Jesus Saves Racing Team - On The Up

Jesus Saves Racing team have made a welcome return to world of motorsport after 33 years away.

In 2013 the team, which was first formed in 1967, are back on the grid in the Classic Formula Ford 1600 Championship with new Brazilian driver Adriano Medeiros at the wheel.

With two races remaining in the Championship, their first season back has been a huge success. Medeiros currently sits second in the Championship and still has a chance of clinching the title after an impressive drive at Croft circuit on Saturday afternoon.

New Driver New Era For Jesus Save Racing Team 

Medeiros made the perfect start to the day by qualifying on pole position, an impressive achievement considering the Brazilian hadn’t driven at the circuit since 2008.

In a close fought race lasting 20 minutes, Medeiros eventually finished 2^nd to Callum Grant but remained a contender for the title after Championship leader Mike Gardner failed to finish.

Medeiros said after the race “I enjoyed the race Callum (Grant) is a good driver to race who I am very respectful of.”

It’s a result that moves Medeiros on to 71 points after picking up 12 out of a possible 13 on the day due to his pole position and fastest lap, leaving him just 7 point behind Gardner.

 The team only made the decision to race in January, after not competing since the late 1970’s when Alex Ribeiro, a man who current driver Medeiros takes huge inspiration from, first displayed the Jesus Saves logo while driving for Hesketh, March and Fittipaldi in Formula 1.

Team manager Alvin Davis said he is happy that “the team have been so competitive in their first year revival” and hopes that they can do it all again next year.

After leaving Brazil in 2002 when he was 29 years old Medeiros admits it’s wasn’t easy, as he had to learn a new language and start off as a McDonald’s worker to earn a living.

However the Brazilian followed his dream to one day become a racing driver like other idols Emerson Fittipaldi and Ayrton Senna who Medeiros described as the “greatest driver of all time”

With just one month left until he had to return to Brazil, Medeiros got his lucky break attaining a job as a driving instructor at Palmersport, where he had the opportunity to improve his racing pedigree. 

That was when things started to fall into place for Medeiros, a talented driver who just lacked the funding to compete.

After securing sponsors with two Brazilian companies who had English connections in 2006, Medeiros took his opportunity to race in the RSCC Club Formula Ford Midland South Championship finishing 2^nd.

In 2007 Medeiros switched his attentions to the Britcar UK Championship before successful spells in the Porsche 996 GT Trophy and European Nascar.

Medeiros puts all his success down to God and says his main goal is to spread the word of Jesus through his racing career.  

Medeiros believes that “God made a lot of changes in my life, the best decision I made was to accept Jesus as my saviour.”

The Brazilian hopes to race a further season in the Classic Formula Ford Championship, but admits he would like to return to racing two seater cars at a national level, while still driving with the Jesus Saves logo to promote his faith.

England's Fate Remains In Their Own Hands

England   0     Ukraine   0

England fans can relax again for another month at least. Their fate and fortunes to qualify for the 2014 world cup in Brazil remain in their own hands and we can almost let out a sigh of relief for another year.

 

To those who watched Tuesday's goalless and at times fragmented draw in Ukraine the result and performance may perhaps seem a little disappointing for one of the biggest football nation of the planet. 

Job well done for England as they remain top of group H

Nevertheless in a game which could have easily flipped the group out of England’s control, Roy Hodgson and his team left the Ukraine with a valuable point without hindering their path to Rio a year from now.

Against their biggest rivals in group H England’s priority was merely to avoid defeat and hold their position as group leaders, in that respect last night’s performance was a job well done even without the likes of Wayne Rooney or the in-form Daniel Sturridge.

It wasn’t the prettiest or most exciting game of football ever recorded but it’s a result that doesn’t leave England’s destiny to chance, with their two final games both at home to Montenegro and Poland. Win them both and England can plan for Brazil.

 “On reflection I thought it was a fair result” said Hodgson after the game “playing in front of 70,000 people was a different test to Moldova, defensively we were very good we weren’t that adventurous but it was their job to be adventurous”

Captain Steven Gerrard admitted “It wasn’t a top class performance, but we have come and done the job and the group’s still in our hands”

 In many ways the pressure was on Ukraine they were the home side, they trailed England in the group and as Hodgson said “it was their job to be adventurous.”   

