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SAARINEN SIGNS NEW DEAL!!

The Club have received a massive boost in the close season already.

Highly rated midfielder Jyrki Saarinen has today signed a new three year deal with club that will keep him at Tammeln until the end of 2024 season.

It's a massive coup for the team that the Vantaa born 19 year old has committed his near future with us, and is sure to please fans that we have retained the Finland Under-21 internationalist.

However, the Club have yet to agree terms with Head Coach Mark Duell whose current deal ends in just eight days time, amidst international interest elsewhere beckoning.

Two more qualifiers in Group 9 of the UEFA Under 21 Championships, home ties against Denmark and Bosnia.


Our fifth qualifying game was the first of back to back home games, the first against the Danish youngsters. Unfortunately we failed to perform and slipped to our first defeat in the qualifiers. The Danes took the lead in the 20th minute when Andreas Christensen's shot rebounded into the path of left winger Michael Mogensen and he rifled an unstoppable shot past Scott Reed. They doubled their advantage eight minutes later, right wing-back Fredrik Nᴓrrestrand with the cross and Mads Skibsted headed in from around six yards out.

We pulled a goal back in the opening minute of the second half, Man of the Match Joe Adams picking up a Rabbi Matondo pass before unleashing an effort that Andreas Sᴓndergaard stood no chance of saving. Could we get an equaliser for a share of the spoils? Alas, the away win was secured in stoppage time when Henrik Henriksen made some space for himself before angling a shot into the far corner. They had certainly taken their bacon home with them.


We needed a response four days later against Bosnia, whilst the Danes were up against their Nordic neighbours Norway. A terrific start happened with two goals in the first nine minutes. In the third minute, Ian Harrington latched onto a loose ball to sweetly strike a half volley into the net. The midfielder created the second six minutes later, a superbly weighted 35 yard pass into Matty Argent-Barnes who strode on before sliding the ball under the advancing keeper. The early drama wasn't finish there, Mehmed Ivanovic pulling one back for Bosnia with just 12 minutes on the game clock.

We restored our two goal lead after 23 minutes. Harrington was again the architect, this time with a corner, left-back Sam Edwards heading it home. No further goals followed in the game until second half added on time, Sead Hodzic scoring but it was too late for them to gain a point but three welcomed points for us.

So after six qualifying games, this is the table:


Joint top and only behind on goal difference. Still a chance to win the group and be able to automatically qualify for Israel 2023.
Next qualifying games in September 2022.

Wales Under-21 manager Mark Duell has named his squad for their back to back home UEFA Under-21 qualifiers against Denmark and Bosnia and Herzegovina respectively. The squad is unchanged bar Cardiff City striker Ian Branch is called up to replace Swansea's Luke James who is ruled out with a twisted ankle.


Both games will be hosted at the Cardiff City Stadium. The Denmark encounter will be played on 11 November 2021, with the one against Bosnia and Herzegovina four days later.

Goal of the Season:

Most Assists in a Season:

Most Man of the Match Awards in a Season:

Rookie of the Year:

Top Scorer:

Player of the Year:

Team of the Season:

Goalkeeper of the Year:

Defender of the Year:

Midfielder of the Year:

Attacker of the Year:

Manager of the Year:

Just a single monthly award:

Team of the Month:


Congratulations to Tuomas in getting this reward.

The final couple of games of the season.


Our penultimate game of the season was a trip to the capital to face the underachieving HJK. They took the lead midway through the first half when their top scorer Eetu Vertainen beat Daniel Kollar, who I decided to give the last couple of league games to and rest Johannes Luukkanen in the process, with a confident finish. We did go into the half time interval on level terms though, Jyrki Saarinen getting his head to a well flighted Jack White free-kick and beat Allan Roden in the home goal. From being the hero in the 39th minute with that equaliser, Saarinen turned villain when he was red carded in the 49th for two yellow cards. Could we hold on for a point with ten men? Alas the closing stages saw the home side take the points with two late goals four minutes apart. In the 79th minute Marcio's free-kick was headed in by Vertainen for 2-1 and then in the 83rd Matias Ojala clattered the striker for a definite penalty which Moshtagh Yaghoubi sent Kollar the wrong way with.

