Izu Sees Red

Three Lions FC and Legends of Arsenal enjoyed a high quality encounter which eventually finished 2-2. Both sides were to enjoy plenty of chances in an open match-up between two sides who are looking to be in the top flight next season. Robin van Izu opened the scoring on 21 minutes with a fine finish following smart work from Izu Kaka. Despite enjoying the majority of possession in the half they were to be pegged back by a Shinosuke Isimaru shot in the penalty area. The second-half was to begin with the home side hitting the front once more. Again, it was the tried and trusted partnership of Kaka and van Izu which did the damage as the latter helped himself to his second goal of the game. With LOA enjoying more of the ball than they did in the opening 45 minutes they were always in the game. Their chances improved greatly as well when Luis Carlos Almeida was sent-off. Seizing on their opportunity to pen the 10-men back Ralf Kron scored with a header as the Lions were seemingly still reorganising. The Lions did manage to hold out for a point, though, and anything less would have been a disservice as both sides played their full part in a cracking match. Seeing his side five points behind LOA and the promotion spots, Izu claimed the ‘red card made all the difference’ going onto say they ‘would have won if the referee wasn’t so harsh.’ Josef had nothing to say but must have been pleased to see his side negotiate a tough encounter and maintain a healthy gap between themselves and the chasing pack.

West Brom continued on their merry way with a 2-0 home win over Newry City. The away side’s game-plan looked to be working during the opening 45 minutes as they managed to restrict the Strollers to two chances and also enjoyed their fair share of the ball. The second-half, though, proved to be a different matter as the home side made their power tell. Bobby Taylor was to emerge as the hero for the hosts as he finally managed to find a way past the experienced Wellens. Bryan Robson supplied him for the first following a clever free-kick and the game was finished on 79 minutes when he headed in a Cyrille Regis cross. In the end it was a deserved win for the leaders who see the gap stretch to six points at the top. Dinkydave was ‘pleased’ following the win and relieved that his side have survived some ‘physically and mentally tiring matches’ over the last few weeks. The defeat leaves Newry in eleventh but well in touch with the sides above them but they will need to find a winning mentality to overtake them.

The Vikings moved into fourth as they beat Pahang United 4-0 in Viking Land. The foundations were laid during an excellent first-half showing which saw them score two goals and completely shut out the visiting side. The opening goal came courtesy of Colin Crouch on 20 minutes as he headed home a Justin Portway corner. The lead was doubled 13 minutes later as another header, this time from Evstathios Gourmas, undid the Pahang defence. The second-half saw a more even contest but it was still the home side who carried the goal threat. Crouch added his second and, again, illustrated a weakness against the crossed ball as it came courtesy of a header. Leo Idle and Aris Almanidis then combined for the former to score from a free-kick to complete the 4-0 win. Eagles was happy to see his side score ‘4 out of 6 chances’ and delighted to see a ‘second consecutive clean sheet ‘ for his young ‘keepers.’ While The Vikings sit just five points from the top three, Pahang have more pressing concerns at the other end of the table with just one point saving them from a spot in the relegation zone.

Kirkbride Strollers returned to winning ways by defeating S.S. Manfredonia (Tropical Thunder) 2-0 at The Bush. They were boosted by an early goal from David Proctor who headed in after just a minute to stun the visiting defence. They added a second through Billy Maneater and although Manfredonia enjoyed a couple of chances of their own they would take their 2-0 lead through to half-time. Kirkbride also enjoyed the better of the second-half but couldn’t find the finishing touch to match their build-up play. In the end it wasn’t to matter as Kirkbride had already done enough to secure the three points. The win sees Jazza’s side into sixth and they remain one of the more progressive sides in the division. Ekkjonqos is just settling into the Manfredonia hot-seat and will want to improve his side’s form over the next few weeks as he makes his mark on the team.

Goals Aloud remain in the relegation zone following a 2-1 home defeat to promotion chasers Manchester United. United put in a strong away performance to demonstrate their credentials as Goals Aloud struggled to make much of an impact. They were made to wait for the breakthrough, though, and when it came it was to be Aloud who would gift it to them. Specifically, Aaron Kilner, who put past his own ‘keeper to release the pressure United might have been feeling. United had other chances in a game they should have put to bed earlier. They added the crucial second goal when Owen Hargreaves shot home in the penalty area on 87 minutes and although Aloud pulled one back through Trevor Fazackerley they had done enough to secure the points. United remain six points adrift of WBS at the top but also have a six point cushion over The Vikings in third as they look to win promotion. Popepiusx2 sees his side sit in tenth but with the safe teams in close proximity plenty can still change in the last eight games.

PSV Eindhoven made it two wins on the bounce with a 2-1 success at home to Juventus. Eindhoven were much the stronger of the two sides in the opening half but saw five chances come and go in a display of profligate finishing. The main talking point proved the injuries to Dirk Kuyt and Jorn Fruh with both likely to be out of action for a while. The hosts finally scored on 68 minutes following a corner from Yang Sheng Nanmeng. The ball fell to Daniel Mikey and to the relief of the home crowd he shot past Fuentes in goal. With the pressure off, PSV swiftly added a second when Nanmeng himself tried his luck from distance and hit the jackpot with a cracking strike. They did have to survive a sending-off as Kenny Dalglish was given his marching orders and also endured a few scary moments following a Mairthin Foley breakaway goal but they were able to celebrate three vital points at the final whistle. Kadri has now lifted his side back into contention in the survival battle with only three points separating them and safety. Juventus remain comfortably in mid-table for the time being but will be keen to keep picking up wins to ensure this remains the case.