England made only one change from the side which netted four goals against Moldova on Friday night, James Milner replaced the suspended Danny Welbeck, while Frank Lampard earned his 100^th cap for his country.

In a game with few opportunities in front of goal the opening minutes provided a cluster of chances. With just over 40 seconds on the clock the hosts launched an early attack down the left.

 Yevhan Konoplyanka, who was Ukraine’s biggest threat all night, curled a low cross into the heart of the England penalty area towards teammate Roman Zozulya, while lunging for the ball the Ukrainian forward collided with the England keeper Joe Hart sparking a roar of penalty appeals from the 70,000 Ukraine fans only for the referee to award a corner instead.

Minutes later England had a chance of their own when Theo Walcott scampered away from the opposition defence before his darting run into the Ukraine box was halted by the bravery of keeper   Andriy Pyatov and his backtracking defenders.

England began to increase the pressure through a number of corners but Hodgson’s side were nearly undone by a drifting pass towards goal which was hooked into the penalty area by Artem Fedetskiy forcing Gary Cahill to intervene.

Chances became a rarity as the half went on, England were happy to concede possession while carrying a threat on the counter as Ukraine struggled to break them down.

It took until ten minutes after half time for Ukraine to stamp some authority on the game. Konoplyanka was again the thorn in England’s side as another menacing cross caused chaos in the visitor’s box before Gerrard eventually cleared the danger.

The final half an hour turned into a game of poker with neither side prepared to chance their hand. England seemed the happier with a point but were made to sweat when Kyle Walker stumbled into the back of Zozulya on the edge of England’s penalty area giving Konoplyanka a shooting opportunity from 20 yards, however his free kick deflected wide off Phil Jagielka.

Hodgson had watched his side struggle to get to grips with the second half in particular, but it was England who could have stole the points deep into injury time. On his 100^th cap Lampard had the chance to make a dream out of an average display, but he could only glance his header wide of the far post.

England will take more satisfaction from the point, which leaves them top of the group with two matches to go. Their next game against Montenegro takes place on October the 11th at Wembley Stadium before they face Poland four days later to conclude the campaign.

   

England Take One Step Closer To Brazil

England   4     Moldova   0   

                                          Gerrard  12

                                          Lambert  26

                                         Welbeck  45  50

After the comments made by new FA chairman Greg Dyke this week that England are unlikely to win the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Roy Hodgson was the man left to pick up the pieces refilling the nation with some slender hope, for the meantime at least.

However in what are a vital couple of months for the England manager, Hodgson stressed the point that England must first get to the World Cup next year before they set about trying to winning it.

Rickie Lambert celebrates his second Engand goal in as many games 

Friday's 4-0 victory over Moldova at Wembley may not have persuaded the country that England can triumph in Brazil; instead the game allowed Hodgson the chance to introduce some new faces to the England scene and as the saying goes you can only beat what’s in front of you.

It was no surprise that England ran out worthy winners against a side ranked 123^rd in Fifa’s world ranking, as goals from captain Steven Gerrard, Rickie Lambert and a double from Danny Welbeck prevented any embarrassing blushes at full time. 

The result set the stage for Tuesday’s crucial qualifier with Ukraine in Kiev while it also moves England top of group H following Montenegro’s 1-1 draw with Poland.

The only negative from a good night’s work was the controversial yellow card brandished to Welbeck meaning the striker is now suspended for the trip to Ukraine who lie a point behind England in the group with three matches still to play.

England went into the match, which on paper was the easiest of their four remaining qualifiers, without the injured strikers Wayne Rooney or Daniel Sturridge.

Nevertheless it didn’t take long for England take command, only twelve minutes had gone when a move down the left found Frank Lampard on the edge of the Moldova penalty area, unselfishly the Chelsea man laid the ball off to his midfield  partner Gerrard who fired England ahead, striking a low shot beyond the reach of Moldovan keeper Stanislav Namisco.

The hosts bided their time and it wasn’t long before they doubled their advantage. Namisco was one of the main culprits as the visitors failed to clear the danger on numerous occasions and the Moldovan keeper’s unconvincing start was finally punished when he turned Theo Walcott’s shot into the path of Lambert, whose header marked his second international goal in as many games.

