Fitzy Edges Patrik

Belly Tubbies and Kensington Boys Club switched places after the latter were beaten 2-1 at Flabbyland. With time running out on an incredible Division Two season both clubs knew how important it was to pick up the three points which would have put them closer to promotion. It was the away side who made the better start as Samson Lockwood scored from the game’s first chance with a precise header which left Fitzsimmons with no chance in goal. The response from the home side was instant as Lucius Burchell hit the post with a header of his own. A free-kick from Dave Whittingham also served warning before the Tubbies finally managed to draw level. Burchell, again, managed to escape the marking of the visiting defence as he headed home a corner delivered by Phil Fieldwick. Fieldwick then went on to strike the post as the half came to an exciting close. The second-half saw the hosts remain on top and had a goal disallowed for handball as Fieldwick wasted a golden opportunity. They did, eventually, hit the front as Chema Jota rose highest to head home with, what proved, the winning goal. There was to be no comeback from Kensington in a disappointing performance which leaves them two points from the top and their manager sporting a quizzical look as to how they performed so under-par in such a crucial game. Belly Tubbies sit just a point from the top with Tubbies News reporting they even have ‘a small chance of winning the title.’

AJ Rovers remained on top despite being held 1-1 at home to Internazionale. It was a tight affair which showed some nerves as the season reaches its exciting climax. It, perhaps, shouldn’t have been this way, though, as AJ took an early lead. Eldur Gottskalk was the instigator as he slipped in Patric van der Gouw to beat Hawke in the third minute with a shot in the penalty area. However, the nerves stayed with them and Inter forced their way back into the game. They went close through Henrik Larsson before forcing a penalty in the 33rd minute. Mortimer Wainman had no trouble in depositing it and the scores were level. Both sides had a further chance before the break but it was AJ who would come closer with Phil Marsh’s miss-hit shot striking the post. The early stages of the second-half saw Edip Bayrak taken off for the visitors but the chances dry up. It wasn’t until the 91st minute that AJ had their chance to win the game. However, Sonny Vickerman couldn’t oblige and the game ended deadlocked. Rothion sees his AJ side take a one-point advantage, a lead AJ news described as ‘lucky’, into the final two games as they seek the title. They will still need to make sure of promotion, though, with a win needed to guarantee it. Inter, meanwhile, still have a mathematical possibility of promotion although they have watched their manager dodge controversy amidst allegations of problem drinking, Mclaughlin insisting that he hasn’t been ‘on the lash, honestly.’

Real Madrid FC produced an attacking home performance to defeat Carthage FC and ensure they would be competing for a promotion spot going into the final two games. Aren Garabedian had got them off to the perfect start with a goal in the first minute. He shot home in the penalty area after being set-up by Stephane Ernst but the lead wasn’t to last long. On twelve minutes Carthage had, unexpectedly, drawn level. Nicholas Crowe found his range from distance to beat Nersesian and give them a boost. It was to prove brief, though, as Madrid went about creating eight chances in total in an excellent first-half performance. They retook the lead on 27 minutes with a Willie Rhodes header following a Kevin Gabriele centre. They added a third before half-time as they too showed their shooting prowess from range. Davit Ohanesian proved the hero as he doubled the lead with an accurate strike. The second-half quietened down regarding chances but the home side managed to keep a control on the game and see out time on a 3-1 triumph. FredRizzo will now try and mastermind his side to two successive wins and hope that proves to be enough in a tight section. Carthage’s defeat leaves them looking nervously over their shoulder as they sit two points above White Hawk who occupy the final relegation spot. With a home game next against the leaders, Blakey will know that his side will need to produce a vintage performance to stave off relegation.