Only our third league defeat of the season but a game that we failed to really show up for.


After the loss at HJK, we faced TPS who were fighting for their Veikkausliiga lives. We dominated it for the majority but had wait until the 58th minute when skipper Ojala smashed one in off the bar, leaving the TPS keeper with no chance whatsoever. The game was put beyond any doubt in the 79th minute, substitute Saku Nygård with a delightful cross and Tuomas Rannakari powerfully headed in at the near post. Another unstoppable team goal. The game also saw me give debuts to two our promising talents, attacking midfielders Aleksi Strandvall and striker Lorenzo Pirreca; the latter whom I had brought to the club in pre-season on a freebie. Both players acquitted themselves well indeed.

The final league standings were as follows:


So we won the league by 11 points in the end but with a new club record points total. TPS suffered relegation in the play-off against city rivals FC Inter; FC Inter won the first leg 5-0 which made it really hard for TPS to come back from that. TPS won leg two 3-1 but FC Inter are now back in Veikkausliiga after a season in the Ykkönen.

It was the end of season celebrations at Tammeln last night after the final game of the season against TPS.

There were many awards on offer such as Fans Player of the Season, Goal of the Season, Signing of the Season, Young Player of the Season and Supporters Team of the Season. The fans also named their overall best XI which players no longer at the Club would be eligible.

Main Awards:


Ilves Best XI:

Could there be a big surprise looming at Ilves?

The surprise double winning team might be looking at finding a new Head Coach next season if rumours from Finland are to be confirmed true. Englishman Mark Duell, who joined the team in October 2020, has yet to agree terms on a new contract with his current deal expiring at the end of November.

Ilves owner Tomi Erola (pictured above) has admitted that the rumours have some credence:


Do you think he will stay at Ilves? Take part in our exclusive poll right HERE! Poll ends at midnight on 20 October.

Thanks dude, incredible achievement so it is. To be honest, rejecting SJK was an easy decision to make. What to do next?


Cheers for the kind words man.
That's four trophies in the career now. Still undecided about my next move until the league season is finished. Might move elsewhere, nothing else left in Finland to achieve really.

Two more qualifiers in Group 9 of the UEFA Under 21 Championships, away to Macedonia and at home to Norway.


A potential away banana skin which could end our 100 per cent record if we were too complacent. However, it proved to anything but a banana skin to be honest as we dominated our hosts in Skopje. The surprising fact was that it took us 25 minutes to break the deadlock, but it was done with panache. A first time cross by Jonathan Letheren of Swansea City, and Rangers' Rabbi Matondo headed home unmarked from close range. We doubled the lead four minutes later, Letheren again with the perfect cross and this time it was Bolton's Matty Argent-Barnes who powerfully headed the ball into the net. Five minutes after we made it 2-0, we made it 3-0. Barnsley's Joe Adams with a weighted low cross into the path of Argent-Barnes who scored his fifth U21 goal in just six appearances. They pulled one back four minutes from half time however, Zoran Jakimovski scorching one past Scott Reed from distance.

However, in first half added-on tome, we restored the three goal lead. Sam Edwards sliding the ball into the path of Matondo and the winger beat the keeper at his near post with an effort that went in off the post. A scruffy goal but nobody's complaining here. The nap hand was sealed five minutes from time, Ian Harrington shrugging off a home challenge before striding forward and placing a shot into the far corner. Job well done once again.


