Local Football:

Romanos 3 v Thilina 2:

Romanos' first league game of the season ended in an exciting match with Romanos winning 3 – 2. It was end to end play at the start but with no real shots on target for either team. The first dangerous attack came from Thilina but a great challenge by Romanos player, Yiorgos Protoyerakis, denied a possible goal. A brave save from Thilina’s goalkeeper, Polyhronakis, at the feet of Dimitrios Yeorgalis was followed by a shot by Thilina which scraped the cross bar and then straight to the other end where Yeorgalis hit the post. Protoyerakis made a great run and passed to Athanasios Markou who got his name on the score card with a wonderful strike making it 1-0.

A free kick to Thilina, taken by Maris, brought a good save from Nikolaos Bourdamis. Thilina, playing some nice football, attacked again and Yiakoumakis scored to make it 1-1.

At the start of the second half a mix up in the Romanos defense let in Maris but his shot went over the bar. There was good connecting again between Protoyerakis and Markou, but Markou was just off side. Thilina were now playing the dangerous off side trap and finally Markou caught them out and scored to make it 2-1. Thilina had a free kick which was taken by Yiakoumakis who hit the cross bar. Romanos then scored a wonderful goal again from the good play by  Protoyerakis who unselfishly passed  to Markou who scored to get his hat trick and make the score 3-1. Thlina then pulled a controversial goal back with Kokkinakis off side but the linesman kept his flag down and the score was now 3-2.

The Khronicles "Man of the Match" goes to Athanasios Markou for his speed, skill and his hat trick but special mention should go to Yiorgos Protoyerakis for his great game, excellent passing skills and good connections with Markou.

Gouves 1 v Ag. Varvara 2:

A corner in the first minute to Ag. Varvara had the Gouves defence tested but they managed to clear the ball. Gouves had their own chance from a corner but wasted it. Another corner to Ag. Varvara fell to Emil Kospodinof who, with a free header, should have hit the target, but shot wide. A good move by Gouves ended with a great save from Stelios Garifalakis from a shot by Mihalis Toufexis. Later a plea for a penalty from Gouves was denied and Kanai was booked for diving. Gouves were now having a good spell with shots from Kanai, Toufexis and Strintzis who seemed to be pushed in the penalty area but the referee waved play on. A mistake by Hazfatoux led to a corner to Ag. Varvara but Kospodinof headed straight to the goalkeeper. At the start of the second half a dangerous cross from Gouves had Garifalakis punching the ball out for a corner resulting in Toufexis bringing another great save from the keeper. Gouves now started making unnecessary fouls around the penalty area and then, against the run of play, a break from Gouves ended with a goal from Toufexis to make it 1-0. Now it's Gouves' turn to dominate the game with Ag. Varvara defending well. In the dying minutes of the game Ag. Varvara was awarded a penalty which was taken and scored by Mihalis Skinarakis, then in the final seconds a foul by Hazfatoux led to him being given a red card and from the resulting free kick on the edge of the penalty area, Skinarakis scored to make the final score 1-2.

The Khronicles "Man of the Match" was Steryios Mahairas, the Gouves goal keeper, who stood no chance with either of the goals but pulled off some great saves to keep Gouves in the game until the final minute.

 World Cup Football:

Greece's World Cup hopes were severely damaged when they played Moldavia and ended with a draw. Switzerland is favourite in this group to take the automatic qualification spot with two remaining games to play against Luxembourg and Israel. Greece is three points adrift and level with Latvia who they face on October 10 in Athens.

Racial Tension:

There was nothing "friendly" about the friendly game between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos Volou, when Djibril Cisse received racial abuse, including monkey chants, from the Olympiakos fans. Cisse alerted the referee regarding the situation but no action was taken and when Panathinaikos scored a second half goal Cisse turned to the fans that had abused him and raised his fist. The fans responded with more abuse and started to throw objects at him, and Cisse picked up a plastic bottle and threw it into the crowd. Now the Frenchman is considering referring the incident to UEFA.

Football Violence:

Two players of Thessaloniki soccer team Iraklis sustained minor injuries after an unidentified assailant hurled stones at the windshield of the team’s bus after its match against Larissa, which Iraklis won 2-0.

Rowing:

Greek rowers won a total of three medals in the World Championships held in Poland thus confirming Greece's growing force in this sport. Alexandra Tsiavou and Christina Giazitzidou won gold in the Women's Lightweight Double Sculls competition. Vassilis Polymeros won silver in the Men's Lightweight Single Sculls and twin brothers Nikos and Apostolis Goudoulas collected bronze in the Coxless Pairs.

Cricket:

The Greek team has won the European Division 5 championship in Corfu winning all five of their games against Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Sweden, Estonia and Turkey. Greece is back on track and is now capable of moving on to the higher European competitions.

Sport to watch:

Formula One:

October 2 to 4: Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka;
October 16 to 18: Brazilian Grand Prix, Sao Paulo;
October 30 to November 1: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit.

Football:

World Cup European Qualifying Matches:

October 10: Greece v Latvia;
October 14: Greece v Luxembourg.

 YOUNG ALEXANDROS WINS AGAIN

By Ron Jefferies

Once again, Alexandros Nakos, just 13 years-old, has led the rest of his golf club members to win first place in a major tournament played at the Crete Golf Club in Hersonissos.

Alex was among 28 golfers from the Golf Club of Crete, and their twinned club, Denbigh Golf Club of Wales, to take part in the annual Mike Conway Memorial Trophy.

Alexandros is undoubtedly the best young golfer in Crete, and if he continues to make the progress he has shown in the past two years, should be a fine golfer for Greece in the future.

Other winners were: Wesley Gorman, 2^nd place; Club Captain Nikos Halabalakis, 3^rd place; Leon Kakakis, longest drive, and Lora Zarifi, nearest to the pin.

The trophies were presented during the gala dinner following the event, by Mrs. Barbara Conway.

In his address, club president Manolis Markantonakis welcomed the visitors from Wales, thanked all who took part, and congratulated the winners on their efforts.

He also presented an inscribed plaque to the Denbigh Club members to commemorate their visit.