White Hawk FC remained in the relegation zone as they were held 2-2 at Los Samgeles Kings. The visitors made the stronger of the two starts and had early efforts by Matts Perman and Clyde Nageswar miss the target as they attempted to take the lead. They were then punished for their profligacy as Anze Kopitar netted from Samgeles’ first chance. Picking up a neat pass from Torbn Kummel he produced a stunning lob to deceive Tarik Dankoi and give the home side the lead. This joy turned to despair moments later, though, as Kopitar then went off with a season-ending injury and was joined on the sidelines by Kummel eight minutes later. Hawk seized the initiative due to the home side’s misfortune and managed to turn the game around before half-time. Clyde Nageswar brought them level with a find lobbed header and they then survived a Dustin Brown strike at the other end which struck the post before hitting the front themselves. Ryan Dharmsingh provided excellent width to deliver a telling centre from which Cianan Cathan produced a diving header which flew into the goal. The Kings responded well to this setback after the interval and were the only attacking force during the second 45 minutes. They immediately brought themselves level with a diving header of their own. It was to be Ladislav Nagy who would meet a Derek Armstrong cross perfectly to bring parity back to an intriguing contest. Indeed, it might have been better for the home side but for the woodwork denying Ron Pottinger just two minutes later. The last half-hour of the game proved frustrating as neither could find a way through the other’s rearguard. Samgeles kept their two-point cushion over Hawk as a result of the draw but Stripy will know his side will need a win against bottom club Southampton to allow their fans to relax. Hooraymee has two matches to save his side from relegation but you wouldn’t back against the determined outfit who are unbeaten in their last three games.

Morley Town gave themselves a lifeline to survival whilst dragging Charlottenburg deeper into trouble with a 1-0 success at Scatcherd Park. The game was a tight and tense affair which struggled to produce much flowing football, maybe understandable given the two sides’ plight. Morley were given the boost of an early goal, however, which enabled them to have the better of the possession in the opening half. The goal came on six minutes as Val Sheridan delivered a corner which wasn’t defended properly, allowing for Gwilym Cullip to shoot home. Neither side would create any further chances in what turned into a battle of a half. The hosts did suffer an injury as Tomas Brolin came off the bench to replace Martyn Stamford. The second-half followed the pattern of the first but with Charlottenburg coming back into the game in terms of possession. While they were seeing more of the ball they too struggled to create clear-cut chances. However, with time running out and defences tiring the game had a breathtaking end. Christopher Love nearly settled the game for the hosts with a precise header which was only denied by the post. This let-off appeared to galvanise the away team who then produced some good build-up play to allow Alan Thompson the opportunity to get off a lobbed shot. He looked on in dismay as his shot beat Zubeldia but came crashing back off the point of post and bar to deny his team anything from the game. Morley news reported that, despite the victory, they now have to travel to Kensington and do it all over again as ‘only a win will keep (Morley’s) slim hopes of survival alive.’ Potsdamerplatz will be hoping for home comforts as his side slipped to within two-points of the bottom three. A home game against Real Madrid is next up and, with their final game against the league leaders, it is imperative they pick up a win.

Kroklund Kings gave themselves some breathing space in the battle at the bottom as they beat Southampton 1-0 at Dont know yet stadium. Bossebong looked like he had prepared his side perfectly as they came out to put Southampton under tremendous pressure from the first whistle. Gabriel Baltier and Bosse Bong had already gone close before they took the lead. A 36th minute lob by Aatu Vuokki proved too good for Felipe Lima in the visiting goal to put the Kings 1-0 up. Bosse Bong then went close with another effort as Southampton were completely shut out. While the second-half didn’t have the same amount of chances the Kings still managed to stay firmly in control thanks to a stunning defensive performance. They nearly made it 2-0 when Curt Elliott lobbed Lima only to strike the bar. Southampton’s miserable day ended when Jim Hotte hobbled off in the 87th minute as they fell to a defeat which leaves the side eleven points adrift at the bottom. The Kings, meanwhile, have opened up a three point gap on Hawk and will now fancy their chances of staying up even if their goal difference might prevent them from an unlikely promotion push at the other end.