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Post by daveh on Apr 6, 2017 16:24:24 GMT 2
Yesterday Sfakera ran out eady 3-1 winners against st Athanassios at Nymphes. 3 up at HT, Messina in 10 and 20 and the young midfielder made it easy. The visitors pulled a goal back after 70 minutes.
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Post by daveh on Apr 10, 2017 8:23:26 GMT 2
Again i missed the game yesterday being in Town for Palm Sunday. I certainly missed an eventful match. Sfakera v Marathias. Early goals for Sfakera in the 8th and 13th minutes, one for the visitors on 22 and then 3-1 on 33 when Sfakera scored a penalty. Another pulled back on 40 minutes for a 3-2 HT.
The 2nd half turned into a romp for the visitors who equalised on 49 minutes. There followed 3 consecutive penalties, all converted, on 55, 64 and 72 minutes. Anothrr goal on 81 minutes completed the 3-7 scoreline. However there was still time for Marathias to have a player sent off before the final whistle.
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Post by daveh on Apr 15, 2017 10:11:36 GMT 2
No football in Greece this weekend as the Easter celebrations and religious Processions, activities and church services are attended or watched by almost everybody.
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Post by daveh on Apr 24, 2017 10:12:55 GMT 2
An end of season game v Alexandra turned into a thriller albeit partially due to the referee totally losing concentration in the 2nd half following an incedible error in his decision.
Anyway game ko at 12.30 yesterday in lovely sunshine and a light wind and a smaller than usual crowd of 24. Sfakera go close early but the goalie made a smart save, visitors hit post with goalie unsited. On 20 minutes ball over fence near a gate, Jonathan retrieve quickly only for referee to show him yellow for leaving the pitch. Correct maybe, but end season and bit commonsense should have prevailed, this set tone for later on. A minute later a flowing move by Sfakera saw a shot at the back post turned into his own goal by the goalie. On 25 minutes Sfakera concede a free kick on edge of box to the right side, it was expertly coverted into the far top corner to level the scores. On 44 minutes a very harsh penalty was awarded against Sfakera and Jonathan, the ball seemingly hitting his chest and shoulder. Cooly scored the visitors went in 2-1 up.
Oddity at ht, one of linesmen sat outside changing room on his mobile phone for nearly all the break!!
Sfakera bring on top scorer Messina at startbof 2nd half. 46 minutes a back pass sees Sfakera through on goal, referee rules offside. Clearly an error but despite protests from players and fans alike he stubbornly stuck to his guns, the result being he lost concentration for the next half hour missed many fouls, foul throws by visiting winger everytime he took throw and more. In 48th minute a miss kick by visiting defence, clearly affected by previous decision even though in their favour, saw Messina snatch an equaliser. Sfakera took control and 3 more goals on counter in 55th and 62nd and 69th minutes, one by midfielder and 2 by Messina who completed his hat-trick and gave Sfakera a 5-2 lead.
Thinking it game over Sfakera lost concentration and the visitors scored at back post when a defender failed to clear on 76 minutes. After this crazy spell was over the referee finaly regained some composure. Another free kick was scored by the visitors in the 82nd minute, thisvtime curles around the wall, Nikos getting a hand to it but not enough to stop the goal, 5-4. There was no final threat and the game played out for a win to Sfakera.
Nice touch, i have been to most games this season and been vociferous at times when bad decisions made against team, especially at away games, and always applaud their goals, good saves and good play. Today after the 1st goal the whole team came over to stand in front if me and clap me and give thumbs up. This was repeated after each goal by some. A real nice touch by the team at last home game which was unexpected and left an emotional tear in my eye. The team has improved since Alexis became player manager and maybe with a couple additions could challenge for promotion next season. They have entertained at times, frustrated at times but always given their best and only twice dropped heads when decisions and goals went against them. Since January they always played football, trying a passing game that wasnt always successful but was pleasing to watch, very good at times and lead to an increase in goals and wins so they finish comfortable in mid table.
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Post by daveh on Apr 30, 2017 10:06:11 GMT 2
The final game of the season saw Sfakera visit PAOK at Skripero for a 4.30pm ko on a cloudy afternoon. I was lone spectator as game start but the crowd did grow to 19!
A few spots of rain as play got underway. Nikos tipped a PAOK shot for an early corner. On 10 minutes following a corner Sfaker nearly score, the chance scooped over the bar. Thevfew chances that came were for Sfakera but they couldn't break the deadlock. Costas at full back again fell to his hamstring injury and limped off after 22 minutes. Then on 43 minutes Messina and defender exchange words, Messina gave him a small push. Referee over react and gave red card to Messina, nothing to defender. Messina lost it, went mad and it took half team to keep him away from referee and off the pitch, even then he was going for opposition who were making comments and Takis ended on griund dragging him back by leg! Amusing to watch but bad way to behave. HT 0-0. Several Sfakera players stay out dressing room as Messina still very angry.