Norway arrived in a rainy Cardiff on the back of hammering Malta 9-1 whilst we were winning convincingly in Macedonia. A tough test awaited us and so it proved. I named the same side that started in Skopje; but with one change and enforced at that. Argent-Barnes was booked four minutes from time in Macedonia, his second booking of the tournament, and as a result he was automatically suspended for the Norway encounter. One goal was all that was needed to separate the sides, and it came after 23 minutes. Matondo with the cross and Andrew Berry, deputising for the suspended Argent-Barnes, couldn't miss from three yards out. A tap in.

We could have had more if our shooting boots were on, Berry missing a number of chances on his own. At the other end, Brandon Cooper was imperious in central defence - repelling everything Norway threw at us. A close run win but three points more in the bank.

So after four qualifying games, this is the table:


Four wins out of four, a one hundred per cent record. Second placed Denmark await next...

The final month of the season, no relegation play off for us this season. We wonder why...



Two final games and a chance to finish on 75 points. An away game at the underachieving HJK in the capital before finishing at home to TPS who might be involved in the promotion/relegation play off against the second placed side in the Ykkönen (second tier of Finnish football).

Another set of monthly awards:

Manager of the Month:

It's getting ridiculous this now, three in a row for me. Manager of the Year surely beckons right?

Player of the Month:

Second placed for Daniel in the Player of the Month awards, it's Chico time for the award winner though.

Goal of the Month:

Despite Jyrki scoring a screamer in Espoo against Honka, it didn't make the top three. Surely team goals count for this award?

Team of the Month:

Sandro gets a place in the Team of the Month. I'm surprised that we didn't get anyone else in though.

Wales Under-21 manager Mark Duell has named his squad for their next UEFA Under-21 qualifiers against FYR Macedonia and Norway respectively. This squad is as follows, and sees two changes from the previous squad as Liverpool's Neco Williams and Aston Villa's Lloyd Holden are both ruled out by injury.


The game against Denmark will be played 7 October 2021 at the Philip II Arena, the home of FK Rabotnicki Skopje, with the home game against Norway to be played four days later at the Cardiff City Stadium.

A four game span as the season draws to its conclusion. Was this the time we welcomed another piece of silverware to the Ilves trophy room?


Bottom of the table KPV provided some incredible resistance in a game we dominated. It took us until the 67th minute to open the scoring, young attacking midfielder Naatan Skyttä was involved in a terrific team move which saw Martti Haukioja cross for the highly rated talent to power home a header from point blank range. We made sure of the points in the closing stages to really break KPV's hearts. In the 88th minute, Skyttä turned provider this time to weight a pass right into the path of substitute Jack White who half volleyed the ball across the keeper and into the far corner. Then in time added on, another fantastic move saw White provide Skyttä with the chance to score his second and our third. He duly obliged with an angled finish into the opposite corner.

So just one win from glory! The only downside was that we lost Lauri Dalla Valle with a fractured lower arm which has required him to visit a specialist about, it has ended his season prematurely again. How unlucky is this guy?


Could we clinch the title in Espoo at the delightfully named FC Honka? Well we turned in a majestic away performance which could have been more embarrassing for the hosts. Like the KPV game the week before, the first half was goalless but it only took us four minutes after the restart to open the scoring. Haukioja with another well flighted free-kick and this time it was Mr Moaner (skipper Matias Ojala that is) who headed home unmarked at the far post. Ten minutes later it was 2-0, Sandro Garattoni with a deep cross, and this time it was Jusif Ali who provided the finish. The party really got into full swing in the 72nd minute when Jyrki Saarinen who thumped home an unstoppable effort from over 20 yards into the net, giving Warleson in the home goal no chance whatsoever. After that we saw the rest of the game out with ease and Ilves first Veikkausliiga title since 1983 was duly signed, sealed and very much delivered!

Oh and Haukioja had a 19th minute penalty saved, his first failure from the spot this season.