An upbeat mood was somewhat dampened by the booking for Welbeck, as the striker paid the price for taking a shot after the whistle had gone. On reflection the decision looked very harsh but won’t stop him missing Tuesday’s important match.

Welbeck then showed why he would be such a big loss when he latched on to Lambert’s pass before advancing beyond the keeper,  adding England’s third on the stroke of half time.

After the break it was the Manchester United forward who again got the ball rolling. Lambert was again the provider as he continued a fine performance when he slipped the ball through to Welbeck who this time finished the move with a delicate chip over Namisco for England’s fourth.

Jack Wilshere was withdrawn and replaced by nineteen year old Ross Barkley, who looked lively after coming on. With fifteen minutes to go he came close after receiving a pass from Gerrard but dragged his effort past the far post.

James Milner was also introduced and was handed a golden chance to extend the lead, but failed to make sufficient contact with the ball sending his shot over the bar.

4-0 it stayed as Hodgson and England now turn their attention to what could be a make or break game as far as qualification is concerned. A win in Kiev and Brazil would begin to appear on England’s radar.     

 

  

  

  

The End Of A Fed-Era ?

It’s a well known fact that even the greatest champion can’t last forever, whoever you are, whatever you have achieved, a reign must always end even if your name is Roger Federer.

To his many fans who watched their idol lift 17 Grand Slam title’s the man who stepped on to court against Tommy Robredo at the US Open on Monday night will have seemed like bewildered imposter who robbed them of the real Federer for the second Slam running.

Federer's career left in doubt after forth round defeat

But it was the manor of his defeat that was so disheartening, as the man who has claimed five US Open title’s over the years made a premature fourth round exit in straight sets 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 6-4 to Robredo a man he had never lost to in the past and had beaten on ten previous occasions.

The worrying thing for Federer fans is that the result was no fluke, just like his astonishing defeat to world number 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky at Wimbledon this year Federer was outplayed and performed by a lower ranked opponent.  

But as well as Robredo played, it couldn’t be avoided that this wasn’t the Federer we have all watched and admired over the past ten years.

It was painful to watch as the Swiss continuously fired his usually imposing forehand long, wide or in the bottom of the net. His whole game leaked errors, 43 in total compared to 26 from Robredo who soundly deconstructed the Federer game.

Time and time again Federer found himself at the net where he was either passed or unable to put the ball away, converting only 2 of his 16 break points. Even his serve couldn’t save him as Robredo broke on four occasions.

The result leaves the question will Federer ever recover to compete for his eightieth major or is it only a matter of time before he drops out of the world’s top ten?

Federer must now rely on a strong finish to the year to remain in a top eight spot and qualify for the ATP Tour Finals in November, where he has made twelve consecutive appearances.

It seems unbelievable for a man who made 36 Grand Slam quarter finals to then miss making the last eight twice in a row. 2013 will be the first year the Swiss hasn’t appeared in a Slam final and the chances of him making another one seem to be diminishing by the day.

Boro Left Waiting For First Home Win

Middlesbrough     1         Sheffield Wednesday     1

                                   Carayol  49                                                  Antonio  35                                   

Boro’s season has started with a stutter rather than a strident statement to the rest of the league. One win and three draws in their first five games is far from a disaster for Tony Mowbray and his team, however the Boro boss will know it’s not the sort of form which achieves promotion.

With the transfer window set to close on Monday night, Boro’s desperate need for an extra striker was again made clear in yesterdays 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday, who kept Boro waiting for their first home win of the new campaign.

Carayol and Adomah celebrate Boro's Equaliser

Like at Wigan last weekend Boro’s hard fought point will feel more like two points dropped rather than one gained, for large spells they dominated against a Wednesday side who are still yet to experience the winning feeling this season.

After falling behind to a Michail Antonio goal ten minutes before half time the hosts managed to salvage a draw thanks to Mustapa Carayol’s equaliser, but despite numerous chances they failed to convert all three points in game they were expected to win.       

Mowbray later admitted “we created enough chances to win two or three matches but it wasn’t meant to be”

Asked about possible transfer targets the Boro boss expressed “we are trying to get some help I can’t ask Jutkiewicz to battle through 90 minutes every week or the two wide players to run half marathons every game, we need some reinforcements and everyone at the club is working extremely hard to try and make that happen”  

In spite of the result there were plenty of positives to encourage Mowbray about his team’s performance, Boro were livelier and more offensive than they’ve been for a while at the Riverside as they showed their attacking intentions from the kick off.

