Strollers Silence Aloud

Kirkbride Strollers were in buoyant mood after they claimed their first victory of the season in a 2-1 success over Goals Aloud. The game was very entertaining and full of chances and it was somewhat surprising that only three goals were scored during it. The opening goal came courtesy of a penalty as Dennis MacAvery kept his nerve to give a boost to the home support. Despite dominating possession Kirkbride were not as threatening as their visitors but Goals Aloud could not find a cutting edge to go with their approach play. It stayed 1-0 until late in the game when another penalty would level matters; Constantino de Melo proving every bit as cool as MacAvery in scoring his spot-kick. As the game entered stoppage-time it looked as though both sides would have to settle for a point apiece. David Proctor had other ideas, however, as he beat the defence to a Billy Maneater cross to head in the winner. Jazza will have been delighted with the reward following a testing start to the season and will now be keen to push on. Goals Aloud remain on six points and face a testing trip to Manchester United next up as they look to kick-start their campaign.

Manchester United go into that game after disposing of another relegation-haunted club in Liverpool. The opening 45 minutes proved uneventful with both sides’ defences on top. The second-half proved a more open fare with the game being settled in a two-minute spell not long after the restart. Dick Tator awarded United a penalty from which Eric Cantona wasn’t to falter and he duly gave the visitors a 1-0 lead. Two minutes later and the contest was effectively over when captain Darren Fletcher made a well-timed run into the area and beat Grobbelaar with ease. The afternoon was to get worse for the Liverpool ‘keeper and skipper as he fluffed his lines from the spot on 80 minutes which might have given his side a route back into it. As it was, it turned out to be another defeat for Liverpool which sees them rooted to the bottom of the table and in need of some inspiration from somewhere. Manchester United are once more looking at the top three of the table as they sit just one point behind The Vikings.

The Vikings moved into third on the back of a superb first-half performance which laid the platform for them to defeat Tropical Thunder 3-0. The Vikings controlled the possession throughout the game and from this base they were able to create three first-half opportunities from which they scored three goals. Clint Bonavia headed home the first when presented with a brilliant cross from Tassiopoulos on 13 minutes. Five minutes later and it was 2-0 courtesy of an Aris Almanidis free-kick, only the defender’s second goal of the season. Almanidis turned provider for the third goal with a nice pass to Tassiopoulos who finished with aplomb to leave the Thunder staring into the abyss. They produced a much improved showing after the break but never really threatened to eat into The Vikings' three-goal lead. With The Vikings also showing good form Ealglesrjh will be in positive mood regarding how the season is panning out but Jamesfreeman will want his Thunder side to get a win under their belts soon. They are now three matches without one and are starting to slip towards the wrong end of the table.

Three Lions FC remain well and truly in the hunt following a 2-1 home victory over Newry City. Robin van Izu continued with his personal quest to write himself into Three Lions folklore with another goal, his 24th in their colours. On 26 minutes it was 2-0 as ‘keeper Izu Casillas strode up confidently to convert a penalty. Despite the score it had been a fairly even first-half although the home side enjoyed the majority of the ball. The second-half saw the home side create more chances but they were unable to take any of them as Newry found new life. Muharem Husic was the source of their new found belief as he scored a brilliant free-kick on 70 minutes. As it turned out it wouldn’t be enough with the Lions getting the points which see them remain within six of the top two. Izuka was already looking forward to his next game, saying ‘I have a decent record against Jimmy’s side, and I’m hoping good form will carry us through.’ Newry continue to endure a troublesome season as they remain in eighth, just two points above the bottom three.

Mexican Mafia prepared themselves for their test against Three Lions with a 5-0 thumping of Pahang United. In a show of strength Jimmy’s side kept Pahang chanceless while cutting through the visiting defence with ease. The game was over after a brilliant opening 45 minutes in which they took the lead after just nine through a long range Elvis MacCaran shot. Oscar Cervantes followed MacCaran’s lead by scoring from distance before Shinosuke Isimaru scored following a quality corner from the irreplaceable Demetrio Delpiano. It would be Delpiano himself who would add the fourth at the start of the second-half; ghosting behind his marker to head in following an Aluna corner. He then put the finishing touches on a super display, both personally and from the team, as he finished a fast breakaway to make it 5-0. TrueBlue offered a ‘well done jim’ as congratulations before adding that he is struggling with his defenders as he looks to plot Pahang’s comeback. Jimmy said the victory was unexpected before adding, ‘we are unstoppable at the moment.’ Pahang slip to sixth with 11 points while Mafia remain on top with 20 points.

The only side threatening to keep up with the Mafia are West Brom Strollers who put in a five-star performance of their own. Juventus would be the victims and they quickly found themselves two goals behind as Willie Johnston scored from long range on two minutes before adding a header a minute later. With Juventus still reeling Richard Sneekes added a third with a header of his own on 17 minutes and you wondered how Juventus could make a game of it. They did manage to create some openings as the game went on but never really looked confident enough to take many of them and when Bobby Taylor added another on 54 minutes it was 4-0 and game over. Orlan Canito allowed the visiting fans a moment of joy with a cracking shot but Willie Johnston had the final say with another clinical header to complete his hat-trick. Dinkydave explained that Johnston was a late inclusion saying he ‘felt at the last minute we needed a bit of experience.’ He will have been happy with the results and they remain just behind the Mafia, level on points. Juve sit precariously above the bottom three and will need to stop shipping so many goals if they are to escape.