Kirkbride Win Battle of Strollers

Kirkbride Strollers beat the, league-leading, West Brom Strollers 3-1 at The Bush. With both starting elevens in excellent form a tight match-up was anticipated. It was Kirkbride, though, who were the more impressive of the two sides as the game progressed. A ninth minute goal from Cristian Trifan put the hosts 1-0 up as a swift breakaway led to the forward being given the opportunity to beat Godden; an opportunity he wasn’t going to pass up. West Brom were briefly level as they made the most of their only chance of the half. Bobby Taylor was the scorer as he proved too much for the home defence to handle and headed in a Robert Koren centre on 31 minutes. The parity only lasted two minutes, though, as Kirkbride reasserted their authority on the game. Jordan MacIan laid the groundwork for the go-ahead goal as he danced down the wing before crossing for Proctor to head home. The second-half saw fewer chances but the home side always looked to be in control of the outcome. Indeed, they sealed the victory on 83 minutes as MacIan found space from a corner to knock the ball over the line. DD was not happy with the outcome as he told listeners, ‘see what happens when you play for match experience?’ Regardless of the result, though, they remain four points ahead of second and with their destiny in their own hands. Jazza has led his side impressively since a troubled start to the season and they remain in with an outside hope of promotion as they sit six points away with five matches remaining.

New York City managed to close the gap to within four points as they continue to chase West Brom all the way. In an entertaining battle they beat Juventus by the odd goal in five. Both sides suffered with injuries early in the piece but the game settled down as it approached the end of the first-half. New York took the lead on 31 minutes as Henk van Huijksloot headed home from a well-delivered Lukas Buhr cross. Juventus had taken their time getting into the game but were boosted by a goal on the stroke of half-time. Claude Banquet was given far too much time some 30-yards from goal and the forward didn’t think twice in letting a shot go and beating Crusell. The spring with which they went into half-time, though, soon disappeared after it as New York were back in front within a minute of the restart. Once again Buhr provided the wing play from which the danger came. Juve were caught out of position and Shinosuke Isimaru timed his run perfectly to head in for 2-1. By now the game was an end-to-end battle of some quality with the crowd fully involved. With Buhr taken off injured, Juventus seized the initiative back and from a free-kick Mairthin Foley struck them level. It looked, for a while, that this would be the final goal of the game but New York hadn’t given up on taking three points. With injury-time being played Elvis MacCaran was found and, with nothing to lose, he let fly to send the home fans into sheer delight. Jimmy will have been delighted with his team’s response to his return and will now set about hunting down the Strollers. SuperJuve can feel somewhat aggrieved that his side came away with nothing from the game and will be aware that they are now just five points clear of the relegation zone.

Manchester United surged back into third spot following a dominating home performance against Three Lions FC. The first-half was a cagey affair as both sides felt the other out. However, United came out all guns blazing after the break and set about putting the Lions to the sword. Creating seven chances to a solitary one from the Lions there only ever looked like being one winner and so it proved. Darren Fletcher finally made the breakthrough when he combined with Ronaldo to beat Casillas from a free-kick on 55 minutes. With the Lions not really threatening to get back into it a second goal on 73 minutes put the seal on the points. Gary Neville delivered an outstanding centre for Wayne Rooney to get himself between defenders and head in for a 2-0 lead. United had chances to put a different complexion on the score but it wasn’t to be and they will have been happy enough with just the two goals. Moving back into third they have opened up a two-point gap while they are also six off West Brom in first. Izu was left to rue not playing a ‘slightly stronger defence and midfield’ as he saw his side slip three points off the promotion pace but with five games to play he will make sure his team are in there fighting until the last kick.

The Vikings enjoyed a rare old battle with PSV Eindhoven as they kept tabs on the promotion race. Defences were tested to the full in a game of 16 chances as both sides went for the three points. To add to the talking points, three players were injured during a hectic first-half; Murray Irwin and Clint Bonavia of The Vikings and Ryan Babel of PSV all having to be replaced. Ironically, the injury to Bonavia might have been a blessing in disguise as it brought Justin Portway onto the field and he was to have quite an impact. On the goal front there was to be two, although it could easily have been more, during the first 45 minutes. Andriy Voronin struck from some way out on seven minutes for the hosts only for Justin Portway to level matters on 29 to ensure a 1-1 half-time score. The second-half continued in an open fashion and once more PSV were pegged back after taking the lead. Jeremiah McNally added a highlight goal of his own from distance before Portway, again, finished a quick-fire breakaway. With both sides still going in search of the points it looked like they would be going to The Vikings on 79 minutes. Portway completed a sensational match personally by being on hand again as the visitors passed their way through the PSV defence for a third time to give the young forward an easy task in beating Reina. However, the scoring wasn’t finished as Manuel Ficuz awarded the hosts a penalty on 84 minutes. Daniel Agger was to make no mistake and, justly, both sides took a point away from a scintillating encounter. Eaglesrjh saw his side drop two points off United in third and bemoaned the fact his side have ‘conceded from 6 penalties’ this season despite being ‘second in the Division 1 fair play’ standings. Kadri’s PSV continue their battle to climb out of the relegation zone with another valuable point and will now turn their attentions to a massive game against Manfredonia on Tuesday.

Newry City boosted their survival hopes with a 3-1 home win over Pahang United. With five chances each the result effectively came down to the more clinical finisher. This proved to be the home side despite Henning Gassner netting a breakaway for the visiting side on eight minutes. Indeed, Newry took only a minute to get level. A Clint Dickson centre was met well by Veevo Ulpre who beat Hussain in goal with a minimum of fuss. Newry would take a two-goal lead into half-time thanks, in the main, to the efforts of Muharem Husic. He was to score two goals in a fourteen-minute spell which left Pahang rocking. His first was a long range shot after fine work from the excellent Dickson and when presented with an opportunity in the area on 39 minutes he made no mistake to put Newry 3-1 up. Both sides suffered injuries in the second-half as, key players, Hussain for Pahang and Ulpre for Newry were taken off. Ultimately, though, it was the good form of Wellens in the home goal and the poor finishing of Pahang which cost the away side any hope of points from the match. The result sees Newry move to within three points of Pahang who occupy the last ‘safe’ spot. Both still have a lot of work to do to avoid relegation to Division Two for next season.

S.S. Manfredonia had an important win at home to Goals Aloud as they looked to distance themselves from the relegation scrap. Manfredonia always looked the more prepared side as they dominated possession and chances. Aloud’s hopes weren’t helped by injuries to Christopher Harper and Frank Nyberg; only naming one substitute meant they had to play for just under an hour with 10-men. Manfredonia, finally, made one of their chances count in the 63rd minute following a corner delivered by Tomas Tiribocchi. While the defenders were looking at each other to challenge, Lauro Poggi didn’t need to be asked twice to nip in and head past substitute ‘keeper Butcher. The home side could have won by a larger margin but continued to spurn chances, although the home fans didn’t mind as they celebrated at the final whistle. The win sees them three points clear of the relegation zone and the team seem to be responding favourably to Ekkjonqos’ appointment. Popepiusx2 is still looking for his side to respond in a similar way for him as relegation begins to loom large for Goals Aloud.