Gray Day for Rovers

Kensington Boys Club overcame AJ Rovers to leapfrog their rivals at the head of the Division Two table. Kensington put every effort into securing a first-half lead before sitting back and putting in a strong defensive display after the interval. Aubrey de Vere had headed the home side into a thirteenth minute lead only for Elling Jarnoy to level matters with a header of his own just six minutes later. Both sides had chances for further goals in an exciting first-half showcasing the best of Division Two football. It was to be the home side who would take one of these chances as Adrian Gray shot home from a corner, delivered by Henry Birch. It was to be a lead which the home side wouldn’t relinquish despite being put under fierce second-half pressure. Sonny Vickerman and Gordon Hogg both had chances to draw the visitors level but it wasn’t to be and could have even been worse but for a Gray strike being disallowed in injury-time. Kensington will have been pleased with the win which takes them to the top of the table with just five games remaining although they will have been less pleased about an injury to de Vere which will keep the five-goal forward out of the next game. Rothion will be keen for his side to forget the result as much of their play in the game was good and, sitting in second, they will still be major players in how the top three shapes up at the end of the season.

Belly Tubbies moved into third with a 1-0 success at White Hawk FC. No quarter was given in an extremely tight opening 45 minutes. The only difference between the sides was Phil Fieldwick’s finishing. While White Hawk wasted their opening, Fieldwick was able to volley home his shot after a Deane Smythe corner. The second-half saw more openings for both sides as the nature of the score dictated White Hawk attack the game. They should have been level when Cianan Cathan swept home only for the goal to be disallowed for a wrong offside call and when Ryan Dhramsingh hit the post moments later it looked likely that it wouldn’t be the home side’s day. Both sides continued to have no luck in front of goal with Sahlberg, once again, excelling for the Tubbies between the sticks. Fitzy’s side have now won five out of their last seven matches and are just two points from the top spot. With five games to go their experienced manager will be keen to stress to his side that this is where heroes are made as they look to secure promotion. Hooraymee’s White Hawk side remain in the bottom three but only a point from ninth-place and safety.

Los Samgeles Kings catapulted themselves into the heart of the promotion battle as they beat long-term leaders Charlttenburg FC 3-0 at The Ruth Bader Ginsburg Arena. Los Samgeles Kings came out of the first-half the happier side as, despite both sides creating two chances, they scored the only goal. It came on 19 minutes as Will Deckard shot home in the penalty area after being set-up by Dustin Brown. They did have to reshuffle a little as Torbern Kummel hobbled off but they emerged after the break as much the better of the two sides. Ladislav Nagy kept up his fine recent form with a clinical strike in the penalty area on 72 minutes and the result was put beyond doubt just six minutes later. It was to be Deckard, with his second goal of the game, who did the damage as he met a Brown cross with a fine header to leave Robinson stranded and Charlottenburg defeated. Stripy has quietly navigated his side into fourth spot and with momentum firmly in their court who knows where it might end? Meanwhile, Potsdamerplatz has seen his side drop from first to fifth over recent weeks and, while disappointed, he was philosophical in his words as he explained, ‘the way of the youth is guaranteed to bring much heartache.’ However, they too, find themselves only three points adrift and with five games to go there is plenty of glory still to be had.

Internazionale kept up their good recent form with a 4-1 home win over Carthage at the San Siro. They were the dominant side from the off with the only surprise after the first 45 minutes being the 1-1 score to which the sides departed to the dressing rooms. The home side created five first-half chances but the only one they managed to take was a 16th minute penalty deposited by Elton Hills. At the other end of the spectrum were Carthage who managed to fashion just one opening but also managed to take it to enjoy parity at half-time. Ad Herbal created the chance and Marcus Spillane had no problem in heading the ball into the net for 1-1. Inter were further frustrated when Oswald Rickers was injured on the stroke of half-time to add to their feeling of injustice at not being in front. The pattern of chances continued in the second-half but Inter’s finishing improved infinitely. Hills again put them in front as he put the finishing touch on a smart free-kick. Seeking the insurance goal, Inter kept attacking and found their reward on 68 minutes. It was a cracker when it arrived as Chris Sutton found his range from distance to leave Cumbo stranded. Some realism was then added to the score when Edip Bayrak shot home after a corner on 79 minutes to complete a deserved 4-1 triumph. It was a case of more good news for Inter manager, Jimmy M, who had reported that ‘thankfully’ none of his new signings had called time on their careers earlier in the week and they can now focus on bridging a two-point gap to third spot as the season reaches its climax. Carthage remain a point above the drop zone and will want to take matters into their own hands rather than relying on others continuing to lose. A match against Morley on Tuesday now takes on further significance for Blakey’s side.

Kroklund Kings edged out Real Madrid in the tightest of matches at Dont know yet stadium. In a chanceless first-half only an injury to Kapo Kachadorian and a yellow card issued to Samvel Aivazian gave reporters chance to jot anything down. Remarkably, the second-half continued in exactly the same manner as the game was played out in front of the defences. A yellow card to Mao Wannasathit looked to have been the only talking point until the solitary chance arrived. An 86th minute breakaway led by Trudell Conway ended when Curt Elliott lobbed Nersesian who was, undoubtedly, shocked that he had something to do. Madrid had no time to get back into the game and in that briefest of moments the game was won. The outcome was Kroklund taking seventh spot, one place and point ahead of vanquished foes Madrid. Both will still be looking upwards rather than at the relegation zone and will also be keen their teams create more openings in future games.

Southampton continue to be involved in high scoring affairs as they defeated Morley Town FC 3-2 at St Marys. Despite being out-chanced 9-5 over the course of the game the superior finishing of the hosts held sway. Two goals in the first five minutes got the game off to a flying start. A Stathios Havos finish from a breakaway move had put the hosts 1-0 up only for Ionel Traian to equalise within a minute for a Morley side in need of three points. Art Boyle had hobbled off for the visitors by the time they hit the front for the first time in the game. Roger Farrell was given the freedom of the penalty area to strike past Lima on 32 minutes and duly put them 2-1 up. Southampton's woe was compounded a minute later as Duncan Graeme went off but they were boosted on 38 minutes. Aaron Winder found Cris Bigelow from a free-kick and the defender, in turn, found the back of the net to ensure the sides would go in level at the break. The second-half was much tighter with the defences having learned their lessons of the first. Morley were to be hit by the game’s injury-jinx again on 53 minutes and they had further reason to bemoan their fortune on 66 minutes. Tor Bergstrand was the hero for the home side as he finished a corner delivered by Jim Hotte to give them a match-winning 3-2 lead. Hardinho was delighted with the points and with the match experience ‘almost achieved’ he was even talking about ‘maybe’ pulling off the ‘great escape.’ The defeat leaves Morley two points from safety and the manager openly ‘bemused’ by his team's latest game.