The Tammeln was in party mood when we welcomed SJK four days later. SJK had actually approached me a few days after sacking Jani Honkvaara last month but I turned them down without even going to an interview. It's not as if I was going to better myself in terms of winning things. Congolese striker Aristote Mboma was to have a big game as both sides treated us to an absolute classic, which was a terrific advert for Finnish football but not great for the manager's heart rate. Mboma put SJK into the lead after 14 minutes before Timo Furuholm, scorer of the late winner in Seinajoki last month, headed in Garattoni cross to level just after the half hour. The teams went into the break level at 1-1 but the real entertainment came in the second half.

Haukioja could have put us 2-1 ahead in the 58th minute from the spot, but he missed again with Öst this time denying the defender. We were awarded a second penalty in the 73th minute, and Haukioja subbed off, Garattoni slammed in the spot kick. With a minute to go we went 3-1 ahead, Ojala with the assist and Daniel Garcia with a sublime finish. Game over, right? Wrong. Remember I said Mboma had a big game and he did in time added on, scoring twice, the second with virtually the last kick of the game. Our former striker Niklas Jokelainen sat on the bench all game, wonder if he's regretting the move now?


We finished September with another TV game, could we make it three wins out of three on national TV? Two early goals decided it and ensured another three points in the bank. After just two minutes, skipper Ojala blasted in an unstoppable effort which would had the TV cameras purring with delight. Two minutes later we added a second, Ali with the cross and Garcia with another high class finish. Robin Sid had a second half effort chalked for IFK but they scarcely troubled us and this incredible season just gets better and better.

The penultimate month of the season, this is how the table stands with everyone having just a couple of games left to play.


So we are an astonishing 14 points clear. Even better, we have accumulated more points than the winners of the last three titles, and that's some achievement isn't it? The Club are keen to tie me down with a new deal, but what else is there for me to achieve here? I've won everything domestically and know it's impossible for me to get the Champions League trophy.

Could be a case of moving on, eh? Watch this space.

The penultimate month of the season, could we be crowned as League Champions?






Looking at these games, each one of them is a winnable one. We only need to get to 65 points to send those champagne corks popping for a second time this season as our nearest challengers can only get to a maximum of 64.

The game against Mariehamn will be on live TV. Tickets for the crunch are on sale NOW! With your superb support, we can do this.

A new UEFA Under-21 campaign began and started with a testing away trip to Denmark before returning home to face some young Maltesers so to speak.


I was expecting this game to be tough, but in the end it proved to be a nice and fruitful to the country that brought us Carlsberg and speedway legends such as Hans Nielsen and Erik Gundersen to name just two. All the goals came in the second half, and ours came as a result of an inspired substitution. After 54 minutes I decided to replace Andrew Berry with Matty Argent-Barnes to try break the deadlock. Within six minutes, it had worked an absolute treat. Liverpool's Neco Williams provided the cross from the right wing, and Argent-Barnes got up between two Danish defenders to plant his header into the net.

Denmark levelled with 16 minutes left when Johnny Green, born in Denmark but with an British sounding surname, drilled home a low effort beyond Scott Reed. Yet we regained the lead with four minutes to go. Rangers Rabbi Matondo picked the ball up on the left, cut inside, and then curled his effort about the outstretched grasp of the home keeper. We sealed an impressive away win in added on time, substitute Lloyd Holden sped past the left back like he was not there and then centred for Argent-Barnes to steer home his second and our third from close range.


I rang a few changes for the visit of Malta. Derby's Ryan Ramasut made his Under-21 debut in goal whilst Argent-Barnes was rewarded for a Man of the Match performance in Aalborg with a start in Cardiff by replacing Berry, Holden also started in place of Joe Adams with Matondo moving to the left wing. We made an excellent start with two goals in the opening four minutes. In the third minute Ian Harrington's flighted free-kick was met by Ryan Astley in a crowded six yard box and he headed in. Almost immediately afterwards, we made it two: Harrington flicked on a Holden cross and Matondo headed in unmarked. It was a one sided contest throughout, and we added a third In the 22nd minute. Harrington produced a defence splitting pass for his third assist of the night and Argent-Barnes outstripped the visiting defence to finish confidently.