2nd half again even, Nikos good catch of a cross on 50 minutes. Then on 52 minutes a deep cross goes over defender and Eddie gathers and calmly scores to give Sfakera the lead. He nearly repeated in the 56th. The sub was then subbed. PAok head over a good chance on 65 minutes. Nikos then made good saves and also booked for time wasting. PAOK chances high and wide as game go into last ten. Sfakera again sub the sub! Sfakera went very close to a 2nd in the 87th minute. Next minute a 2nd Sfakera player sent off, a foul yes a sending off never. PAOK didnt have chance to capitalise on 2 man advantage as a minute later their centre half was sent off for two yellows. This last game was also the only game this seaon that had added time, 5 minutes in all during which Nikos made 3 good saves in quick succession to deny the home side and earn Sfakera a hard fought win.
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Post by daveh on May 1, 2017 8:39:03 GMT 2
After the final games yesterday the league table sees Sfakera in 8th position with 40 points in a 15 team league. This was a good position after a poor start to the season.
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Post by daveh on Sept 20, 2017 8:22:00 GMT 2
The fixtures were drawn and it is again a 15 team league following a ,late withdrawal. Sfakera away 1st week but no dates yet announced.
In the cup Sfakera are at home to A league Paxos. Ko this Sunday 24th at 11.30am (subject to change as Paxos need to catch last ferry - already brought forward from 16.30). A friend has delivered me a fog horn, not sure if i use to cheer a goal or tell man in kiosk that when he hears it he delivers 2 cans of Amstel !!!
There are a few changes to the team, Andonis from Alexandros has taken the 1,000€ offered and returned to Valanio in the A1 league as they make big effort for promotion this season. Sfakera have been searching for a trainer to oversee and shout from touchline as it difficult for player manager Alexis to see all during game. Last i hear an Englisman called Rick is taking on the job as assistant manager.
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Post by daveh on Sept 24, 2017 15:13:17 GMT 2
A nice sunny morning greeted the 11.30am ko at Nymphes as a depleated Sfakera side took on A league Paxos featuring a couple of young players who showed plenty skill, pace and were fearless against men.
The first couple of half chances fell Sfakera's way, one shot easily saved the other across goal but several yards wide. On 14 minutes Paxos had a shot narrowly deflected for a corner, it resulted in a goal with a free header inside the goal area. A double booking on 17 minutes following a scirmish. On 21 Paxos have free kick on left edge penalty area, shot off wall hits post and scrambled clear. On 24 minutes Sfakera have similar free kick but it goes into wall.
Paxos so nearly extended their lead on 28 minutes when a cross from right somehow evaded 2 attackers and a defender leaving the goalie to pick up the ball. Another scirmish on 32 saw another double booking, but what the referee was playing at giving the Sfakera player a 2 handed shove i dont know. How can he book players for pushing when he does it himself, disgrace! On 34 minutes an elbow off the ball felled a Sfakera player, referee had back to play, linesman flag but no action taken other than free kick. Paxos now dominate play, have couple chances shot just over bar. Then in 41st a Paxos corner was partially cleared, lobbed back into box where Sfakera goalie beaten to header and ball dropped for tap in to make it 2-0.
Heads dropped folowing the error and 1 minute later a trip on edge of box resulted in a penalty, 3-0. Two minutes later it is 4 against 2 as Paxos roll in a fourth. HT 4-0 to Paxos.
Within 2 minutes of the restart Paxos have 5 as fine passing open up Sfakera and leave the half time substitute a tap in. A minute later Paxos hit post, clearly a risk of Sfakera being overrun. On 52 minutes Sfakera should have scored, the centre forward beats goalkeeper but instead of shooting at open goal tries to control ball and goalie recovers to gather.
Paxos now ease off, change players to different positions, controlling ball and passing around. Several Sfakera players looked like they didn't want to be on pitch, walk about out position leaving Paxos players with acres space on wings. On 62 minutes Sfakera goalkeeper makes a good save, but misses a chance to punch ball away and a lob bounce on line into net for 6-0. A minute later another good save results in a corner, from this goalkeeper didn't catch, try to punch ball only for it to drop to Paxos player who lobbed him for goal 7. On 66 Sfakera fire a half chance high over the goal. On 70 minutes Paxos clean through but goalue makes fine save to concede a corner, a minute later the young Paxos winger beat 2 defenders fired a fine shot that was tipped for another corner. On 74 mintes another Paxos break saw 2 v 1 and a tap in for 8-0. Three minutes later they are denied a ninth by a smart save, Sfakera then break out and the winger feeds the centre forward who gets lucky as defender and goalkeeper close in to score consolation into open goal. Just 34 minutes into the 2nd half the referee has had enough and blows for full time to save Sfakera further embarrassment.
