Goals Soccer hits target

Five-a-side football centre operator Goals Soccer posted a rise in profits in the six months to June 30 after lifting like-for-like sales in spite of tough economic conditions.Pre-tax profits for the period totalled £3.9m, compared with £3.7m for the same period of 2008. Sales climbed to £12.85m from £11.45m.Sales were lifted by the firm opening new centres, but like-for-like sales (which strips out the impact of new openings) climbed 1% too.The company raised its interim dividend by 8% to 0.675p a share. It said it is still on course to open six sites during 2010. Forward bookings are running at normal levels following a slight softening in activity over the summer holiday period, the firm said.'Goals has had another successful half, demonstrating the broad appeal of five a side football and the underlying strength of our model,' said managing director Keith Rogers. 'The first half of 2009 showed good progress against a backdrop of difficult economic conditions.'