Our fourth arrived four minutes before half time. With the rain lashing down, Williams provided a deep cross to the far post and although Pellegrino in the Malta denied Matondo initially, he couldn't hold onto the ball and dropped it back to the Rangers wide man who tapped it into the empty net from an acute angle. Number five came nine minutes after the restart, Holden with a low shot that skidded off the wet turf and through the grasp of Pellegrino to complete the nap hand. Could we match the tally against the same opposition done by Bosnia and Herzegovina five days before? Yes we could. With eight minutes left on the clock substitute Berry dispossessed a Malta defender, skipped around him and then crossed for Matondo. Pellegrino denied the winger with a good save from a fierce effort but it landed at the feet of the afore mentioned Berry who made no mistake. Job complete.

So two wins out of two, the perfect start. No wonder national team boss Rob Page was purring with delight in the stands.

Another set of monthly awards:

Manager of the Month:

They say things sometimes come like waiting for buses. Second Manager of the Month gong in as many months for me. Could get Manager of the Year at this rate.

Player of the Month:

Second placed for Lauri in the Player of the Month awards, surprised that Martti didn't get a mention though.

Goal of the Month:

Don't know why we bother mentioning this award, we don't do long range worldies here at Ilves.

Team of the Month:

Just Jack gets a place in the Team of the Month. Again I'm surprised that Martti isn't included.

Five more important games as we continue our push for an unbelievable double.


A game that we could have lost easily against a team that always seems to do well when we play them. Young striker Jack White continued to lead the line for us after Jokelainen's departure to SJK, and it was he who gave us the lead after 18 minutes but it was all down Lauri Dalla Valle. A corner for the visitors was headed out to Lauri who took a touch then picked out the run of White who ran on before passing it into the corner. Delightful. However Lahti came roaring back, and went 2-1 ahead just after the hour thanks to a double from young Russian striker Alexey Yevdokimov (his second a penalty) and we were wobbling. I urged the team to push forward and we got an equaliser seven minutes from time to get a point. Santeri Hostikka pushed Sandro Garattoni in the area, and up stepped Martti Haukioja;now our new designated spot kick taker; to find the bottom left hand corner despite the keeper almost getting to it.


Four days later we faced VPS in our second home successive home game, and we made hard work of them to record another three points. We took the lead after 31 minutes when Dalla Valle headed home at the far post from a Garattoni cross right on his head. The game was clinched eight minutes from time, and it was another strike for Haukioja. Aubrey David was adjudged to have fouled Daniel Garcia just inside the area, and Haukioja made it two penalties in succession with another confident finish into the same bottom left hand corner.


Another stuttering performance came at mid-table KuPS as maybe nerves were starting to kick in. The home side took the lead in the fourth minute when Rasmus Karjalainen found the back of our net. We got a point, which was merited in the end, with an equaliser just after the hour. Ivan Belikov angled a ball into Dalla Valle who hit an unstoppable effort from just inside the area which the keeper had no chance whatsoever with. The game also saw Tuure Siira and Matias Ojala pick up bookings which would keep him out of the following week's crunch game against second placed RoPS at Tammelin.


We were treated to an absolute classic in the game against RoPS, who could only name five substitutes for this crunch game. It was the typical game of two halves with us dominating the first, RoPS dominating the second. We made a blistering start with two goals in the first three minutes which absolutely delighted me and the home support. White opened the scoring when he took on a pass from Belikov to beat Walter Viitala, a keeper I had considered signing once, at the keeper's near post. It got even better with our next chance, Haukioja with the corner and Issa Thiaw nodded it into the path of Dalla Valle who volleyed it first time into the roof of the net. Ten minutes from half time, we scored a third. Another corner, taken this time by White, was headed in by Naatan Skyttä. It was 4-0 at half time, Jyrki Saarinen was impeded by Sylvain Deslandes and it was the same result from Haukioja: bottom left corner and goal. What a way to celebrate the new contract signed the week before.