FT Sfakera 1 Paxos 8. Attendance 64.
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Post by daveh on Sept 25, 2017 7:39:56 GMT 2
The league starts next weekend, Sfakera are away to Ag Athanassios on the pitch at Skripero, ko at 1pm.
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Post by daveh on Oct 1, 2017 15:44:16 GMT 2
Today the game at Skripero against Ag Athanassios had a delayed start of 1.48pm, weather was sunny with lots grey clouds. Attendance just 24.
The first chance fell to Sfakera in the 4th minute but they were offside. As spots of rain fall a long clearance by the home goalkeeper saw a glance of a defender head, the striker beat the fullback and lobbed the keeper to give the hosts a 19th minute lead. Sfakera pushed forward keeping better shape than last week and went narrowly wide, then hit the bar before equalising in the 29th minute when a ball from midfield to the byeline was crossed for a tap in. A couple minutes later the home goalkeeper tipped a shot off the post for a corner. As the rain became a shower and half time approached a Sfakera pass into the box saw a mix up by a defender and the centre forward sent Sfakera into the interval 2-1up.
Heavier rain during the break and the first 20 minutes of the second half before it eased. Sfakera dominated possession and play all the half going close on several occasions, either heading or shooting over or wide. Always a risk if you fail to close the game out and five minutes from time the hosts almost capitalised on a defensive mix up but the shot bounced just wide. As we entered added time Alexis again found Ed Lassi in space and his rasping shot skidded of the wet surface under the diving goalkeeper for a 3-1 win.
Interesting fact, this crowd of 24, was bigger than thst at Barcelona later on same dsy! Barca decided to play behind closed doors due to the problems on the streets during Catalonia referendum.
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Post by daveh on Oct 9, 2017 9:39:09 GMT 2
Yesterday a crowd of around 60 witnessed a 0-0 draw between Sfakera and the new team from Kassioppi at a sunny Nymphes. The first half very even with just half chances, maybe the best of them missed by Sfakera. What was noticeable was the referee, despite looking fit, having a lack of mobility. He rarely did more that trot and mostly walked! He gave several poor ddcisions fron distance usually in favour of Kassioppi.
In the second half it remained even, Sfakera again not making the most of some good counter attacks, Kassioppi hitting the bar with a long range shot. It was ruined as a spectacle by some embarrassing play acting by the Kassioppi no 2 that conned the referee who was always too far away to see that the guy had hardly been touched. He hit the deck holding his face as if knocked out by Anthony Joshua. The crowd could see he was a cheat but the referee booked the Sfakera player, the cheat then winked at the crowd. To make it worse he repeated the con a few minutes later even more theatrically when he hadn't even been touched and the referee again fell for it and gave the Sfakera player a second yellow and sent him off. The same theatrical trick was then used by the Kassioppi no 7 to get another player booked. Personally i think such play acting is disgusting and has no place in any game let alone laegue B of Corfu village football but it was onky allowed to happen because the referee was so far away from play he couldn't see what happened and reacted to the acting as if something must have happened, which it didnt.
The league should investigate, ban the cheats retrospectively for at least 3 games and also suspend the referee and put him on a training course, teach him how referee run the diagonals and keep up with play so they clearly see what happens and can make correct decisions. A referee should never think something happened based on a players actions. An initial yellow card against the no 2 would have put a stop to it. Now that player will try it again in other games and if they get same referee again probably get away with it. It totally ruined wad was an evenly fought game played mostly in a good spirit. And there was a possibility Sfakera would have won had they had 11 players for the final 20 minutes.
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Post by daveh on Oct 11, 2017 16:05:02 GMT 2
Well no surprise the game last weekend was investigated!
It seems Kassioppi fielded 3 ineligible players not registered with league. If found guilty at meeting tomorrow the game will be awarded to Sfakera, Kassioppi will get mminus 6 points and their captain will be banned for 2 years! Strange they did this when they had 7 registered players sat on bench!
Update on diver, wearing no 2. He apparently was a referee, decided to revert to player, but is mates with many referees. Used to play for Valenio where in one game his diving antics got 2 players sent off! League clearly haven't caught up with this cheat and his referee mates to stamp out the practice, hopefully with lifetime bans.
😃justice was done Sfakera given a 3-0 win.