Evidently inspired by his goal at Wigan last time out George Friend was once again a key feature in the Boro attack, twice the full back charged down the left into promising positions only for his shooting to let him down.

At the head of Boro’s attack Lukas Jutkiewitz also looked hungry to get on the score sheet. With just under half an hour played a ball over the top of the Wednesday defence from Jozsef Varga found the Boro front man, whose low shot rolled past Wednesday keeper Chris Kirkland trickling past the far post.

Despite Boro’s early authority Kirkland was still yet to make a save, however that changed when Grant Leadbitter’s low drive forced the Wednesday keeper to scurry to his right preventing the game’s first goal.

Wednesday gradually grew in confidence carrying a physical threat from set plays; their corner count began to rise winning 4 to Boro 0 and it wasn’t long before they made one count.

Ten minutes before the break the hosts were made to pay when an in swinging corner from the left was headed down by Kamil Zayatte  into the penalty area, where the unmarked Antonio had time to turn and lash the ball into the roof of the net.   

The mood around the stadium had clearly been dampened, with the 2,000 Wednesday fans now making a majority of the noise.

The visitors were forced to make a change when their captain Anthony Gardner was stretchered off and replaced by Miguel Llera. But their lead could have easily doubled when Antonio wriggled past Rhys Williams to send a cross into the area, only for Jonathan Woodgate to make a vital interception at the last second.

After the re-start a rejuvenated Boro again took control, pinning Wednesday back towards their goal, Four minutes later the hosts had their reward.

Leadbitter’s pass was pounced on by Jutkiewitz who charged past Zayatte leaving the defender in a heap on the ground, the Boro striker then had time to square the ball to Carayol who tucked away his first goal of the season lifting the home fans.

The match had a different feel from that point on, as Boro dominated the majority of what remained. Jutkiewicz had battled hard and deserved a goal for his efforts; he couldn’t have come any closer when his hammering shot from the edge of the area rattled the frame of the cross bar.

Minutes later Jutkiewitz was again in the centre on things when he received the ball in the heart of the penalty area, while turning the defender the striker’s shirt appeared to be tugged but penalty claims were turned away by the referee sparking an unwelcome reaction from the Boro fans.

Time was running out as Boro came close again Leadbitter’s free kick took a deflection on route to goal, wrong footing Kirkland, who recovered well to make the save.  

With twenty minutes to go Mowbray introduced Andy Haliday and Marvin Emnes, as Boro tried everything to snatch a winner. Albert Adomah cut in from the left to see his shot rebound off the inside of the post before substitute Haliday glanced his header wide from Leadbitter’s free-kick.  

The final few minutes were reminiscent of playground football, as the ball quickly switched from one end to the other. Friend went close for Boro but his long range volley was always off target, before the visitor could have snatched the victory with a late break away, Antonio sped away from the Boro defence but couldn’t beat the outstretched Jason Steele who saved low to his left.

After seven agonising minutes of injury time the game was finally up. The reaction of the Boro players said it all as they bent down; exhausted, knowing they had missed a chance of three points.

Boro now take a two week break before their next game due to the international break. They will resume their season on the 14^th of September away at Ipswich.  

Match Ratings

Jason Steele   6.5 – Not much to do but made crucial save in the dying minutes

Justin Hoyte   6 – Tried to get involved in attacks but not always effective

Rhys Williams (C)   6.5 – Dealt well with few Wednesday counter attack

Jonathan Woodgate   6.5 – Read the game well limiting Wednesday chances

George Friend   7- Got forward well down the left, but was usually let down by his finishing

Mustapha Carayol   6.5- Posed a threat on the wing before being taken off

Grant Leadbitter   7 – Had a few efforts from range which tested Kirkland

Josef Varga   6- Offered little going forward

Dean Whitehead   7- Grafted well in midfield starting attacks

Albert Adomah   7- Looked a constant threat in the first half faded a little towards the end

Lukas Jutkiewitz   7- Battled hard with a head bandage to show for it by the end, unlucky not to score

Subs

Marvin Emnes   6- Gave fresh legs with 20 minutes to go but not enough to force a winner

Andy Haliday   6- Late header his only chance