handed MA Broadcast a slender first-leg Teeline Cup Final advantage and ended Print’s winning streak.

Dhar bundled home with seconds remaining to complete a remarkable turnaround for Broadcast.

After being comprehensively outplayed in a pulsating first half, Broadcast were 5-1 down and looked certain to be heading for a third successive defeat.

Print emphatically shrugged off the absence of Robert “he isn’t the top scorer, he is THE scorer” Payling and broke the first half deadlock with a stunning long-range rocket from on-loan midfielder George Gwatkin. The UG Chemistry man’s strike was followed by goals in quick succession from Adam Shergold (x2) and Zarif Rasul, as Print raced into a 4-0 lead.

The lively Dhar pulled one back for Broadcast before Shorthanders’ captain Liam Blackburn restored the side’s four-goal cushion before the break.

Dhar and compatriot Arya Yuyutsu reduced the deficit with fine finishes shortly after the break, before Gwatkin made it 6-4 with a powerful volley.

Belgian defender Jort Moermans added a sublime fifth, smashing home from the tightest of angles, before Dhar levelled the scores.

A tense finale saw both sides go for broke, as Broadcast custodian Peter Brennan made fine saves to deny Blackburn and Rasul.

It was Broadcast, however, who completed the most remarkable of recoveries, as Dhar surged forward from defence to beat the onrushing Evans and slot home the winner.

Wednesday 24th November 2010
Teeline Cup Final – First Leg
Stade de Shorthand, Pitch 3

Broadcast             7 – 6               Print
(HT 1- 5)
Dhar                                             Gwatkin
Dhar                                             Shergold
Yuyutsu                                       Rasul
Dhar                                             Shergold
Yuyutsu                                       Blackburn
Moermans                                  Gwatkin
Dhar

MA Print suffer Payling blow

MA Print forward Robert Payling will miss Wednesday’s crunch Teeline Cup clash with MA Broadcast due to personal issues.

The 22-year-old forward, who is the league’s leading scorer this season, is expected to return for Monday night’s second leg.

Club captain Liam Blackburn said: “Rob is a key component and will be missed so I implore my men to stand up and rise to the challenge.”

“I would liken us to a blind man. Yes we have lost our sight but as a result our other senses will be strengthened. We will hear better, we will taste better and we will feel better.”

It is a huge setback for MA Print, who are looking to extend their unbeaten run to three games.

Underperforming playmaker Zarif Rasul is expected to deputise up front in Payling’s absence.

“Obviously we will miss Rob’s goals and his work-rate, but we’ve got a good bunch of lads here, and I’m sure we’ll put out a strong side on Wednesday,” he said.

“I’m more than happy to play wherever the gaffer asks me to, I just love playing for this team.”

MA Broadcast have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Wednesday night’s encounter.