Racing Club Fantana 7 - 1 Ladzio

Racing started off the Division 2 campaign in extravagant style on Sunday morning, with a 7-1 mauling of previous seasons Division 3 champions Ladzio.  It was an impressive league bow, with several key players missing once again.

With the rainfall of the last few days, we thankfully said goodbye to summers rock hard pitches, and with the temperature mild, the stage was set for a potentially thrilling encounter.  Kick off came 25 minutes late, due to traffic congestion, and it was Ladzio who suffered on the day with this blip in their preparations.

Racing came out all guns a blazing, and true to form, grabbed yet another early goal.  A short corner was worked between Leiter and Maskell and it was the latters pin point cross which was head headed home by Darren Waithe at the back post.

Pouring forward in numbers, it wasn't long before the second goal.  Maskell released Clarke down the right and his fine centre was headed home by an unmarked James Spicer at the back post.

Maskell was close to getting on the scoresheet.  Firstly, forced the keeper into a save with a volley.from 20 yards, and then, after a quick break, he hit a 25 yard howitzer that beat the keeper all ends up, but whistled past the post.

James Spicer added his 2nd in the 35th minute, after good work from him and Sack on the touchline. The ball fell kindly, and it was delicately dinked over the advancing keeper from a tight angle.

Racing grabbed another before the break. Spicer beat the offside trap and raced onto Tilbury's ball, before unselfishly squaring to Russell Leiter for the 4th.

Half time 4-0

The half times blues appeared to be setting in as the second half started, and Ladzio had a couple of half chances, but Racing stepped up another gear, and managed to create chance after chance in the final half hour.

James Spicer completed his hat-trick on the hour, controlling and volleying in, after a great cross from Field.

Racing hit the woodwork four times. Twice from Leiter, and once apiece from Maskell and Sack.  Sack also missed a glorious chance to get the scoresheet, and it looked like neither he nor Maskell were going to get on the scoresheet until a touch of fortune in the 70th minute.  Chris Maskell picked up the ball some forty yards out and another marauding run took him into the box. A tame shot looked to be going wide, but a wicked deflection took the ball in the totally opposite direction leaving the keeper wrong-footed as it creeped into the bottom corner. Maskell claimed the goal, but the league video panel will make a final decision later this month as to whether it was an own goal or not.

A small slip in the Racing performance followed.  A long clearance was misjudged by Tilbury, and the Ladzio forward got in behind the back four to finish well for a consolation goal.

There was time for James Spicer to pick up his 4th of the game.  A nice interchange found Leiter, and his reverse ball was tucked away by in cool fashion.

Ladzio had one last chance with seconds remaining. Another long ball broke kindly for their no.9, and he drilled in a strong shot. But Dawes' quick reactions got him down quickly and he made a good save to keep the score at 7-1.

This was a strong performance from Racing, without the Prati's, the Micallefs, Day and Pedonomou, and Bradley Micallef will be pleased with the start his team have made to the season.  It seems that Racing have sent out a clear message to the rest of the league.  They are in it, to win it.....

Report By Oliver Codpiece