If we had the best of the opening 45, Henke's side had the best of the second 45. Simo Rolha, another player I tried to sign, pulled one back after 49 minutes but surely no need to panic from that right? Well when Ibrahim Olowabi scored his first ever RoPS goal just before the hour, my heart skipped a beat. Imagine how the home spectators were feeling? There was still 26 minutes left to play when Rolha scored his second of the game to reduce the arrears further to 4-3 and start a fair bit of squeaky bum time on the bench and in the home support. Thankfully for us, we got our heads back on the game and resisted them further. Close for comfort? Yes. However, a massive win against a title rival.


Another massive game followed a week later to finish off the month. SJK have won the last two league titles, and despite some inconsistent results, they were still harbouring dreams of a threepeat by time we rolled into Seinajoki. After a goalless first half, we were ahead five minutes into the second half when White's header was parried by Jesse Öst in the home goal straight back to the young striker who fired it across the keeper and into the far corner. Former striker Niklas Jokelainen started on the bench for SJK, which surprised me, but I just knew he would have some kind of say in this game. So it proved when he equalised for SJK with 14 minutes to go, a classic case of the old boy coming back to haunt his previous club. Still there was time for yet drama after that.

With four minutes to go SJK midfielder Matti Klinga was shown a straight red for kicking out at our substitute Timo Furuholm. Could we take advantage? Well I said there was more drama to come, and it came as we entered time added on. Siira's effort was parried by Öst onto the post, and Furuholm marked his debut with a dramatic winning goal. Cue mass celebrations from us all of the away persuasion. Another absolutely massive three points, and enough for SJK to sack manager Jani Honkvaara 24 hours later.

So this is how August ended, six games to go. Can we hold on?

Definitely all in our hands, I believe two wins from our last six games will clinch it. That said, all isn't rosy as skipper Matias Ojala is moaning again. The skipper was upset when we reluctantly sold Jokelainen and I promised him that I would bring in reinforcements. On deadline day, I brought in two strikers and a winger. Ojala still isn't happy though. What does he want, jam on it?

Contract renewal for myself discussions are on hold at the moment. I really don't know if to renew or move on.

Wales Under-21 manager Mark Duell has named his squad for the upcoming UEFA Under-21 qualifiers against Denmark and Malta respectively. This squad is as follows, and sees the return of a few familiar faces who missed the games England and Greece in the summer.


The game against Denmark will be played 1 September 2021 at Portland Park, Aalborg, with the home game against Malta to be played five days later at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Haukioja signs new deal



The club are pleased today to confirm that attacking left-back Martti Haukioja has signed a new three year contract with the Tupsukorvat.

The 21 year old came through the Ilves academy and has now made 128 appearances for the senior team, scoring 5 times and those goals have all come this season. Tupsukorvat Head Coach Mark Duell is very happy to have such an important player pledging his future to the club:


The defender is also happy with his new deal.


The full terms of Haukioja's new deal have not been publicly disclosed.

A five game month which will leave us with just six to play in the final couple of months.







This is going to be a huge month for us and it starts with a real banana skin game against a team that we've only beaten once under Mark's tutelage. Whilst the games against VPS and KuPS are winnable ones, there are two massive games to end August. If we can avoid defeat in both of those games then maybe that title dream is not a dream after all. Keeping them both at bay is what we have to do.

How many points would you be happy with us taking next month?

Thanks mate, we're going into August and I feel we can push for the "double" now. It's been an amazing first full season so far, but how far can I take this lesser known light of Finnish football? That's the ultimate question.


Yeah 4 wins on the spin has really helped us with RoPS dropping points. The big worry is of course the defending champions who are in 3rd at the moment, but if we can have a good August then we might stand a very good chance of doing the unthinkable. Keep tuning in buddy.

