DD Sees off Viking Raid

West Brom Strollers edged out The Vikings 2-0 to, once more, take a stranglehold on the Division One title race. The game got off to an explosive start as Darren Moore left his mark on Leo Idle, earning himself a caution and ending the game early for the Viking player. Both sides had free-kick chances as the game was hotly contested. Almanidis forced the home ‘keeper into fine work as Bryan Robson hit the post with his effort for West Brom. It was to be from a free-kick that the home side would take the lead; Bryan Robson flashing an effort past Connely to give them a 1-0 advantage. This seemed to stun the visitors and ten minutes later Bobby Taylor powerfully headed in the second goal from a Lawrie Cunningham cross. Clint Bonavia threatened to get The Vikings back into it but his effort was thwarted as was his team-mate Almanidis’ strike. To make matters worse for The Vikings, Paraskevas Maladenis was sent-off late on as they succumbed to defeat. The only bad news for West Brom was the injury which Maladenis inflicted upon Moore through the challenge. Eaglesrjh saw his side drop three points off the promotion pace and ruefully noted that he couldn’t ‘believe DD played bruise with a h7 ref and I’m the one with a player sent-off!!’ Meanwhile, Dave was delighted with the six-point lead his side have over second-place with WBS news reporting they ‘have one foot in the proverbial door to the RM Invitational.’

Manchester United and New York City played out a 1-1 draw to give hope to the chasing pack in the quest for promotion. United edged both the possession and chance stats but couldn’t transfer this onto the scoreboard. Indeed, it was New York who would take an early lead as Rufus Bignell shot in after a super corner was delivered by Elivs MacCaran. United created several chances in the first-half and at the beginning of the second but paid for a lack of presence up front. It was left to 17-year-old Carlos Tevez to lead the line and the youngster appeared somewhat overawed by the magnitude of the occasion. United did manage the equaliser on the hour-mark as Ryan Giggs combined with Darren Fletcher for the latter to emphatically finish a breakaway move of startling pace and quality. Both sides might have had a winner but, ultimately, a point each was what they would have to settle for. United also have an injury to Gary Neville to deal with as they look to cement their place in the top three over the last four games of the season. Pakya will be hoping they can take advantage of a game against relegation-threatened Newry City next. Jimmy, prematurely, congratulated Dave on winning the title after the result which he said ‘gifted’ him the crown. However, he will be keen his side retain their focus to avoid any sides overtaking them in the next fortnight.

Three Lions FC moved menacingly into position with a tough 1-0 win over Kirkbride Strollers. The early part of the game was littered with fouls and yellow cards and, therefore, it came as no surprise when the first chance came courtesy of a penalty. Carles Izuyol made no mistake from the spot to give the Lions a crucial lead. The Lions’ other chance of the half came via a free-kick but Cesc Izukas couldn’t make McLoud work in goal. Despite this, though, they managed to keep the Strollers quiet at the other end to take their lead into half-time. It was the home side who would make the more positive start to the second-half but, although they enjoyed some decent chances, they found McLoud in fine form. Gradually, the Strollers worked their way into the contest. However, while they found a way through the Lions rearguard, they couldn’t find a way past Casillas. Cristian Trifan, Jordan MacIan and Mitsuhiro Sinoda all had efforts in a five-minute spell but Casillas was alert enough to deny all of them with some fine shot-stopping. With Strollers now dispirited the Lions finished the game on top and ran out time on a tight 1-0 win. Izuka’s side are now just a point back from Manchester United and face a crunch clash next against The Vikings. Jazza’s Strollers appear to have fallen too far back to force their way in but are sure to be a very competitive side in the division next season.

At the bottom end of the table, PSV Eindhoven won their crucial battle against S.S. Manfredonia as they produced one of their best performances of the season. While the first-half was dominated in terms of possession by Eindhoven they couldn’t translate this into chances and a couple of openings was the best either side could manage. PSV were able to score from one of these chances, though, as Kenny Dalglish calmly finished a breakaway move involving several players. The second-half saw an ultra-confident home side look to take their relegation rivals apart. A 56th minute strike from Yang Sheng Nanmeng gave them the security of a two-goal advantage and they never looked back from this point. Manfredonia were enduring a miserable evening and it got no better as Jake Minto went off injured before Luca Scolza was sent-off for a poor challenge on Dalglish. This also proved to be Dalglish’s last action in the game as he had to go off with an injury due to Solza's attentions. Eindhoven got a deserved third goal as Nanmeng struck after a corner. While Kadri has not yet manoeuvred his side out of the relegation zone the side are transformed from the one he took over and only goal difference is keeping them under the dotted line. Manfredonia are now reliant on being six goals superior but Ekkjonqos knows this will not save his side unless they pick up points also. Their next task? West Brom Strollers on Friday.

Newry City made it six goals in their last two games as their great escape act gathered pace. The first-half was memorable mainly for a nasty injury to Inge Kallqvist and both sides' inability to take their chances. Creating six openings between them they lacked the quality in the final third to finish off the moves and, ultimately, they both had to settle for a 0-0 score when they might have hoped for more. Newry looked the more confident side in the second 45 minutes and showed this as they took the lead courtesy of a Godfrey Revell header on 56 minutes. By the time Antony Cowdrey had hit the net from long range on 62 minutes, Newry were much the better of the two. Even when Juventus managed to get in behind the visitors they still found Wellens too much to beat in goal as the experienced cat put in a man-of-the-match performance. The win was completed on 89 minutes when Revell added his second goal of the game. Following in the footsteps of Cowdrey he picked his spot from distance to leave Fuentes helpless and Juve pointless. Mickeymoose now has got his side in position to move out of the bottom three as they sit just a point off eighth. They have a tough-looking match against Manchester United next but, in current form, who would be brave enough to back against them? Juve, meanwhile, will be starting to get somewhat nervous after letting a big lead over the bottom three slip to just two points. SuperJuve will not need telling of the importance of their match-up against Pahang United on Friday as they look to safeguard their survival.

Goals Aloud and Pahang United played out a tight 1-1 battle at Hoppitop Ground to leave both sides with work to do to avoid relegation to Division Two. Despite Aloud not setting any substitutes they looked the more prepared side in the opening half. They enjoyed one more chance than their visitors in the first 45 minutes and were to make it count. A cross by Rowley Kinsella was met well by the head of Dan Ruffer and Aloud had a crucial one-goal advantage. The second-half proved to be even tighter than the first with only one chance being created. However, Pahang were to make this chance count as Benjamin Johannsen speculated to accumulate from distance and hit the jackpot by defeating Butcher in goal and drag them level. Neither side looked like forcing the pace to pinch a winner and the draw leaves Goals Aloud five points from safety. Popepiusx2 certainly has his work cut out if he is to keep his side in the division and you would think they need to take something from their clash with PSV to have any hope. TrueBlue, meanwhile, was happy with his sides ‘better defending’ but vowed to ‘focus more on attacking from now on’ as they bid to secure the points which will keep them safe.