Lions raid Viking Land

Three Lions FC are once again in the promotion zone after a close 1-0 win over The Vikings at Viking Land. The hosts had the first chance of the game as their visitors gave away a freekick in the 2nd minute. However, Izu Casillas hardly had to move as Aris Almanidis fired his shot right at the keeper. Almanidis did slightly better in the 4th minute but Casillas managed to get the ball away yet again and launch a quick counter attack for his side.

The hosts managed to stall The Whites, though, and it wasn't until the 9th minute that Fernando Mello managed to slip through the Vikings defence, get round Vincent Lees and fire into the back of the net. However, Robert Nixon got it right as he ruled Mello offside. Justin Portway then had the next chance of the game as he chipped the ball over Casillas in the 14th minute. Casillas just got his fingertips to the ball, and a good thing he did too, as the ball bounced off the crossbar and dropped into the keeper's grateful arms.

Almanidis then earned the first booking of the game as, frustrated by his inability to get past Casillas from his two freekicks, he smashed an elbow into the face of Carles Izuyol while trying to get a good spot to defend against a Lions corner. Izuyol had to have minor treatment to stem his nosebleed, but Izuka decided to leave the senior defender on the field. The visitors then had a good chance to take the lead in the 18th minute as they earned a freekick in a very promising position. Robin van Izu struck it well and it was destined for the top corner before Lees, flailing wildly through the air, got a hand to it and pushed it out. His more experienced teammates took care of the rest. Receiving word that West Brom Strollers had pulled ahead at Stadio Miramare, Izuka knew one of the promotion spots was more or less taken and told his team to turn up the pressure.

The Vikings soon had problems, though, as Clint Bonavia had to go off with a light injury. Ted Tolley came on to replace the star forward but the damage was done as The Vikings were now more or less helpless up front. Izuael Clichy was shown a rather harsh yellow card for the incident, as his bit of elbowing was totally accidental, Bonavia crashing into him while going for a Damon Strachan cross.

Then came the goal as José Bosingwa bombed down the right wing from defence and cut right into the penalty area. Lees came out to meet him but Bosingwa passed the ball back to Izu Kaka, who had only to lob into an empty net from 25 yards to score his third goal of the season. Minutes later, Izuka relayed news to his team that Newry City had just pulled ahead of Manchester United. Three Lions FC were now determined to win the game, and fell back into an 9-1-0 formation, Zlatan Izuhimovic now the only one going forward with light support on the wings as even Mello and van Izu found places in the centre and left of defence. Lewis Branston had the last chance of the first half, and the whole game as Almanidis chose to cross the ball instead of shooting for goal. However, it was all in vain as Branston headed lightly into Casillas' arms.

Cristiano Izuldo picked up the third and final booking of the night with a hard tackle to prevent a possible goal as Portway tried a shot from long range. Izuka then received news that Manchester United had earned an equaliser through an own goal only to concede a second, and that New York City had scored against Kirkbride Strollers. Knowing that his side could move into third with a win, Izuka ordered Izuhimovic to do the best he could as he moved the Swedish forward into defence. Mello soon picked up an injury, though, and Izuka brought on the flexible Luca Tonizu rather than Ricardo Izalho to cover up the hole at the right of defence.

Ted Tolley then proved himself good for something as he set up Portway for an excellent goal, but Nixon got it right again as he ruled Portway offside, though some may still have doubts. The Vikings manager Eaglesrjh brought Leo Idle for Murray Irwin in injury time, but he might as well have not bothered as the game finished three minutes later.

"Eaglesrjh is an excellent manager and he caught me offguard with a few of his choices today. However, the players were able to perform well under pressure and we're in a good position to win promotion now since we've played all our big games while Manchester United still have their last match of the season against Kirkbride Strollers, whom I think are one of the most underrated teams in the league," said Izuka to reporters after the game. "Meanwhile, we have matches against two teams in the relegation zone and a team just above it coming up, though even those games are in no way guaranteed wins."