Another set of monthly awards:

Manager of the Month:

They say if you don't succeed, try try again. At the fourth time of asking this season I'm the Veikkausliiga Manager of the Month.

Player of the Month:

A double celebration for the team as Tuure takes the Player of the Month award. He's been brilliant in midfield for us, doing everything from being a ball winner in the centre of the park to chipping in with vital goals.

Goal of the Month:

None of our guys got a mention here, perhaps I should tell them to shoot from long range more often now?

Team of the Month:

Places for keeper Johannes Lukknanen and midfielder Siira in the team of the month. Considering we finished the month with four straight wins, I'm surprised that nobody else got included.

The 21 year old, who has banged in 18 goals in 27 games for rivals Ilves this season, has joined us on a three year deal. We were able to sign him after activating the minimum release clause on his Ilves contract. That fee was £325,000 (€364,176).

Jokelainen will wear the number 14 jersey and is line to make his Kerho debut on 1 August when we travel to TPS.

The second batch of four results in July, how would these fare us?


With ten minutes to go in this game, we were looking to see league defeat number 3 on the records but that changed dramatically. We had taken a lead in the 25th minutes when star striker Niklas Jokelainen poached another this season but two goals in seven minutes after the restart put the hosts in command. But we bucked our ideas up and Mariehamn collapsed like a deck of playing cards. In the 80th minute, some accurate passing saw central midfielder Tuure Siira slam home the leveller from just inside the box with a little assistance from the crossbar. After 83 minutes, left-back Martti Haukioja was upended in the area and Jokelainen made no mistake from twelve yards. Two more goals in the 86th and 89th minutes sealed the deal as they say, and both came from substitute Tuomas Rannakari who again excelled in a central midfield role. A massive win for us, on what could have been a banana skin.


Two late late goals secured us another three points against a HJK side who had sacked former Liverpool and Finnish internationalist Sami Hyypiä just a week before. The opening goal of a chance-fest; 36 totalling between the sides so no short on entertainment, came with 11 minutes to go. Young striker Jack White, Finnish born despite the name, teed up Lauri Dalla Valle and he placed his shot into the far corner past Allan Roden. Then with HJK pushing for an equaliser, Dalla Valle turned provider and Jusif Ali provided the finish. Two wins on the spin and this time against a potential title challenger.


A tough game in Turku followed as we visited struggling TPS. Although we had the majority of the chances, only one goal decided it. That goal came as early as the 15th minute when Siira played in Daniel Garcia and with the help of a slight deflection and the woodwork; found the net. It proved decisive to make it three wins in three but came at a cost when Ali and Garcia both picked up yellow cards which would keep them out of the trip to Oulu four days later.


A potential banana skin as we travelled to Oulu and play the hosts with a much changed side. We were missing star striker Niklas Jokelainen (more on later) and the suspended Ali and Garcia but we made the perfect start after just five minutes play when Dalla Valle headed in perfectly from skipper Matias Ojala's right wing cross. The lead was doubled in the 40th minute, a White corner was headed back into the path Siira by Ivan Belikov. The midfielder struck the post with his initial effort but blasted the rebound home before Oulu could deny him. White got the scoresheet in the 48th minute when he was in the right place at the right time to tuck the ball away after Dalla Valle had nodded Belikov's cross to the far post back to the youngster. Oulu grabbed one back in the 65th minute but with six minutes to go White was tripped through on goal by Borodin (should have been a red I tell you) we secured the win with a perfect penalty from Haukioja. Four wins on the spin, is something special brewing?

The table at the end of July is as follows. Not too bad, eh?

RoPS and back-to-back champions SJK are going to be our major threats I'm convinced. HJK are too inconsistent to challenge I feel but they have just replaced Sami with former Belgian international Jan Ceulemans as their new manager. Could be interesting.