Paul Cartmell Memorial Trophy First Round Results

The holders are through thanks to Romelu Lukaku.

FCK2 1 v 1 Claymore Athletic FC

Mega Buck Bandits 4 v 6 Athletico Phoenix

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 0 v 0 The Cow-Faced Juniors

Real Muppets 3 v 4 The Fabulous Artisans

The Wateringhole Society 0 v 2 Fred West Landscape Gardening XI

Trusted By Millions 0 v 1 Cheese Makers

Wheel Madrid 3 v 6 San Dimas High School

YTFIB 2 v 4 Aardvark Abacus

Replays

Claymore Athletic FC 3 v 2 FCK2
The Cow-Faced Juniors 4 v 2 Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

Match of the week

Our match of the week is decided in advance and is based on league positions - not on any action that may have taken place during the Fantasy 90 minutes. Which is why Trusted v  Cheese Makers gets top slot this week despite being a bit on the quiet side.

The only real action of the first half came in stoppage time. The Trusted defence got in a bit of a pickle and the ball broke to Troy Deeney wide on the left-side of the area. The striker had plenty to do but did it. An exquisite lob evaded the Trusted rearguard and Matthew’s team were ahead. And they stayed ahead as nothing much happened in the second half either. It was only one goal but a very significant goal. This is the first PCMT tie that Matthew has won. At the seventh attempt.

Rest of the games

The holders were the first visitors to Wheel Madrid’s new stadium ‘Stratton Park’ and gave their travelling fans and the neutrals a treat. Jamie Vardy put my team ahead before the break but a cracking strike from Adam Lallana levelled for Wheels 11 minutes into the second half. It was an 11-minute Romelu Lukaku hat-trick that put me out of sight and into the quarters. Last year’s beaten finalists, Athletico, also hit six in victory. That was against Mega Bucks who had led 4-1 with two great headers from Michail Antonio with half an hour to go. Diego Costa and Santi Cazorla both scored for Brian late on but he also had three cleans to put him out of sight.

The Muppets and the Artisans shared a six-goal first-half in their game with Kevin de Bruyne running the show for Ryan. Ben will be delighted that Christian Benteke is back on the scoresheet but is surely more delighted that Roberto Firmino is finding his feet and the Brazilian got the winner late in the second half. Ask Ryan to tell you the dodge story that cost him a draw one day. The Aardvarks have been beaten in four PCMT finals since they last won in 2005/6 and after a fright at YTFIB are through to the quarters. Petr Cech’s own goal got Julian on the way but it was 2-2 at the break. Ady ran away in the second half with a very tidy finish from Son (his second) and a clean from Jagielka decided it in Ady’s favour.

Kiran’s still looking for a first win this season after defeat to Fred. The Wateringholers held out until the hour mark when Dele Alli broke the deadlock and new signing Steven Defour scored an excellent solo goal to double the lead and take Fred through. For all Clive’s trophies he’s only claimed the PCMT once and that was in 1997/98. If he’s to take it this year he’ll need to get past FCK2 in a replay. Kevin was ahead through Harry Kane’s first of the season but Adam Smith scored an equalising clean. The other replay will be between the CFJs and the new-look NSNO who laboured to a goalless draw.

Replays

Claymore had trailed 2-0 late on but came through with three clean sheets. The CFJs always had the edge on Nil Satis thanks to two goals apiece from Nacer Chadli and Alexis Sanchez.