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Post by daveh on Oct 15, 2017 17:50:58 GMT 2
Today a 12.30 ko at Kontokali against Potomos played in blazing sunshine and a very light breeze from the sea and a not so nice smell from the stream!
An even start with little by way of chances until the 17th minute when Sfakera broke down the left, the low cross was stopped and squared inside the box to leave a simple tap for 1-0 lead. A few half chances for both teams but no further score in the 1st half.
In the 2nd half Sfakera missed a couple of good chances, then a 30 yard shot was half lost by the home goalkeeper in the sun, dropped but somehow he turned and grabbed the ball on the goal line. Then against the play Potomos broke through when the defender missed a header, his shot going under the goalkeeper to equalise in the 58th minute. In the 75th minute after a fine flowing move down the right saw another Sfakera cross into the box that somehow the substitute put just wide when it looked easier to score. Sfakera broke forward at every opportunity but couldn't score the goal they deserved, Potomos themselves had some good chances and Nikos made a couple of good saves. Then with 92 minutes played a long ball down the middle was chased by the centre forward but the young defender got their first only to head it over the onrushing goalie for an own goal and 2-1 to Sfakera. A minute later and another through ball by Sfakera down the right was crossed into the goalmouth and turned into his own goal by a defender under pressure. 3-1 to Sfakera and the final whistle was blown seconds after the restart. Attendance 29.
So it is 3 wins from 3 to give a great start to the season but Sfakera have yet to play any of the teams fancied to be chasing promotion.
As last season Potomos had a goalie playing as number 13 and a midfielder wearing number 1. !!
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Post by daveh on Oct 23, 2017 8:19:18 GMT 2
Yesterday it was a 4pm ko against Vassilatika (near Petriti). Sfakera team was missing 4 players including Jon Banos (away on holiday in New Zealand ), and top scorer Eddie. Nikos the goalkeeper pulled out injured so we had a new goalkeeper as well. Spiros (Alexandros) was at his daughters christening.
The game was fairly even in the 1st half, Sfakera appearing short in midfield at times but working hard to cover back when needed. The best chance of the half fell to Sfakera when Pano was through on goal but the keeper made a smart save which was cleared comfortably. HT 0-0.
On the hour a Sfakera corner saw Pano's header tipped away for another corner. The same again in the 63rd minute as Sfakera kept the pressure on. In the 70th minute the new player replacing Eddie was chopped down in the box, everybody in the ground thought penalty, but not the referee - unbelievable as it was so blatant. Just 2 minutes later another Sfakera attack saw the ball bobble around the box and this time the referee gave a penalty, not clear why from my angle but justice was done. Duely dispatched by a midfielder, 1-0 to Sfakera.
Sfakera worked hard to see out the game, made 2 substitutions. In the 88th minute Vassilatika got a chance but the Sfakera goalkeeper pulled off a great save. Just a minute later and Sfakera put a great chance wide. 2 minutes into added time a deep free kick by Vassilatika was pushed wide by the goalie, the corner cleared easily. In the 94th minute the referee blew for full time. Sfakera win 1-0 to remain joint top of league with 4 wins from 4 games, but yet to play against the best teams in the league. The attendance was 34.
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Post by daveh on Oct 30, 2017 7:44:30 GMT 2
Yesterday at a sunny Skripero in a delayed 3.15pm ko Sfakera fell to their first defeat of the season, going down to a PAOK team that lost 6-1 the previous week.
Again missing Jon and Eddie Sfakera didnt play the passing football as of late relying on too many long passes. The defence struggled all game to cope with the pace of their younger opponents.
As early as the 4th minute PAOK took the lead, it looked like the ball was out of play, the defence stopped but play went on and the ball was pulled back into the box and rifled home. The rest of the half was even with both goalies making saves, Sfakera had 2 great chances, one skied over and the other cleared off the line by a defender. HT 1-0.
The first chance off the 2nd half fell to Sfakera, clean through on the counter attack the winger lobbed the goalie but the ball went over the bar. On 69 minutes PAOK ripped open the Sfakera defence down the right, cut into box past another defender and scored into the far top corner. Just 4 minutes later after a positional change Sfakera got back into the game when a through ball down the middle found Ledi clear and he easily scored. All looked set for a good finish but on 80 minutes the Sfakera defence was again beaten by pace resulting in a free shot at goal, 3-1. Sfakera had another good chance in the 86th minute but a weak header was put wide. In the 93rd minute a PAOK breakaway saw the Sfakera goalie beaten to ball by corner flag, the ball was centered and the striker put the ball wide of an almost open goal.
FT 3-1 to PAOK.
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